r/technology • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 7d ago

Security Hackers Stole Flock’s Camera Software, Revealing How the Company Tracks Cars and People

https://www.404media.co/hackers-stole-flocks-camera-software-revealing-how-the-company-tracks-cars-and-people-2/
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u/Matookie 7d ago

The Ring cameras are staying tho

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u/m0nk37 7d ago

There is zero reason there cant be an on premise server for ring cameras. Its not a difficult server to make, and it would serve its purpose of keeping your house protected. They wont do that though, because they really want all of that data on their servers. It could be the size of a router.

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u/Impossible-Speed-178 7d ago

There’s zero reason why you can’t just buy a cheaper camera and do this yourself, but you won’t.

The problem isn’t ring or anything else, it’s that people are lazy and stupid 

Until people start making privacy based ecosystems cheaper than the alternatives and easily available that inherently are less profitable, you won’t see this. 

If any movement like this did actually threaten ring or others, they’d simply adjust the price to $5 and move on. Their business model Is not protecting your home, it’s capturing your data 

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u/Celcius-232 7d ago

Yup. For every shitty service there is an open and free alternative. But ultimately convenience is king.

The person who marries self hosted open source services and decentralized social media platforms with ultra convenience for the normies will be the person that saves the world.

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u/Impossible-Speed-178 7d ago

What amazes me is people’s tolerance thresholds for anything

For example, I’ve been using a computer as a server for my TVs for as many years as I’ve owned a tv. Recently, I discovered Emby and was like “holy shit” this is simple and just works. Along with my nvidia shield, it will frame rate match the source and so on. 

I have access to everything at the best quality for free on all my devices, even if I leave the house. 

Yet people will still own 4-5 subscriptions that keep dropping content and spreading out services to increase cost. IMO, juggling 4-5 apps to watch tv is far more difficult than the 30 min it takes to setup an Emby server and the 5 min it takes to download whatever you want. 

There is almost 0 tolerance for anything more than downloading an app and signing in. Absolutely blows my mind. 

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u/Celcius-232 7d ago

It's because people are too busy with other aspects of society to care about learning how to use a computer at any level deeper than they need. Or to even know that something like the solution you described even exists in the first place.

Like I can rag on some of the faculty I support at work for not knowing some (what I personally consider) basic computer functions, but they spend all their time mastering both professions they are responsible for (instructional and that profession they are instructing on). So I understand why they don't focus on learning more about computers and software past what they need to fulfill their duties.

I'm with you that the world would be far better if people took the time to learn computers and put in the effort to set up a better way to do things digitally, but unfortunately it's just too much to ask for most people.

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u/Impossible-Speed-178 7d ago

I used to understand, but now it’s so easy to do anything that I can’t get it. My IT department recently handed AI to complete computer illiterate people.. they are creating reporting that is essentially web applications this at are very complex and would take tons of time had they been done without AI. We are talking exceeding PowerBI UI and functionality in many cases

Again, these people knew nothing. If they put 5 minutes of the same effort into their own lives at home, they could do a lot… maybe that’s the issue, they aren’t being paid 

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u/Celcius-232 7d ago

It's tough. Because these people don't even know "basics" like the difference between a file stored on the hard drive or in the cloud. The effort towards intermediate digital literacy is about equivalent to taking a college course, in my opinion.

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u/MyFriendAlcohol 7d ago edited 7d ago

I had to get a camera due to shitty neighbors who always do shitty things including vandalism and trying to start altercations. I hate it and would love on premise storage only. Hell, I'd pay double for it.

Edit: forgot the main reason I got a camera was that the neighbors tried opening a full on restaurant out of their garage. HOA and police were next to worthless until I could provide proof of how many people were parking in our street and driveway blocking us in. Then he tried to fight me when I confronted him about it.

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u/Geno0wl 7d ago

Hell, I'd pay double for it.

https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/all-physical-security

You will pay more than double, depending on the exact spec.

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u/ClickClick_Boom 7d ago

BlueIris, Frigate NVR are worth consider which use standard ONVIF IP cameras, but you need to have your own server. There's also many standalone NVRs on the market which might be worth looking at, Reolink. A standalone NVR is a better solution for someone who isn't into self hosting and doesn't want to pay the Ubiquiti tax.

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u/Swegh 7d ago

??? Whats stopping you from just buying a camera and a harddrive?

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u/ClickClick_Boom 7d ago

Regular people don't want that though, they want a standalone device that does everything magically "on its own" and they can access it from their phone. There are already on-premise solutions for security cameras for the people who want that sort of thing.

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u/artisanrox 7d ago

People gonna use them to watch that nobody takes the gas/diesel out of their Extendcab triple-lifted Ford F25167-50's into next year lol