Tips for Protecting Outdoor Security Cameras
So, you get a security camera for your protection, but it gets stolen itself? Has this ever happened to you? It's not common, but vandalism can happen, and many people worry about protecting their outdoor security cameras.
While outdoor cameras are a barrier to potential intruders and give us peace of mind at home, it is equally vital to ensure their safety. We must ensure its safety from theft or vandalism to get maximum effectiveness. This article will explore some easy tips to protect our surveillance systems at home.
The Right Camera location
Choose a place that is out of arm's reach. Place the camera in a higher position, such as under the roof or higher up on the walls. The correct placement of your outdoor camera is crucial, not only for security but effectiveness. Too high and you might impede its motion detection abilities, or not be able to see faces clearly.
You need a location where the camera provides complete coverage and is less vulnerable to theft. You can opt for a metal cover like this or learn more creative ways to hide your camera outdoors.
Make sure you decide on a strategic place. Find a spot that captures crucial areas of your home, like driveways, entrances, backyards, and patios. There should be no trees, bushes, or other obstructions in your camera's view. It also helps to place multiple cameras so they are watching each other’s backs.
Use WEATHERPROOF Cameras
In hot climates, like Arizona, where summers temperatures can rise above 100° Fahrenheit. Or in Alaska, where winters can get as rough as -79.8° Fahrenheit, your ordinary surveillance camera can suffer since it can't endure such extremes.
There's only one solution: investing in weatherproof cameras. Check their IP (ingress protection) rating, a camera with a higher IP rating that grants protection from both dust and water renders it more weatherproof.
If your camera is in an open area, you can get rain cover or an enclosure to protect it from rain or snow. As for wires, use a plastic conduit or junction boxes. You can also use outdoor-rated cables for efficient performance. In this way, you can ensure the reliability and life of your camera.
Securing Camera Cabling
We discussed above protecting the camera wire from heat and rain, but what about potential burglars? You want to prevent your cables from being cut or tampered with as this presents a key weakness of wired cameras. Wireless cameras can avoid this for the most part, but may still have wires for solar charging that, while less critical, need to be protected.
If you can’t conceal the cables entirely within the building, use conduit or PVC piping to cover the wires and safeguard them from potential damage. This includes UV which can affect plastic lines, so get a UV-resistant pipe. By concealing the wires as much as possible so that intruders find it hard to tamper with or locate them.
Additionally, ensure that your cables are well attached to the walls or ceilings to prevent accidental disconnections. This not only includes secure mounts and fixings, but using some sort of security screws can make it all the more difficult to tamper with them.
Use Secure Mounting
Another crucial step to keep your camera safe is to use good-quality mounting hardware. Choosing the correct hardware is essential if your camera requires protection from vandals.
Get a few high-quality mounting brackets, screw mounts, or security mounts because of their resistance to tampering. It will protect the equipment from intentional damage. Don't forget to inspect the mounting hardware regularly for any tampering or damage.
Security Against Hackers
Thefts and vandalism aren’t the only concern. If you can access your camera through the internet for remote monitoring, there are chances that someone else can hack this network for unauthorized access. We can stop that by taking the necessary measures as soon as you install the camera.
Begin with changing the login credentials or passwords in your camera's administration settings.
Ensure you have a decent firewall between the camera and the internet. It will monitor and control what information goes to and from the camera.
Protect the camera with a strong and unique password.
Keep updating of camera's firmware to get the latest security patches and bug fixes.
Besides, you can also opt for two-factor authentication to get another layer of protection over your data. If you're looking for a more detailed insight into this matter and tips to resolve it, head out to this informative article right now.
Regular Maintenance
Lastly, since we're talking about protecting the camera outdoors, we should also look into the efficiency of the camera. Maintain your security camera regularly to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Regularly clean the camera lens to get rid of dirt, dust, or debris to get a clear view of the surroundings. Inspect the camera for indications of physical damage or tampering.
Is the temperature too low? Ensure the wires are safe and working. Is the temperature dropping below 0 degrees? Check for any snow residues that can harm the camera.
If your camera fogs up early in the morning, don't worry; it gets normal later. If the matter stays for a long time with condensation forming inside the lens, it can affect its performance and cause corrosion. You can tackle this issue by placing a silica gel bag inside the housing case.
If you live someplace where lightning strikes can happen, ensure your camera stays safe. Also, check the camera's connectivity and power supply daily to ensure they work fine. By doing this routine check, you can identify a problem in time to address it without causing any potential destruction in the future.
Another thing to look for is a spider web. Spiders and insects on your camera lens can be very annoying, blocking your view and triggering false alarms on the motion sensor.
Simply brush away any obstructions on the camera's exterior and enclosures, then spray insecticides or insect repellent around the camera housing, but not on the lens or any openings. However, you can also use aerosol sprays, insect repellents, natural insect repellents (eucalyptus, lavender, or citrus), and web eliminators around the camera to prevent any unwanted guests.
Conclusion
Protecting your outdoor camera is crucial if you want a long, trouble-free experience. The more you take care of your camera, the better it will be able to safeguard your home for the long term.
By following these easy steps, you can ensure that your camera stays in good shape. Choose the right location, and don't be afraid to invest in proper mounting hardware or a weather-resistant camera.
These tiny investments today can save you from a significant loss tomorrow. Do regular checks and maintenance of the camera and network connections. By taking these long-term measures, you can rest assured knowing that your camera will alert you in case of any potential intruders.
