Remote cabin security

[allen84]

What is a VCR?

:-D

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I was thinking the same thing. I think I heard they completely stopped manufacturing vcr's a few years ago.

For some reason a busy signal recently came on over the FM radio at my house... By the reaction of my kids, you would have thought aliens were landing in the living room.

[mudflap]

https://youtu.be/sm30Zb4M6SA

$800 for this thing, and $600 to move it- now I can park my tractor inside along with ladders, tools, and soon: my cut rafters, insulation, roofing materials, etc.- all goes inside.

I think msjdw is right- simple padlock keeps most criminals honest.

[allen84]

You got a good deal. I paid about $3000+tax for a 45 foot high cube and had buyers remorse.

Heck of a driver though. For him to get it where I wanted was worth the price of admission I guess. And he may have made some sort of impression on my help, he needed it, donno if he got it.

[mudflap]

pretty happy so far with my new security camera - "Boavision", PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera. $59.

Software it came with sucks a tiny bit, but I found other online software that I can use to replace it.

You have to download the stupid android app to initialize it, but after that, you don't need that. And anyway, you don't need the android app if you plug a lan cable into your router and set it up that way.

has some neat features like:
- set an area within the view that you want to monitor
- sensitivity setting adjustment
- night vision
- microphone (so you can hear what's going on). microphone can be set up for alerts.
- speaker (you can talk to the criminals. not sure why you would want this. maybe you like messing with people). speaker can also be used as an audible siren for alerts.
- security lights
- wireless - can connect to your home network. As an IP camera, you can also use the device's public IP address to log in and view, although I haven't played with that option yet. you can set a username and password to prevent access.


On the last point, I'm thinking about getting a "freedombox" (https://freedombox.org/) and using it for the basis of an alarm system. It's supposed to be stupid proof for non-server folks like me so you can set up your own VPN that you can use remotely (this is really cool, actually), host your own website, have private chats with friends. With your own server, you could connect all your security devices and set up your own system that would normally cost you thousands, and you'd also be sharing your video/ photos with a 3rd party. If you do it yourself privately, you can set it all up to be encrypted and self hosted.

[rreidnauer]

Speaker is for playing banjo music.

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[mudflap]

Speaker is for playing banjo music.

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ahh yes.....perfect!

[rreidnauer]

Emmmmm, I was thinking more like: https://youtu.be/pDlZLsJJkVA

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[rreidnauer]

How does that Freedombox work? Does it require some sort of subscription to maintain a server on he net?

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[mudflap]

How does that Freedombox work? Does it require some sort of subscription to maintain a server on he net?

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it's basically a server for dummies like me. No subscription needed - it uses all opensource and free software. You can use it as a VPN - so when you're away from home, you can login to your home VPN through this freedombox and surf the web.

I'm very interested in it because I could self-host all my photos (instead of using google / flicker / photoB&*Ket), and my blog (can do really cool things with a self-hosted blog - like set up a store and accept payments. Plus, if you have a lot of family scattered all over, you can host a secure chat server, email server, even make encrypted phone calls with this thing. Its limit is the size of the hard drive and the processor you have. I have an old laptop I'm thinking of turning into a freedombox, but for $69, one that is already preloaded and ready to go is pretty tempting.

I have a friend who writes a blog about cheap ways to self-host on the internet - it seems like he told me one time he keeps his server online for $2 per year, or some crazy cheap amount like that. He hunted through all the deals and found that one. not very high-speed, but he runs his whole server on it. Has a real domain name that is registered. Here's his website: http://cheapskatesguide.org/ . Like I said, I know him personally. He's quirky and has some very interesting views on life. He is a real minimalist. When I go to his house, his only furniture is 2 folding chairs. sleeps on an inflatable mattress.

He posted this link a while ago about self-hosting: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkb4...rver-at-a-time

there's a whole world of online folks like this, hidden away from us because we all enjoy the flashy web.

Here's another guy - I think he used to run his server on solar only: https://joeyh.name/ .

[rreidnauer]

I do like the idea of, for a one time cost, having my own VPN, instead of paying monthly for a service to have one.
Internet security has become a recent concern of mine. Two events have occurred that concern me. My internet service comes in on a 5 GHz wifi. I don't know what level of security is used, as it is the ISP's equipment. To which then, I rebroadcast across my property on a 2.4 GHz wifi, secured with WPA2 encryption. The first odd event, was a printer (that I don't have) attempting to set up on my laptop. Second event, next day, I began receiving warnings from my Norton protection app on my phone, that my wifi network is compromised. I ran a Norton scan on the laptop, and it did not find an issue with the wifi. The phone continued to report this for about a week, but has since stopped, and says it's secure now. But the two events occurring back to back seems like more than coincidence. I think there was some sort of attack, but I don't know from where. Being remote as I am, it almost would have had to of come in through my ISP's service, to which an attempt to hack into my local wifi from the back side?
So I'm trying to wrap my head around how I can utilize the freedombox to add additional security to my network.

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[donjuedo]

It sounds like the Freedombox VPN server is only useful to those who are away from home. They can connect (via VPN) to your home internet connection, and then either communicate securely with others who are also connected at the same time, or use your non-secure connection to the outside world. Servers like Amazon would see the remote user as being at your home.

None of that seems to apply to the problem you are facing, though.

Your WiFi routers probably have settings for port forwarding, and I bet they are too open. If a remote PC tries to connect to your home PC, the router has to forward that request. This would be useful, for example, if you wanted to host a web server at your home. A blog is a specific reason for that. A remote user would initiate the connection and it would depend on your router forwarding that request to your PC. I'd shut that down and serve nothing on any port (I say that, but have not tried it before).

Your use from home would be unimpeded. So if you are in your home and try to load a web page, the router will pass the packets out to the "interwebs" just fine.

In short, I would look into "port forwarding" settings of your router(s).

[rreidnauer]

Thanks. I'll take a look.

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[mudflap]

I think the freedombox was invented for home use. It's only recently they've added VPN and remote access software. A lot of people use them has home media servers.

[dchurch]

I do like the idea of, for a one time cost, having my own VPN, instead of paying monthly for a service to have one.
Internet security has become a recent concern of mine. Two events have occurred that concern me. My internet service comes in on a 5 GHz wifi. I don't know what level of security is used, as it is the ISP's equipment. To which then, I rebroadcast across my property on a 2.4 GHz wifi, secured with WPA2 encryption. The first odd event, was a printer (that I don't have) attempting to set up on my laptop. Second event, next day, I began receiving warnings from my Norton protection app on my phone, that my wifi network is compromised. I ran a Norton scan on the laptop, and it did not find an issue with the wifi. The phone continued to report this for about a week, but has since stopped, and says it's secure now. But the two events occurring back to back seems like more than coincidence. I think there was some sort of attack, but I don't know from where. Being remote as I am, it almost would have had to of come in through my ISP's service, to which an attempt to hack into my local wifi from the back side?
So I'm trying to wrap my head around how I can utilize the freedombox to add additional security to my network.

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I use Raspberry Pi's for these types of projects. There are lots of these type projects, they're very inexpensive, and the use very little energy. I have a VPN at home. I'm a big fan of OpenVPN with Wireguard, very easy to setup, very secure. I also use Wyze for security cams. It does send your feed to wyze hosted on Amazon and is managed on iphone. They have really nice cameras, very inexpensive. I use Starlink internet, no static ip currently, so I have my remote wireguard pi open a tunnel back to the home pi.

[RobertM]

You can't go wrong investing in a couple of cellular game cameras. That way you're notified almost immediately and could possibly notify or catch them in the act. Don't skimp on the cameras and definitely get ones with solar charging and a cable lock (even if they're going to be 10 feet off the ground). Otherwise changing lithium batteries out every other month could get expensive. As others have mentioned, there are some pretty cheap solar powered motion lights that can deter not only the bad guys but some unwanted members of the forest as well. NobleNight's idea of target practice evidence is one of the better ones I've heard.

[loghousenut]

Robert. I am stupid. Would you post a link of your favorite solar powered game cam that gives an instant notification?

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[loghousenut]

PS... Welcome to the Forum


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[mudflap]

Robert. I am stupid. Would you post a link of your favorite solar powered game cam that gives an instant notification?

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me too. can you give us instructions on the VPN? I've been looking at a freedombox, but I know I probably can't figure it out.

also been looking at cellular game cameras, but it seems like they all want me to send my photos to them before they forward it to me. Not sure I want my photos sent to a third party...

thanks!

[rreidnauer]

I just bought some Reolink solar/wifi/pan&tilt 1080p cameras. Instant alerts and camera viewing on your phone, records to Micro SD and cloud.
Not installed yet, but so far in testing, they are working well. Will update after some real life trials.

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[loghousenut]

I can't wait.

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[loghousenut]

I googled what I think you are talking about and eagerly await your expert review.

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[jgrajiola]

Robert. I am stupid. Would you post a link of your favorite solar powered game cam that gives an instant notification?

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I like the Spypoint cellular camera Micro-LTE. It has option for solar charger for batteries. You can get a twin pack at Academy for $139.99 regular price is $199.99. There is a catch though they require subscription. I pay the unlimited data at $10 a month each camera (if you pay annually @ 20% off) because the wind, birds, cats, foxes and everything else triggers the camera and it will quit sending photos once the limit is reached. Not sure of any other brands and their fees for subscriptions.