Skip to Main Content
Talk Beginner CC BY-SA 4.0

Tracking-free and hackable network cameras - powered by libre software

Proposal status is Approved
Session Description

We've all seen or deployed network cameras that require one to use a proprietary mobile app to configure, manage or access the camera. Moreover, these cameras send the video streams through the manufacturer's servers in a bid to make them accessible from anywhere.


By using libre-software powered network-cameras, we can avoid all such tracking and dependence on proprietary software + services.


Thingino and OpenIPC are free-software projects at aim to provide a free software replacement firmware for off-the-shelf cameras.


During this talk I will -


-- illustrate different ways to deploy Thingino onto cameras and development boards available in India


-- discuss how having root access to your camera can makes it more useful, safe and extensible.


-- mention self-hosted, free-software NVR (network video recorder) tools that can help us aggregate, record and analyze camera feeds locally


Key Takeaways
  1. We don't have to surrender to proprietary software cameras
  2. There are simple free-software methods that already exist and are mature enough to serve us in most of our camera requirements - from doorbells to indoor and outdoor cameras and development boards
  3. Using free software everywhere makes everything easily hackable

References

https://openipc.org/
https://thingino.com/

Session Categories

Introducing a FOSS project or a new version of a popular project
Tutorial about using a FOSS project
Technology architecture
Talk License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Which track are you applying for?

Main track

Speakers

Abhas Abhinav hacker-in-charge | Mostly Harmless & DeepRoot GNU+Linux

Abhas is a hacker, entrepreneur and free software activist.

He is the founder of DeepRoot GNU/Linux, an twenty-six-year-old Free Software Business that provides support, services and solutions for Free Software deployments. DeepRoot builds mail servers and clusters, provides hosting & support for a variety of Free Software tools and helps organisations of all sizes choose self-hosting for their infrastructure in general.

Abhas also leads a hardware venture called Mostly Harmless, where he experiments with and builds Libre and Liberated Hardware (like hackable mechanical keyboards, liberated computers, home automation solutions, cameras, lights and more). The goal is to build and sell hardware put owners in control of their lives by enabling them to run free/libre software on more hardware than usually possible.

Mostly Harmless operates the LibreTech.Shop - India’s first store for hackable and ethical products that offer convenience.

Abhas is a member of the the Free Software Foundation, India working group and has been a participant in the community in India for many years.
Abhas Abhinav