Specifications of a Wireless Security Camera 

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The Internet and Encryption Specifications of a Wireless Camera 

Understanding the internet and encryption specifications of a wireless camera is necessary so that you choose a camera that is secure and supported by your wireless network.

What is a Wireless Camera? 

A wireless camera, known as a network or IP camera is a camera that connects to a wireless internet network and sends live video feeds that can be accessed from any remote web browser or mobile device. Its uses include outside security surveillance to discourage potential intruders, but it also has other home and work functions.

All wireless cameras work in basically the same way, but that doesn’t mean they are all the same. Different cameras and wireless camera systems have different specifications, and what this determines is how compatible they are with different Wi-Fi networks. Before buying a wireless camera system to do a specific surveillance job it is vital you understand what the following internet specifications mean.

Wireless Network Standards 

What is meant by wireless network standards is the wireless networking transmission methods that are commonly used to provide wireless connectivity, or Wi-Fi, wherever you want to set up your wireless surveillance system..

802.11n – Wireless-N, or 802.11n, is the newest wireless local area network (WLAN) technology designed for high-speed internet. This was created to support the most bandwidth-exhaustive applications, including those that stream high-definition (HD) music and video.
802.11n must be backward compatible, which means devices such as wireless cameras that are compatible with earlier Wi-Fi standards should work on a Wireless-N network. However, a wireless camera compatible with 802.11b/g standards and running on a Wireless-N network won’t have such good output quality.

802.11b/g – Also known as Wireless-B and Wireless-G, 802.11b and 802.11g are the Wi-Fi standards that preceded the Wireless-N standard. It’s not as fast or robust as Wireless-N, however the two standards are still widely used as many users have yet to switch to a Wireless-N network.

Security Protocols for a Wireless Camera System 

Internet security protocols are digital protocols that utilize encryption methods to safeguard data when transmitted across wireless networks. A wireless camera that supports the latest internet security protocols means its live video feeds are encrypted during transmission and can only be accessed by authorized users.

WEP – Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security algorithm designed for the 802.11 wireless networks to make them as secure as a wired connection. Sadly it has several weaknesses and can be listened in to. It has been superseded, so it is important to know that any wireless camera that boasts WEP support should also support more recent security protocols.

WPA/WPA2 – Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the security protocol that came next and improved on the weaknesses of WEP. In turn WPA has been replaced by WPA2, which introduced new encryption methods with stronger security. Starting in 2006, WPA2 certification was mandatory on all devices bearing the Wi-Fi trademark.

TSL/SSL – Transport Layer Security (TSL) and its precursor Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) are cryptographic protocols that provide security for internet communications, including email and instant messaging. Wireless cameras that boast SSL or TSL support allow users to receive email notifications from the camera through web-based email clients that require SSL authentication.

You need to understand the specifications of a wireless camera in relation to the internet, and the encryption specifications before you choose a camera that is secure and supported by your wireless network.

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