Hikvision Ezviz Touts Robust Security

By: John Honovich, Published on Mar 11, 2016

Hikvision's poor security track record, Chinese government ownership and hiding of their own brand in the consumer space has raised many concerns about their direct sales to American consumers. Indeed, a Google Consumer survey showed significant resistance.

Now, Hikvision has gone public with a statement explaining and defending their security.

Key ****** ****

****** ****** ********* *****:

  • ***** ***** ******* ** run ** ****** *** Services, **** "*** **** and *********** ******" ** the ****** ******.
  • ***** ***** ******** ******* to *****
  • "***** ** ** ** address *** ***** *******"
  • "****** *** ****** ******** by ***** ******* *** only ** ******** ******* the *********** ***** ***."
  • "****** *** **** *** transmitted *** ***** *** SSL"
  • "************ **** ** ******** to **** **** **** and ******** *****, *** when ******* ** *** additional *******. *** ******** is *** **** ****** with *** ************ ****, and ***** ** ** default **** **** *** override *** **********."

** **** ** ******** these ****** ** ******** tests.

Still ******* **** *****

***** ** ******* ********* for ******* * ******** and ******** *** ** technical ******, ** ***** encourage **** ** ** forthright ***** *** **** are.

*************** *************:

"***** ** ************* ****** ** ********, **********. EZVIZ ******** ***** ******* easily ********** *****. ** design *** ************..."

***** ************* ******* *** marketing ***** *** *********. **** of ******** ***** ** security ** ***** **** ***** who *** ***. ****** the ****** **** ** certainly ***** ****** *** it ** **** **** Hikvision ** ******* **** specific ***** ***** ******** practices.

Comments (17)

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | 03/11/16 05:35pm

EZVIZ North America is run on Amazon Web Services, with "all data and connections remain" in the United States.

Last time I checked the Internet lacked any customs or border patrol, so I am not sure how they could insure that routers not on U.S. soil would not ever pass traffic.

As a practical matter, I'm not sure how often your data would actually leave the country (during transmission), but it is a naive statement nonetheless.

John Honovich

IPVM | 03/11/16 06:20pm
  • "There is no IP address for EZVIZ cameras"

Ethan pulled up the Ezviz Mini in Hikvision's own software tool, showing an IP address for it:

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

03/11/16 06:25pm

"There is no IP address for EZVIZ cameras"

If these are network cameras connected to a home/business router, it will have an IP address. Their software may not disclose it, rather using a cloud/app connection, it still has an IP address. I believe they are referring to it not having a web browser interface (HTTP web page), which is different than it having an IP address (TCP/IPv4).

Just like hwen people confuse the world wide web with the Internet.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 03/11/16 06:36pm

2, yes, I agree I think they are just confusing the two but still...

Here is the full quote:

"One critical element that distinguishes EZVIZ's security measures from others is that there is no IP address for EZVIZ cameras -- meaning no direct web connection to EZVIZ products."

They emphasized it quite clearly 'no IP address', which is strange to say the least.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 03/11/16 07:28pm

Yes, I think they mean from the outside.

So if you were to establish a connection to your home camera from your phone using the local Starbucks free wireless, you wouldn't see a connection to your home IP, only the generic IP to their Amazon cloud service which is relays the data pushed to it from your home.

So no inbound connection for video, only outbound to the cloud.

IMHO, that's what they are trying to say, but still just guessing based on other p2p implementations I've read about.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/12/16 12:19am

"relays the data pushed to it from your home"

And inside your home, the Ezviz camera has an IP address that it uses to interface with the cloud service.

If Hikvision wants to say what you say, they should say it. However, they published a document saying "there is no IP address for EZVIZ cameras"

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 03/12/16 01:27pm

"there is no IP address for EZVIZ cameras"

Maybe they're referring to the TVI cameras, LOL.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Brian Karas | 03/12/16 02:37pm

Or maybe they're running LonWorks...

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 03/12/16 03:49pm

I think a lot of you are confused. They simply meant a public facing IP address. Of course any device using TCP/IP will have an IP address. But, it doesn't have to be public facing. You need to be able to speak Chinglish. I'm fluent.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 03/12/16 04:05pm

"You need to be able to speak Chinglish. I'm fluent."

But:

"EZVIZ is a North American company headquartered in City of Industry, California"

I suspect it is not a 'Chinglish' issue as much as it is a marketing department who has deficiencies communicating about technology.

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 03/12/16 07:24pm

You need to be able to speak Chinglish. I'm fluent.

Prove it. What's a "male Wallace house"? (Don't skip the ending.)

Undisclosed Integrator #3

03/12/16 03:40am

EZVIZ is super secure in that it's nearly impossible to make it work right...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 03/12/16 12:39pm

3, what specific problems have you faced? We are in the middle of testing the Ezviz mini and found a fairly fundamental wireless connection (or lack thereof) problem.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

In reply to John Honovich | 03/14/16 06:14am

The one time I tried to use it, it refused to configure UPnP on the router despite that being enabled, the EZVIZ app refused to recognize the QR code (once I found the version that was in English), it wouldn't let me log in on my phone with the account I set up with it (I eventually just created a new one that did work), then when I added it to the client's phone it refused to log in with either account... at that point I gave up and configured port forwarding on the router manually and just configured the regular app on his phone with his internet IP (you know, the old fashioned way).

Undisclosed Integrator #4

03/22/16 03:01pm

John,

Ezviz touts that their WiFi camera doesn't have a default password, but the camera itself has a default verification code which is used as a camera password on the product itself next to the QR code and it stays as default code unless the user changes it. So this is also contradicting their claim about not having a default password. You should point out this claim as well.

Also, do you know how I can verify that all my data is staying in the US AWS servers instead of other co-located AWS servers?

Undisclosed #1

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 03/22/16 04:26pm

Ezviz touts that their WiFi camera doesn't have a default password, but the camera itself has a default verification code which is used as a camera password on the product itself next to the QR code and it stays as default code unless the user changes it.

What is the default password then? 8888888? 6666666?

Or do you mean each camera has a unique pre-assigned password?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 03/22/16 04:52pm

Each camera has a six-character alphanumeric access code. You'll find it on a bunch of Hikvision stuff, also, below the serial number. You have to enter it when adding it to EZVIZ, and sometimes you have to enter it again to view video.

Login to read this IPVM report.

Related Reports

"He Is An Idiot!" Exclaims SIA Director John Mack on Mar 23, 2020
Here is another inside look into the "leaders" of the security industry. SIA...
Hikvision AI Training In Xinjiang Paramilitary Base, Now Denies on Mar 10, 2020
Hikvision has been listing AI training in a Xinjiang paramilitary base that...
Hikvision Hides Xinjiang R&D Activities on Apr 22, 2020
Hikvision has systematically deleted evidence showing their R&D base and...
Faked Coronavirus Fever Detection, Athena Used Hikvision; Responds - Selling NDAA Compliant Cameras, Pledging 50% Of Profits to Victims on Mar 24, 2020
US company, Athena Security, faked its coronavirus fever detection marketing,...
Facial Recognition: Weak Sales, Anti Regulation, No Favorite, Says Security Integrators on Jul 07, 2020
While facial recognition has gained greater prominence, a new IPVM study of...
UK Stands Behind Hikvision But Controversy Continues on Feb 18, 2020
Hikvision is exhibiting at a UK government conference for law enforcement,...
Verkada: "IPVM Should Never Be Your Source of News" on Jul 02, 2020
Verkada was unhappy with IPVM's recent coverage declaring that reading IPVM...
Fever Cameras Are Medical Devices, Per The FDA, Dahua, Feevr, Hikvision, InVid Contrary Claims Are False on May 28, 2020
Fever cameras are medical devices, despite what euphemisms various sellers...
Fever Camera Sales From Integrators Surveyed on Jun 01, 2020
Fever cameras are the hottest trend in video surveillance currently but how...
Dynamic vs Static IP Addresses Tutorial on Apr 16, 2020
While many cameras default to DHCP out of the box, that does not mean you...
Worst Camera Manufacturers 2020 on May 06, 2020
Which camera manufacturer have integrators had the worst experience with in...
Hikvision Illicitly Uses Back To The Future In Marketing on Jul 03, 2020
NBCUniversal told IPVM that Hikvision UK's ongoing coronavirus marketing...
Video Analytics 101 on Mar 16, 2020
This guide teaches the fundamentals of video surveillance...
Hikvision Global News Reports Directory on Jun 18, 2020
Hikvision has received the most global news reporting of any video...
Sunell Panda Cam Body Temperature Measurement Camera Tested on May 14, 2020
Sunell is far less well known than its gargantuan domestic competitors Dahua...

Recent Reports

Taiwan Lilin NDAA Compliant Cameras Tested on Aug 13, 2020
Taiwan-based manufacturer Lilin is taking direct aim at Dahua and Hikvision...
White House Expands Dahua Hikvision Blacklist To Federal Funding on Aug 13, 2020
The White House is expanding the NDAA to blacklist anyone who "uses" banned...
Actual Coronavirus Testing Options Examined on Aug 13, 2020
Fever cameras have emerged as an indirect and flawed way to test for...
Video Analytics Online Show September 2020 Opened - Axis, Avigilon, Bosch, BriefCam, Genetec, Milestone + 30 More on Aug 12, 2020
IPVM's sixth online show will feature 35+ Video Analytics companies...
The German Company Powering Many China Temperature Tablets (Heimann) on Aug 12, 2020
Many fever tablet suppliers market German-made Heimann thermal sensors while...
Salesforce Drops Dahua and Hikvision on Aug 12, 2020
Salesforce has dropped Dahua and Hikvision as customers, forcing the two mega...
Access Control Course Fall 2020 - Register Now on Aug 12, 2020
IPVM offers the most comprehensive access control course in the industry....
Genetec CEO Declares "We Don't Negotiate Payment With Patent Trolls" on Aug 11, 2020
Are patent trolls like terrorists? Genetec's CEO is coming out strongly...
Hanwha AI Analytics Camera Tested on Aug 11, 2020
Hanwha has released their Wisenet P AI camera, adding person and vehicle...
Alabama Schools Million Dollar Hikvision Fever Camera Deal on Aug 11, 2020
The Baldwin County, Alabama public schools purchased a $1 million, 144-camera...
Dahua Taunts Australian Government, Continues To Sell Illegal Fever Cameras on Aug 10, 2020
Dahua is effectively taunting the Australian government by continuing to sell...
HID Releases VertX Replacement Aero on Aug 10, 2020
HID is replacing two established and broadly supported types of access...
NDAA Compliant Video Surveillance Whitelist on Aug 10, 2020
This report aggregates video surveillance products that manufacturers have...
Telpo China Temperature Tablets Tested on Aug 10, 2020
The provider for overseas companies ranging from Canon Singapore to US'...
Dangerous Hikvision Fever Camera Showcased by Chilean City on Aug 07, 2020
Deploying a fever camera outdoors, in the rain, with no black body, is...