Tamper Detection Shootout - Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, and Uniview
IP cameras have claimed to detect tampering for years, but how well do they really work?
To find out, we tested tamper detection on six manufacturers: Avigilon, Axis, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, and Uniview. Inside, we examine:
- The critical false nuisance alert issue all manufacturers suffer from
- How well does tamper detection detects lenses being covered?
- How much of the field of view must be covered to trigger alerts?
- Do cameras alert on sudden field of view changes?
- Does tampering detection shaking, fogging, or liquid droplets?
- Do tampering alerts integrate to common VMSes?
*******
***** ** *** *******, ****** ********* was ************* ****** ** *** ******* tested *** **** ****** ** ******* significant ******* ** ******** ****** ** the *****.
***** *** ******** ******* **** *** lens *** ******* (*.*. **** ****, cardboard, ***.), **** **** ******* **** cameras ******** **** *** ** ***** mode, **** ** ******** ******* ******** to ******* ***** ******** ******.
**** *** ****** ******* ** ****** to ****** ****** **** **** ****** which ********* ***** ***** ******, *** this **** ******** ****** ****** **** triggering **** *** ****** ** *******.
****, ********, *** ******, *** ******* alerted **** *** ***** *** ******** changed, *.*., ******** ******* *** ** position, ***** ********* *** ***** *** not, ***** *** ****** *** ******* alerted **** ******* **** ******.
*******, ****** **** **** ********* ***** the ******'* ***** ** ****, **** as ***** ***** ****** ** ******* by ******** **** ********* ****** ** Uniview. **** ** ** *********, ** users *** ** ******* ** ****** affecting ***** *******, *** ** ****** to ******** ******** ******, ** ****.
Other ********* *********
**** **** ******* **** ** *****-** tamper ********* ********* ***** ** *** require ***** *******. **** ************* ******* related ****** ********* *** ********, **** as ********** ***** ********* ********* ****** * *************** ******* * ***********, *************** ********** ********* *** **** **** domes. *******, ***** ******** *** *** common, ***** ****** ********* ** ****** universally ********* ** ** *******.
All ************* ****** **** *******
** *** *****, *** ************* ****** detection ******* **** *** **** *** covered, *** *** ****** ** *** scene ***** ****** ** ** ******* varied.
*********, *****, *** ****** ******** *** full ***** ** ** ******* *** a ****** *****.
****** ********* ******** * *********** ********** which ***** ****** **** **** ** the ***** *** *******, **** ** a ******* ** ~**%.
Avigilon, **** ~**% ** ***** ******* *** *****
******** *** **** ******** ~**% ** the ***** ** ** ******* *** a ****** *****, **** ** ******** which ***** ******* ******* ******* ** trigger *** *****.
Uniview ***** **** ~**% ** ***** *******
****** ****** ********* ******* **** ~**% or **** ** *** ***** *** covered, **** ********* ** *** ****** tested.
False ****** ** ***/***** ******
*** ************* ********* ****** ********* **** lights **** ****** *** ** *** room ** ****** **** ******* ******** to ***** ****, * ***** ********** as **** ******* **** ******/*****. ***** ****** ******** ********** ** whether *** ***** *** ******* (****** turning ***) ** **** * ****** of **** (******** ******* *** *** camera ********* ** ***** ****).
**** *** ****** ******* ******* ** avoid ***** ***** ******, *** **** enabled *** ******* **** ****** ***** tamper ****** **** *** ******'* **** was *******, *********** ****** ********* *******.
Axis, ******, *******, ******** ****** ***** ** ***** ******
****** ***** *******, **** ** ******** cameras *** ** ********* ********* ****** alerts ** ****, ******, ********, *** Uniview. **** *** *** ******* ********* in ***** ** *********.
Uniview *** **** ****** ***** ** ****** ** *****
****** ******** **** ***** ** *** Uniview ****** ********* ********* ****** ** they ******** ** *** ***** ** view *** * *** *******. **** that ******** **** ********* ** **** close ** *** ****** ** ******* this, ** **** **** **** >**% of *** ***** ** ****, ***** here:
*********, **** ********* ********* ****** **** people ******** **** ****** (>** ******* by *******) **** *** ******, ***** here:
Uniview ****** ***** ** ****** *******, ***, ***** ********
******* *** *** **** ************ **** triggered ********* ****** **** *** ****** was *******.
**** **** ***** **** *** ****** did *** ****** ***** ****** ***** Tampering, **** **** ***** **** ****** which ******* ***** ********* (******* '****' *****-*** *** ****** *************** ******* * **** **** ******).
************, ******* ******* **** ****** ***** became ************* ******, ***** *****, ***** all ****** ******* **** *****.
*******, ******* *** *** **** ************ to ******* ****** ****** **** *** camera's *** *** ******** ** **** droplets/water. **** *** **** ***** ** potential ******* ******, *** ********* ** installation, *** **** ******* *********** ******* of ******** ****** (*.*., ******* ******* outside ******* **********, ******* ** ***** precipitation).
VMS ***********
*** *************' ****** ****** ********** **** Milestone ********. **** *** **** ******* supported, ********** ** *** ***** *** Avigilon ******* ******, ***** ******* *** supported **** ** *********.
*****
****** ********* ***** *** ****** ** all ************* ******, ********* ********** **** of ** **/*** ******. **** *** Hanwha ******* ** ********** ****** ** ignore **** ****** (****** **** **** ignores ***** ********* ******), *** ****** has ** ******** *********** *******.
** ****** ***** *** **** ****** in **** *****:
Versions ****
*** ********* ******** **** **** ****** testing.
- ******** *.*-***-***-**: *.**.*.**
- **** *****-***: **.*.*
- ***** *********-***: **.***.*******.*.*, ***** ****: ****-**-**
- ****** ***-******: *.**.**
- ********* ***********-****: *.*.** ******
- ******* **********-***: ************-*************
**** *****. * ** ********* *** same, **** **** * ******* / message ****** *** ****** ********* *** tamper ******** ** *** ******* ****** X ******* ** *** ***/***** ****** being *********.
* *** ********* *********** **** **** ********* *********. ********* tried ** **** ** ** *** just *** ******** *** **** *** false. **** **** ***** ** ***** the *-****** ***. **** **** ******* told ** **** **** *** "******* as ********" *** ******'* ** *****. The **** ******** ** ***** *** for *** ***** ** ***** *** lights ** ** ***** ***** *** the ****.
*** **** **** ********* *** *** way ** ** **** **** **** same ***** ***** ** ***** *** some **** ******* ******** **** ********/******** development ** *** ******** ** * whole. **** ** *** ******* **** actually **** **** ***** ****** **** release **?
*********/********* ** * ******* ******* ** many ***** ***** ******* *** ******, generally ***** *********** **** ***** ***** or ****. *** *** **** *** exact *** ***** ** ** **** the ********* **** ****** ** ***** the ****** ** ****** ******* *** and ***** ** * ******-*** ********; beyond **** **** ** *** ***** is *** ********, **** ** ******** the *****. ** ********** ***** ** mind **** ** **** ******* *** their ************* ****** ****** **** ***.
******* *** ****** ***** ***** *** images ** ******, *** **** ** its *** *** ***** ***** **** no ****** ** ********. **** ******* darkness ** ****** ***** ***** ** may ******** ** ** *********, ** waits *** (********) ********* **** **** which ** ***** ****** ** ********, and * ****** ********* ******** *** new ***** ** *** ** *** reference ****** ** ****** **** ***, say "****** **********". ** ** ***** does *** ******* ** **** ** the ***** ** *** *** *** of ********** **** *** ********* *****, THEN ** ******** *** *****.
*'* **** *** ********* ******** *** 2 ******* **** ******** ** **** regard *** *****'* *** * ****** to *** ****. ********* ***** **** saved *** ****** * ***** *** of *** ***** ***** ***** ***** from *** ********** *******.
**** ** *** ******* **** ******** test **** ***** ****** **** ******* it?
* ***** * **** ****** ** people **** ** ****** ****** ********* does *** ****** **** **** ** production *** **'* **** ** ** a ********, *.*., "*** ** ** tamper *********".
*** *** *** ** ** ****** (or ** ** ***** ****). *** can **** ***** ** * ******* in ****? *************, *** **** * lot ** ****** ***.
******* ** *** ***** ***** ****** detection **** ** **** **, ***, behaviour ******** *** ****** ** *** pipeline...
** **’* *** ** *** ****** element **** ***’** *** **********, ***’** reacting ** ** *****. **** ** other ********** *** ***** ** ******* ‘tamper’ ** ***** **** *** ********* etc **** ******/*******
**** ** ***** ********** *** ***** to ******* ‘******’ ** ***** **** via ********* *** **** ******/*******
****, *** ** *** ****** *** able ** ******** ****** ** ** was ******** **** **** ***** ** simpler *** ******* **** ******* **** inputs/outputs, ***/**?
********* ** '******' *** *** ***** option *** ** ***** *** ** in ***** ****... ** *** ******* a **** ** ***** *********, ** ontop ** * ***** ** * 'pre-tamper' ***** - ***** ***** ** a ***** ******* ** ******** ** the **** '******' *****?
** * ******** ************, ** ****** looking *** ***** ** *********....*** ** its *** ** *** ***** ** someone ******** *** *** ****** *** too **** - ** ****** ***** case ** *********.
***** ******* ****** ***** ** ** trigger ** ***** ** ***** ** no ******** ****** * ********* (********** in ****/****** ******)
***** **** ** ********* *** * have ***** **** **** ****** *** been ** **** ***** ** *** current ***** ** ***** ** *** many ********* **** **** ** ***** going ****
**** ** **'* ** **** ***** people ***** ******* ** *** *******? What ** **'* ******* ** * street, * ********, * ******* ***, etc.? ****** ***** ******* ***** ** normal, *** *** ****** ** ******* an *****, *** *** ****** ******** shifting ** ***** ******* ***** **.
* ***** **** **** ***'** ****** in ******* ****** ** ****, **********, high ******** *****, ***. *** **** in ***** *****, **** ** **** beam ** ***** ****** *****? ******'* you ***** **** ** **** ** someone **** ** ************** ******* *** ****** *** ** its **** ** ******* **?
*****, ****** ** **** *******. ** would ** ****** ** ****** *** those ************. ** ***** ** ** detect ****** ** ******** ******* ** possible.
* ***** * ******** * **** time *** **** *** ***** ***** is ** '*******' ******, ** *** can ****** ***'** ***** ** *** false *********.
**** ******* ** *** ****** *****, psu, *** *** **** **, ***** are ********* ** *********
**** ******* ** *** ****** *****, psu, *** *** **** **, ***** are ********* ** *********
*****, **** ****** ********** **** **** don't **** * **** ***** *** particular ******* ****** ** ****. ********* cameras **** ******** ********* *** ***** loss ****** ******.
*** ** **** ****** *** **'* nothing *** ****** ****** ******* *** why * ******* *****'* **** ** intended. ************.
***** *** *** **** ***** '*********** integrator #*'. **** ***** ** ***.
******* * **** ******* ***** ********... duly *****.
*******, *** ********. *** **** *** about ********, *** **** *** **** an ***** **** *******.
**, **. ***** *** ***'* **** about ***** ******** *** ****** ******* how ** ** *** *** ******** to **** **** ******** ***** ******** cameras ** * ****** ********* ******* room? *** *** *** ******, **** exact ******** ***** *** ** **** of ** *******' ********* (******* ******** trying ** *****, ***/** ******** ******* somewhere ** ***** **).
*** ***** *** **** ******** * multimillion ****** ****** **** *** ******* being ****-********* ** **-**** ******** ******. When * ************ ********** * *******, my ****** *** * ****** **'* going ** ** **** **'* ********** to **.
** *** **** *****... #*
** *********** ** ** * ******** which ** '******** ** ****' *****'* work **** **** ** *** **? you **** **** **** *** *** do! * ******* *********** **** ******** to ** ******* *******?...
**** *** ***** *** ******* ** your ****** * ************ ******* ****** than * ************* *******?...**** **** ******* in ****** **** *** ** **? door ****? ****** ******* ** *** door? ***** * **** ******* ** trigger * ****** **** ** ** inbox? ** ***** ******* ***** *** happening? ** ** *** ** ** a ********...
***...
*** ******. *** *** ******** **** we ****'* ***** ***** ** *** client *** **** **** **** ******** because ** *** *** ** ***** budget.
********* ***, *** ***'* **** * clue. **** **** *** ***** ***'* agree **** ***. ****'* *** ***** of **** ********* ***** ******** ****? And ** *** **** ** **** the ********* **** **** * ******** baby, ***'* *** ** **. * can ******** *** **** ** **** posts **** *** *** **** ** eat **** **** ******.
*** ** *** **** ** **** the ********* **** **** * ******** baby, ***'* *** ** **. * can ******** *** **** ** **** posts **** *** *** **** ** eat **** **** ******.
*** **** ****** *** *** *** to *** ****?
*** **** **** * ****** ****.....**** told ** **********, **** ** * post **** * ****** ***** *** $3million **** ***** ** ******** *** still **** ** **** ******* *** the **********, *** * **** **** it *** **********, **** ** *****'* do *** ** **** *** *** money. * ***** ** *** ** doing **** **** ********* ***** ******'* money ** *** *** *** ** he ** **** ************* *******. ** has ** **** *** *** ** the ********* ******* ***** *********** *****. And *'* ***** *** ***% **** he ******, **** **** ** *** bank. *** * ** **** **** of *** ******** ************. **, **** to **** ********* ******.
* ******* *** ***** *** ** budget?
* ** ****** ****** ** **** a ********** *** * ********** *** you’re *********** ***, *** *** **** bitter *** **** ****** *** *** have * **** ******** ** ********* people. *********** **** ****** **** *** refund (***** * ****’* **** ******* until *** *********), ****** ** ******** them ** ****** ** ******* *** trying ** ******* *****, **** ***** is *** ***********...** **** *** ******** better *** ** *****, **** ** ideas...not ** ** ** ****** *****.
* ** *** *** *** ******* know ********** ** **** ***** *** to **
***, ****'* ********** *** * ***** have ******* * "************" ******* ***** insulting, ************, ** ***************. ***'* *** to **** **** ** ** ***** some ****** ***** **** **** ******** was **** ******* **** **** *** thread.
****, ***** ********, ****** *** ********** labor (** ****** * ****** **** in "*******" ************) *** ** *** of *** ******, ********** **** *********** protect ******* **** ***** ******* *** not ****** ***** ****. *** ***** what, ***** ** ** ********** *** property ******. **** **** ***** ***'* just ********* **** **** **** ******* so **** ******** ****** *** *** disappears ***** *** ****** ** *** mortgages ** *** **** ** **** family's *****. **** ** **** ******* your ********** ***** ** *** $********.
****** **#*, *'* **** ******* **** gets **. * **** * ***** have ***'* ******* **** ***** *****-******* dollar ********* *** ****'* *** ** reality. **** ** ** ******* **** other *********** ******** **** **** ** their ******* *******, *** ********* $*** into * ****** *** *** ** a *** *** *** ****. ** this *** ********** ******'* **** *** cameras ************** **** ********** ************ ** the ********'* ****** *** ******** *** he ***** *** *********** *** ******* worth **. ******* ** *** ***** buildings **** ******* ******** *** *** nearly ** ******, *** ** ****'* moved ******* ** *** ******** *** those. * ***'* **** *** *** is ** ******-****** *** ********* ** the ***** ****** *** *** ****** of *********.
* **** * ***** **** ***'* clients **** ***** *****-******* ****** ********* but ****'* *** ** *******.
* ** *** ******!
****...* *** ** ********** *** *********** amount ** ***** ***** ****** ****** over ** *** **** ****.
***** ********** - ****** ***** ‘******’ work ** ********** ** *** ************ but ** *****’*.
***’* ***** ** ******** ** **** of *** ***** *** ****’* ****, it’s **** ****** *** *********** *** for
*** *** *** ** ** ****** (or ** ** ***** ****).
** **** * ***** **** ** pile-on ****, *** ***** ** *** fix ** ****** *** “** ******”, as *** ***** *** ******** *****.
****, *** ***** ****** **** *** camera ****** ****** ****** ***** ***** a ***/***** ******, *** ** *** really **** ** ** ****?
******** *** ***** ** *** **** turns ** *** ***** *** ***** paints *** ****. *** ** *********** scenario. ** ****** ***** ******* ***/***** switch.
**, ** **** ** ****** ** something **** **** *** *******, **** reference ****** **** **** *** **** switchover, ** *** ** ********* ** the ***** ** ********* *** **** in *** ***** ******* **** ** just *** ** *** */* *****.
**** ** *****, (** ***** ********* better), *** *** ******* ****** ***********, **** ** **** **** **** to ********.
*** *** *** **** ***** *** well ********* **** *** ********* ***** would **** - *** **** ** be ******** ** **** ****** ***** that ** ********* *** **** ***** day ** *** ******, *** **** is *** * ***** ********** *** all *****.
****, *** ***** ****** **** *** camera ****** ****** ****** ***** ***** a ***/***** ******, *** ** *** really **** ** ** ****? ******** guy ***** ** *** **** ***** on *** ***** *** ***** ****** the ****. *** ** *********** ********. no ****** ***** ******* ***/***** ******.
** *** **** ****** *** ****** alerts *** * *** *******, *** probability *** ****** **** **** *** the ****** *** *** ** *** camera ** * *** ******* ** low..Also, **** ** ** *** ******* with * ***** **** ****, ** said ***** **** ***** ****** *** camera, ** ***** ***** ** *** a *** ******* ***** **** *** timer ** ****** *** ****** ***** runs ***.
****, **** ** ** *** ******* with * ***** **** ****, ** said ***** **** ***** ****** *** camera, ** ***** ***** ** *** a *** ******* ***** **** *** timer ** ****** *** ****** ***** runs ***.
**** * ***** **** ***** ****** on *** *** ****** ***** ********* is *******. ** *** ***** ** determines ****** ********** ***** ** *** image?
* ***** ** ********** ****** ** a ******/ ***** **********, ***** ** the **** ****** *** ***/***** ****** triggers **.
** *** ** ****** ** ********* the ****** ***** *** *** **** booting ** *** ** ** ****** with ** *****.
*********'* ****** ***** ***** **** ********* well ** *** *** **** ********* time *** ****** **** * *** SECONDS ******. **** ** *** ****'* not ** "**** ***" ** *******. My ***** *********** ***** ********* ******, etc. *** ********* **** *********** *** if *** *** **** *** ****** I'd ****** ** *****, ***'* *** that * *** ******* ****** ********* time *** *** **** *** ****** to ***** *** *******.
** *** *** **** *** ****** I'd ****** ** *****, ***'* *** that * *** ******* ****** ********* time *** *** **** *** ****** to ***** *** *******.
****** * *** **** *** ******, and * ***** ***** ** ** statement. ****, **** “*********” **** ***** have *****************, ***** ******.
*******, ** ************** *** ******* ** **** ******, e.g. ***** ******** *** ********** *** *** ***** ********.
** **** **** *** ********* *** light **** *** **** ***** ******* the ******, *** ****** **** *** want ***** ***** **** ********* * tamper *****.
** ** ***** *** ****. ** the ***** ****'* ******* ***************** *** ******* ********* ****, * tamper ***** ***** **** **** ****.
***'** **** ****** *** ***** ** clients **** **** * *** ** credit. **** ** **** *** **** tech ***** *** ** **** **** the **** ** ** ***** *** lifestyle **** ****.
** ** ***** *** ****. ** the ***** ****'* ******* ** ********* within *** ******* ********* ****, * tamper ***** ***** **** **** ****.
***, *** ** ***** **** ******** to *********, **** * ***** ***** darkened *****.
*** ** ***’* ******* ****** ****** it *** ******* ** ** *** same *****,** *** **** ********.
***** *****’* ***** ** *** *** filtering *** ****** ****** *** **********.
****** ********* ***** ** ******* * drastic ****** ** *** *****. ********* of *** ***** (******* ******* ***** OR ******) ** *********** ** *** image (* *** **** *** * video ** **** *** ***** *** cops ***** * ********** ** *** and ********* *** ******). ** *** shut *** ****** *** *** ***** paint *** ******, *** ** **** any ********* **** ******* *** ****** on *** ***** ******** **? *****, four, ** *** ******* ***** **'* not ***** ** ** *** **** scene ** ****** *** *** ****** will *******.
* ***** *** ****** ** *** yourself * ********* ****** *** ******** use ** ****** ***** **** ******* in **** ************.
* ***** *** ****** ** *** yourself * ********* ****** *** ******** use ** ****** ***** **** ******* in **** ************.
* **** * *** ****** ** test, *** ******* ** * ***’* test **** “********* ****” *** ** demonstrate ******* **’* *** ***********.
*** ***** ** * ***** **** the ***** **** ** **** **** about **** ******** *** ******. *** I ***** ****** **** ******** **** **** * white ***** *************** ******** *** ***** ********** ***** work, *** **** **** *** **** because **** ****** *** ***** ****** might ** ***** ******. ** ********* is ***** *** *** **** ** the ******* *** *****. ** **** an ******* ******* ***’* *** * few ****** **** **** ***** ****, let’s **** ******* **** *** ********** *** ***** ***** ***** ***********.
** *** ****** ******* ***** **:
*** **** *** ****** **** ******* the ****** ** *** ***** *** been ***** ******* ** *** “********* interval” ** ** **** **** ******* there ** ** *****?
*'* **** *** ********* ******** *** 2 ******* **** ******** ** **** regard *** *****'* *** * ****** to *** ****. ********* ***** **** saved *** ****** * ***** *** of *** ***** ***** ***** ***** from *** ********** *******.
* ******** ****** **** **** ** an ******** ** ****** **** ** make **** ***** ****'* * *********** difference *** ** ***** **** * tamper ***** **** *** ****** **** turned ***.
** ** *** ** **** ***/***** nuisance ****** ***** ******* ****, ***’* it * ******* ********* **** ***, or ** *** **** ************* *** don’t ******* ** ***/***** ****** ***** trigger ** ***/***** ******?
**** ***** ** ** *** **** with *********'* ** ******** ** *****. As *** ***'* **** *****, ****** out ******** ****** ********* ****** ******. ** ******.
****'* *** ***** ***** *** ******* eyes?
**** *** *** ** *** **** mfg's ******* ******** **** ******** ***** laser ********(*******/****** ***) ** ******** ***** with ** ****** ******* *********. *** cameras ****'* **** **** ** **. Caught **** ** *** ***** **** another ******, *** *** ***** ****** to ******** ******** ******. *-****** ***. One *** ** *** ***** ******* on * ****** ** **** ** perfectly *****, *** ****** ****** ****** directly ** ** **** ***** *** camera *** *** ** **'* ***. Then ******* ****, ******* ******* *** camera ***** *******, ** ***** ** accurately ******** *** **** ** ****** features...
** **** **** *** ******
*************, ***** ****** ********* ** *** available ** **** *** ******* *****. It ***** ***** ** ***** ******.
*** ********** ** ***/***** ****** ** baffling ** ** *** ***** **** a **** *********. ******'* * *** be ** ****** ** *** ****** telling ****** "***'* ******* ** **** scene ****** **** *'* ********* ***** to ******" ** **** ********* ****** detection *** * *******?