{"id":3663,"date":"2022-08-28T15:31:38","date_gmt":"2022-08-28T15:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpbc.a1securitycameras.com\/?p=3663"},"modified":"2024-01-03T11:34:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T11:34:04","slug":"night-owl-security-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.a1securitycameras.com\/blog\/night-owl-security-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Night Owl a good security system?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As a brand that has seen a heavy increase in popularity recently, Night Owl has become one of the options for homeowners and business owners needing security cameras. Similar to brands like Arlo<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ring<\/a>, Night Owl produces security camera systems that have helpful features at an affordable price. Founded in 2009, the American company has undoubtedly made a name for itself as one that can be considered residentially and commercially.<\/figure>\n

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However, while Night Owl security cameras are in high demand, customers coming to A1 Security Cameras have reported problems with the brand or are looking to get information to help make a decision. Here, we hope to provide you with such information and deliver an analysis that helps lead to a faster conclusion, if not narrow down the decision-making process on which\u00a0security cameras<\/a>\u00a0are best for you. Below, you will find the information gathered by the A1 Security Cameras team about Night Owl, the conclusion about Night Owl security cameras we have made, and other helpful information.<\/p>\n

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How does the Night Owl security system work?<\/h2>\n

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There is little difference between Night Owl security cameras and regular\u00a0security cameras<\/a>, along with the systems they inhabit. The brand offers the same selection as the most popular and traditional brands on the surveillance market, meaning with Night Owl you have a selection of wireless, analog, and IP cameras. With the wireless security cameras offered, the brand produces many battery-powered options that can operate independently of wiring. Furthermore, as far as\u00a0video recorders<\/a>\u00a0are concerned, there is a similar selection of products that match the cameras and a range of internal storage options.<\/p>\n

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It should be noted that Night Owl security cameras and greater systems can be used with Google Home and other products under the same brand. This integration allows for functionality that is more sophisticated than most others, allowing a person to interact with their Night Owl security camera system by voice. The convenience of that should not be understated, allowing a person to link their surveillance to other systems connected to the Google Home and therefore further providing a person an avenue to modernize their residence. However, as will be seen, that functionality does open the system up to cybersecurity threats more so than other branded surveillance.<\/p>\n

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Can a Night Owl security system be hacked?<\/h2>\n

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With the advancement of\u00a0digital surveillance<\/a>, there is always the threat of a nefarious party hacking into your security camera system by one of several means. While wired surveillance is more difficult to take advantage of, as discussed in an article comparing\u00a0wired versus wireless security cameras<\/a>, both types of surveillance can be vulnerable if not set up properly. As such, special attention should be paid to any type of security camera that uses WiFi as a mode of transmission or is known as a\u00a0WiFi security camera<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Similar to the other newer surveillance brands on the market, Night Owl security cameras are prone to breaches in cyber security. This weakness can primarily be attributed to the brand\u2019s focus on the ease of access and user-friendly design each product offers. Unfortunately, that puts the onus on the owner for securing their security camera system. That means not only securing your security camera system with passwords and properly port forwarding each device but also implementing passwords for connected systems like the previously mentioned Google Home and greater wireless network.<\/p>\n

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It is worth noting that Night Owl was one of the brands mentioned by name concerning the mass P2P vulnerability. This means that many of the IP cameras the brand offers uses a type of firmware that can be taken advantage of by hackers, making the device accessible by nefarious third parties. At the time of writing, this vulnerability is still in effect.<\/p>\n

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Lastly, Night Owl security cameras that are wireless by way of battery or plugin are vulnerable to\u00a0jammers<\/a>. When it comes to wireless connections, jammers are the one tool that can be used against you to disable any wireless security devices under your employ. The best method to prevent this criminal activity is to have wired security cameras instead of wireless.<\/p>\n

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What factors into the Night Owl security camera price?<\/h2>\n

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Night Owl makes a concerted effort to offer affordable\u00a0security cameras<\/a>\u00a0that have some of the most sophisticated features available on the market. Most cameras offered, whether analog or IP cameras, offer excellent visual quality regardless of day or night and have two-way audio. While not as highly ranked when concerning\u00a0Ingress Protection Standards<\/a>, products under this brand are most often capable of resisting normal weather conditions when falling within the\u00a0outdoor security cameras<\/a>\u00a0category. All of this is reflected in the affordable price, generally being a more affordable option among other surveillance options but also not as effective.<\/p>\n

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Something that should be considered when Night Owl security cameras are in the conversation for your surveillance is their capability without WiFi. Those with spotty or weak WiFi should not consider wireless security cameras from this brand as they will be entirely ineffective without a supportive signal. That is especially true if the camera produces higher quality video footage or uses more sophisticated features. For reference, A1 Security Cameras has previously authored an article that can provide a better understanding of the subject titled\u00a0How Much Data Does my Wi-Fi Enabled Security Camera Use?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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How much are Night Owl recorders?<\/h2>\n

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Video recorders<\/a>\u00a0are one of the most expensive parts of a security camera system<\/a>, providing many of the most advanced functions used in surveillance while storing the video footage each security camera gathers. As opposed to their security cameras, Night Owl offers recorders that are as expensive or more pricey than many of the traditional brands on the market. An example of that can be seen in the eight-channel NVR with 4K offered by the brand, being around six hundred dollars for the wired version and around five hundred for the wireless version.<\/p>\n

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Do you have to have a DVR for Night Owl?<\/h2>\n

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The vast majority of\u00a0IP security cameras<\/a>\u00a0can function without an\u00a0NVR<\/a>\u00a0in a process known as edge recording. In this process, the device uses an\u00a0Surveillance SD card\u00a0<\/a>as the storage hardware and can connect to the router directly through a wired or wireless connection. Night Owl, like the traditional surveillance brands offered through A1 Security Cameras, can function in this manner but fare found to be less effective without the recorder due to fewer features.<\/p>\n

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Customers considering truly wireless security systems<\/a>, analog security systems<\/a>, or multiple IP camera systems<\/a> should certainly consider an\u00a0NVR\u00a0<\/a>or\u00a0DVR<\/a>. The same goes for Night Owl systems that are regularly offered in bundles. Regardless of brand, analog cameras simply are not capable of recording and need a digital video recorder. Wireless cameras and IP cameras can use cloud storage when connected to a strong internet connection. While using the internal storage of a camera is effective, a system of more than two or three IP cameras will need a recorder for management.<\/p>\n

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Does Night Owl have a monthly fee?<\/h2>\n

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For the most part, no, there is no monthly fee for Night Owl security camera systems. However, those wanting cloud storage will need to subscribe to Night Owl Pro, which requires a $10 a month charge. At the time of writing, there are no other recurring charges, monthly or annual, Night Owl demands of customers.<\/p>\n

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How good is Night Owl Connect?<\/h2>\n

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Compared to other mobile applications, Night Owl Connect still needs a heavy amount of work before it can be made viable. Customers report experiencing bugs, crashes, and running into constant problems when using the application to view their security camera system remotely. One example of that is customers complaining about the notification system, receiving too many notifications even with an adjustment made to the camera sensitivity. Another example that is constantly reported is the application does not work well when in areas of poor connectivity. That is not to mention the reports of the app regularly needing to be redownloaded or that the phone will need to reset for any functionality.<\/p>\n

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Will Night Owl cameras work with other systems?<\/h2>\n

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For digital security camera systems<\/a>, it is generally not recommended to mix different security camera brands<\/a>. While Night Owl is advertised to work with other security camera systems, there is simply no guarantee that a system of mixed hardware will work and should not be considered unless absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n

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Are Night Owl cameras ONVIF compatible?<\/h2>\n

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Night Owl security cameras are advertised as ONVIF compliant. However, according to their\u00a0ONVIF Member List<\/a>, the company is not a member of the organization.<\/p>\n

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Is Night Owl a viable option for surveillance?<\/h2>\n

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Night Owl Positives<\/h3>\n

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