Security System down? it might be because DynDNS has shut down
If you suddenly stopped being able to remotely access your security camera system on or around June 1st 2023, that might be because DynDNS has shutdown
DDNS for Port Forwarding Option Ending
For the past 6 years, SCW has recommended against but been willing to set up DDNS URLs as a courtesy for our customers in lieu of requiring a static IP for remote access. SCW has used industry standard DynDNS for this service. Unfortunately, DynDNS (the service that powered scw-ddns.com) is closing down this particular service on May 31st, 2023.
Admiral, Imperial, and Corporal have a Better Remote Viewing Option
If you have an Admiral, Imperial, or Corporal model NVR, you can follow this guide to set up the Star4Live cloud service, which removes the need to port forward or have a DDNS. It’s easy to setup and free.
Networker, Vanguard, Executive, and Econ Should be Upgraded to Admiral, Imperial, or Survail.
For Networker, Vanguard, Executive, Econ and older line NVRs/DVRs - these devices are now anywhere from 10-6 years old, and are no longer receiving firmware or mobile app updates. We suggest that you switch to either the Admiral series or SCW’s Survail platform which is built for modern security, including end to end encryption. If you cannot upgrade, we recommend using a VPN or just using local viewing. You can utilize the DDNS service of your choosing, but SCW does not recommend doing so.
Why We’re Discontinuing Port Forwarding
SCW will no longer port forward or set up DDNS on any new devices. We do not recommend port forwarding in 2023, because of the rise of state-sponsored cyber attacks that use port mapping software (hacking software that lets cyber criminals know you forwarded a port). This sort of software was not popular 5-10 years ago.Cyber security can be complicated, so we’d like to use an analogy to understand our decision:
- Port Forwarding is now the cyber security equivalent of having your door open all the time, now that port scanning is common.
- The cloud service, Star4Live, is the cyber security equivalent of locking your door when not using it, but opening the door when you are using it. Star4Live can be a good option for infrequent remote viewing.
- Survail’s VLAN, VPN, and HTTPS encryption are the cyber security equivalent of locking your door, speaking in a coded language, having a doorman that checks your identity, and, most importantly, moving all your valuables to the bank.
