If you have an old Android phone lying around, you may be wondering how to make use of it. One possible way is to turn it into a security camera that can monitor your home, office, or any other place you want. This way, you can reuse your old device and save money on buying a new camera.
There are several apps that can help you turn your old Android phone as CCTV camera. In this blog post, I will introduce two of the most popular ones: Alfred Camera and Haven. I will also explain how to set them up and what features they offer.
Alfred Camera
Alfred Camera is one of the most downloaded and highly rated security camera apps on the Google Play Store. It has over 10 million downloads and a 4.8-star rating (out of 5). It is easy to use and offers many features, such as:
- Live video streaming
- Motion detection and alerts
- Two-way audio communication
- Cloud storage and playback
- Zoom and night vision
- Low-light filter
- Siren and flashlight
To use Alfred Camera, you will need two phones: one to act as the camera and one to act as the viewer. You will also need to sign in with the same Google account on both devices. Here are the steps to set up Alfred Camera:
Setting up the camera phone
- Open the Alfred app on your old phone.
- Tap Skip in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Camera.
- Tap Get Started!
- Tap Sign in with Google.
- Choose the account you want.
- Tap Allow to confirm account permissions.
- Tap Allow to allow camera access.
- Tap Allow to allow microphone access.
- Place your phone in a stable position where you want to monitor.
Setting up the viewer phone
- Open the Alfred app on your current phone.
- Tap Skip in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Viewer.
- Tap Get Started!
- Tap Sign in with Google.
- Choose the same account as before.
- Tap Allow to confirm account permissions.
- Tap on the camera icon on the main screen to start viewing.
You can also access your camera from any web browser by visiting https://alfred.camera/webapp/ and signing in with your Google account.
| Application | Play Store | App Store |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Camera Home Security app |  |  |
Haven
Haven is another security camera app that was built by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. It is designed to protect against physical intrusion, surveillance, and tampering. It uses various sensors on your phone, such as:
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accelerometer
- Light sensor
- Power monitor
To use Haven, you will need one phone to act as the camera and another device (such as a laptop or another phone) to receive alerts via SMS or Signal (a secure messaging app). You will also need to install Haven from the Google Play Store or compile it yourself from its Github repository (https://github.com/guardianproject/haven). Here are the steps to set up Haven:
Setting up the camera phone
- Open the Haven app on your old phone.
- Swipe through the first couple of screens, then select Configure.
- Tap Allow on the permission prompts for photo, media, and file access, and to take pictures and record video.
- Tap Allow on the next permission prompt to record audio.
- Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to adjust the motion detection sensitivity for both camera and microphone.
- Tap the back button in the upper left corner until you see more options.
- Swipe through the rest of the introduction screens.
- Grant permission to send and view SMS messages if you would like SMS alerts sent to your other device, then enter your phone number (you will need an active SIM card for this).
- Alternatively, you can configure Signal for alerts in the app settings if you are just using an Internet connection (you will need to install Signal on both devices and verify your phone number).
- Place your phone in a secure position where you want to monitor.
Setting up the alert device
- On your other device (laptop or phone), install Signal if you haven’t already (https://signal.org/download/).
- Verify your phone number and grant necessary permissions.
- On your camera phone, open the Haven app and go to Settings.
- Tap Remote Access and enable Signal.
- TapAdd Signal Contactand scan the QR code on your alert device (you may need to tap the pencil icon on the top right corner of Signal and selectNew groupto generate the QR code).
- Tap Save and go back to the main screen of Haven.
- Tap Start Now to activate the monitoring.
You will receive alerts on your alert device whenever Haven detects any activity on your camera phone. You can also access the logs and media files on your camera phone by visiting https://haven.local:8888/ from any web browser on the same network (you may need to install a certificate to bypass the security warning).
Conclusion
As you can see, there are different methods of using your old Android phone as CCTV camera. You can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. Both Alfred Camera and Haven are free and powerful apps that can help you monitor your space and protect your privacy. However, they also have some limitations, such as:
- Battery life: Your old phone may not have a long-lasting battery, so you may need to keep it plugged in or use a power bank.
- Internet connection: Your old phone may not have a reliable Internet connection, especially if you are using Wi-Fi or mobile data. You may need to use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter or a router to ensure a stable connection.
- Storage space: Your old phone may not have enough storage space to store all the recordings and media files. You may need to use a cloud service or an external SD card to expand the storage capacity.
- Security risks: Your old phone may not have the latest security updates or patches, which could make it vulnerable to hacking or malware. You may need to use a VPN or a firewall to protect your device and data.
Despite these drawbacks, using your old Android phone as CCTV camera is still a viable and eco-friendly option. It can help you reuse your old device and save money on buying a new camera. It can also give you peace of mind and security for your home, office, or any other place you want.
I hope this blog post was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! blush