I was watching a news program that detailed the severe beating of a man in his home. He had security cameras on the house. Family members were stating that they could not view the contents as the beating victim was the only one who knew the password. Is this accurate? I would think that law enforcement would be able to access the contents or is this like the Apple phone? Thanks

Depends upon the system and how it was set up. I see people on one of the CCTV forums all the time asking for help getting back into their surveillance NVRs after they've forgotten or misplaced the password.

I just

I have hardwired cameras and a DVR still, I know it's old fashioned. It is passworded, but it's written down somewhere others can get it if need be.

Without knowing what kind of system, it's hard to say just what it would take to hack it or guess the password. I'm not certain what access any given police department would have to that technology.

Lots of variables there.

Certain combinations/passwords should be kept in say, a safety deposit box accessible on your death or incapacitation. Especially if you own a Bitcoin company.

Seems no law enforcement agency has any people with half the caliber of those on NCIS or other current cop shows....

2nd part is they, the LEO's would need either a warrant or permission from the homeowner to get access to it.

My system has a password and my solution is to print it on a label stuck to the monitor....

FWIW, I have an inexpensive Reolink system. After forgetting my password, I discovered that I could remove the cover on the DVR and hold in a reset button built into one of the boards. It reset the "system" without erasing the hard drive. Just had to assign another password.

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I would think that law enforcement would be able to access the contents or is this like the Apple phone?

Why would they have the ability or the right to arbitrarily access any device?

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Why would they have the ability or the right to arbitrarily access any device?

The question was about the capability, not the right. The news story was about a man who is not expected to survive and the fact that his home security camera might have a clue as to who the perps were.

When I worked in the security camera industry, ours could have the password reset. I mean, I assumed that all systems would have that capability simply because of the fact that the owner would be SOL if he merely forgot the password.

It was a factory reset which we requested from the owner to the factory. Data was not erased from the HDD.

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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

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Why would they have the ability or the right to arbitrarily access any device?

The question was about the capability, not the right.
The news story was about a man who is not expected to survive and the fact that his home security camera might have a clue as to who the perps were.

I appreciate the sentiment but regardless you first have the right to the data.
As far as the ability never say never in being able to crack encryption in the case of a Smart Phone.
I don't really know if it is possible and who possesses that ability.
They make it secure for a reason, if is easily access then it would not be secure.
Other devices such as home computers or device may or may not be set up with as much security.
I can tell you the average Po Po does not (ability to crack phone encryption) and ever more so no right unless a court says so or they are authorized by the owner of the data.