ok, mebbe I'm being a bit para-noid here but I installed the dash cam in my Tacoma and sit seems to be working. However going to the app store, it appears that the application comes from China and that the server is in China which means that the CCP will have access to my business cell phone and client confidential info which I'm sure I'd rather not disclose.

has anyone done a phone pair with a Viofo cam using any other app not connected to China?

thanks in advance

I use their camera and app in my Taco, too. I haven't been black bagged by the Chinese yet. It wasn't clear that the app was even necessary. You should be able to set all settings on the camera, itself. Then just use the SD card in your PC/laptop.

Is that app necessary for a dash cam to work?

A quick search reveals several companies that do not use Chinese hardware. I’m not sure about their app specifically:
Nextbase
Garmin
Thinkware
BlackVue
IROAD
Transcend

I've been toying with the idea of getting one and I'll definitely be keeping this in mind.

Thanks, 400m.

I’ve been using Viofo dash cams for about six years.

They’re highly rated by the techie people who run multiple dash cams to compare the brands to provide reviews.

Personally, I very rarely check the app to see what happened because, thank goodness, so far I have not had an issue that I needed to be concerned about. Hence, I’m always off-line with them.

Is there something that you’re concerned about?

I have a Viofo dashcam but don't use the app. I believe the app give some additional features but is not required.

The camera is working fine as near as I can determine. Was just looking for the app to capture specifics while I’m driving using the app.

My concern with the app is that I’m certain the Chinese will take everything on it under the guise of installing the app over a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
The camera is working fine as near as I can determine. Was just looking for the app to capture specifics while I’m driving using the app.

My concern with the app is that I’m certain the Chinese will take everything on it under the guise of installing the app over a long time.

How valuable would this information really be to them? And I guess you’re assuming it’s safer with American tech companies?

My car was hit by a young lady 20-23ish this summer. It was minor, as she changed lanes without looking. Remarkably though, her first question when she exited her vehicle was, “do you have a dash cam?”. Well, she was ticked as the at fault driver, but I subsequently asked for a dash cam as a birthday gift. I can’t seem to motivate myself to install it. What if I’m the at fault driver, am I mandated somehow to show the video? I travel in my vehicle for work… how interested would my company be for a video feed into my daily activity? Onoh, do they already have one? Onoh, if I capture a crazy event and my dash cam video goes viral, can I make some extra coin?

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
A quick search reveals several companies that do not use Chinese hardware. I’m not sure about their app specifically:
Nextbase
Garmin
Thinkware
BlackVue
IROAD
Transcend

American dash cam companies include Rove, Rexing, and Garmin. Other notable brands, while not exclusively American, have a strong U.S. presence and are often sold by American companies like The Dashcam Store and BlackboxMyCar, Blackvue is highly rated and Korean.

Link The Dashcam Store

But, where are the cameras components made and assembled?

And, who wrote the app?

Those questions are not so comfortable. Those ‘American’ dashcams, are almost certainly not.

Since the US Government has compromised my data five times, I no longer worry about China. If they want me they got me, nothing I can do about it. Not to mention (but I will) an idiot in the prison where I worked lost a file folder contains the personal data of every staff member (about 500.) Oh yeah, once upon a time female convicts transcribed the data of FHA mortgages on contract thru their factory. Privacy is a dead issue. Get something like LifeLock.

I have Viofo cameras in my personal truck, my wife’s car, and in my work state take home vehicle. I think they are great cameras.

I don’t have any concern as I am not sure what information they could get beyond location. Even the camera I personally installed in my work car is setup using my personal phone so they would have no access to any state data from my work phone and the only thing they could know from that camera is where I drove unless I am missing anything. I personally am not concerned about anything. I informed my agency I was installing the camera since they did not install a dashcam and they had no issue. My work vehicle is an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, but not used for any type of traffic stops; only to drive me from point A to B.

I doubt you can connect to a Viofo camera with any other app than their own.

I use VIOFO and have the app. Only use the app to easily pull video from my camera but it also has the micro sd. I got mine after a collision even though luckily he admitted fault. I’ve also take many traffic collision reports and have easily decided on the PCF based on video when I have it so figure it’s best to have the video and not need it. Plus it’s fun to show crazy shit to people when you capture it.

My Viofo is so old it doesn’t have an app. I just use the chip.

The issue isn’t that the app is sending information retrieved from the camera. It’s that it’s potentially sending information from retrieved from the device it’s installed on. Do a little stock trading, check your bank account, pay your credit cards, keep a list of your passwords, etc. Who knows what these apps are doing?

I installed a Blackvue front and rear camera in my new truck.
I did have to call tech support3 times in one day to get help and 2 out of 3 were great.
The videos I've looked at are great. I still need to figure out the cloud storage part.

I really don't like the Chinese knowing my car was at the strip club all night.