In a peer-to-peer camera, live video goes straight from the camera to your screen over an encrypted connection, and nothing has to be stored on a company server for you to watch it. In a cloud camera, the video is uploaded to the company first and you watch it from there. The first design exposes less of your footage; the second makes recordings and remote access easy.
AndrIoT works the first way for live video. This guide explains the difference in plain language, what AndrIoT stores and what it does not, the trade-offs of each approach, and practical steps to keep any home camera private.
Key takeaways
- Peer-to-peer means live video travels directly between the phone and your browser, with encryption.
- When a direct path is not possible, an encrypted relay carries the video. It still cannot be read by the relay.
- Video is stored only if you enable recording, and only for your plan retention period.
- AndrIoT shows no ads, does not track your video and uses servers in the EU.
- The biggest real-world risks are weak passwords and shared logins, not the network path.
Two ways a camera can deliver video
There are two basic designs. Neither is wrong, but they put your footage in different places.
| Question | Cloud-first camera | Peer-to-peer live view |
|---|---|---|
| Where does live video go? | Up to the company, then to you | Straight to your browser when possible |
| Is footage stored by default? | Often yes | No. Only if you turn recording on |
| What if the connection is blocked? | Works through the company | An encrypted relay carries it |
| Remote viewing | Yes | Yes |
| History and search | Usually built in | Opt-in recording with a retention period |
How AndrIoT live video travels
When you open a live view, your browser and the phone first agree on how to connect, then video and audio flow directly between them, encrypted. Most home networks allow this. On some networks, such as strict mobile or office connections, a direct path is blocked. In that case an encrypted relay passes the video along so the view still works. The relay moves encrypted data and does not store it.
What is stored, and for how long
| Data | Stored? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Live video and audio | No | It is streamed, not saved, unless recording is on |
| Motion clips and recordings | Only if you enable them | Kept for your plan retention: demo 12 hours, Standard 7 days, Pro 30 days |
| Activity log | Yes | A log of events for your plan retention |
| Account details | Yes | Email and sign-in details; if you use Google, name, email and picture |
| Payment card | Not by us | Handled by Stripe |
There are no ads and no tracking of your video. Servers are in the EU. The Privacy Policy describes the data we hold and your rights, including deleting your account.
Honest trade-offs
- Peer-to-peer reveals less, but it depends on the phone being on. If the phone is off or offline, there is nothing to stream and no always-on cloud copy.
- Cloud-first makes history easier. If you want months of searchable footage, a cloud-first service may suit you better. AndrIoT keeps recordings only for your plan retention.
- Relay data is encrypted but passes through a server. It cannot be read there, but it does use bandwidth.
- Privacy depends on you too. A shared password or a camera pointed at a private area beats any technical protection.
Ten steps to keep any home camera private
- Use a unique, strong password, or Google sign-in with two-step verification.
- Do not share the dashboard login. Share footage instead.
- Keep the phone updated where possible, and do not install unknown apps on it.
- Turn on recording only where you need it.
- Delete clips you no longer need.
- Do not point cameras at private areas.
- Switch off audio where it is not needed.
- Review who has access to your account now and then.
- Sign out on shared computers.
- Tell people when they are being recorded.
Questions to ask any camera provider
- Is live video stored by default?
- Who can view my footage, and under what circumstances?
- Is video used for ads or analysis?
- Where is my data stored?
- How do I delete everything?
Compare the answers with the AndrIoT Privacy Policy and the legal and privacy notes.
Realistic threats and what helps
| Threat | How likely | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Reused or weak password | Most common | Unique password or Google sign-in with two-step verification |
| Shared login with many people | Common | One login per person, remove people who leave |
| Phone stolen or lost | Possible | Lock the phone, remove the phone from the dashboard, change the password |
| Public Wi-Fi snooping | Low with encryption | Keep using the encrypted dashboard over HTTPS |
| Camera pointed at a private area | Self-inflicted | Review placement and zones |
| Phishing for your login | Common | Only sign in at the real app address |
Network design matters less than these habits. A well designed private path does not protect a camera with the password "1234".
How to check what your own camera does
- Read the privacy policy, and look for what is stored by default.
- Look at the settings for a recording or history toggle and its retention period.
- Look for a way to delete clips and the account.
- Check where the company says servers are located.
- Ask support directly if anything is unclear.
Do this for any camera you own, including this one. A good provider answers plainly.
Common myths about camera privacy
- "Encrypted means nobody can ever see it." Encryption protects video on the way. It does not protect against a shared password or someone holding your phone.
- "No cloud means no risk." Without cloud storage there is no archive to leak, but the phone itself can still be lost or stolen.
- "Cloud means it is public." A cloud service can keep footage private. What matters is the policy, the security and who can access it.
- "Local-only is always better." Local storage can be stolen along with the camera. A burglar who takes the camera takes the footage.
- "Free apps are free." Some free services are paid for with data or ads. Look at how a product earns money.
AndrIoT earns from subscriptions, not from ads or from your video, which is why the plans exist.
Account and sign-in privacy
Camera privacy starts at sign-in. AndrIoT supports email and password, or Google sign-in. If you choose Google, AndrIoT receives only your name, email address and profile picture, and uses them to create and identify your account. It does not read your Gmail, Drive or contacts. If you sign up with email, the password is stored as a salted hash, never in plain text.
Payments are handled by Stripe, so card details never reach AndrIoT. You can delete your account in the dashboard, and the Privacy Policy explains what is removed and how to ask questions.
Pros and limits
Pros
- Live video goes direct and encrypted between phone and browser.
- No recording unless you ask for it.
- No ads and no tracking of your video.
- EU-hosted servers.
Limits
- No always-on cloud archive of live video.
- A relay is used when a direct path is blocked.
- Retention is limited to your plan.
- Weak passwords still defeat good design.
FAQ
Is peer-to-peer video more private than cloud video?
It exposes less, because live video does not have to be stored on a company server. It still depends on strong passwords and careful sharing.
Does AndrIoT store my live video?
No. Live video is streamed. Clips are stored only if you enable recording, for your plan retention period.
What is the relay?
When a direct connection is blocked, an encrypted relay passes the video along. It carries encrypted data and does not keep it.
Where are the servers?
In the EU.
Can I delete my data?
Yes. You can delete clips, and delete your account in the dashboard. See the Privacy Policy.