IP Cameras are one of the best security features and it has been known to be an effective way to secure our homes but like any other network-connected device, it can be open to any type of cyber threats.
Being familiar with your camera’s privacy and security settings, together with your Trend Micro Home Network Security are keys to secure your home network. Below are some troubleshooting guides for known TP-Link IP Cameras.
Downloading the Kasa Smart Home app
Kasa Smart is your portal to your TP-LINK Smart Home. It lets you add, configure, monitor, and control your connected TP-LINK Smart Home devices. Below are the steps on how you can get started:
- Open the App Store / Play Store on your mobile device.
- Search for "Kasa Smart" app.
- Select Get or Install.
- Select Open.
Register or login to Kasa Smart
- Creating your account
- Open the Kasa Smart app on your device.
- On the Welcome Screen, tap Create an account.
- Provide your Email, Password and Location.
You need to input the location to ensure the personal information is stored and managed according to your country’s data privacy laws.
- When finished, tap Create Account.
- Read the Terms & Privacy Policy, then tap Create Account.
- Logging in
- Open the Kasa Smart app on your device.
- On the Welcome Screen, tap Log In.
- Enter your Email and Password, then click Log In.
Setting up your Kasa Spot KC100
To get started with using your Kasa Spot KC100, follow the steps below:
- Download the Kasa Smart app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app, then log in with your registered credentials.
- Tap the button in the Kasa app, then select Kasa Spot.
- Follow the prompts to configure your camera, and add it to your home network.
- Place your camera on a flat surface, or install it on your desired placement.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the manufacturer’s support.
Updating your Kasa Spot’s firmware
The firmware on TP-Link smart devices can only be updated by using the TP-Link Kasa App. If you have successfully downloaded the App, follow the steps below:
- Open the app, then log in with your registered credentials.
- Click the icon at the top left to open the side menu bar, then click Settings.
- Under Settings, tap Firmware Update.
- If any firmware updates are available, they will be displayed on the screen.
Restarting your Kasa Spot KC100
- To restart, unplug your device or the power adapter from the power outlet, then plug it back in.
- For devices with removable batteries, remove and reinsert the batteries to restart the device.
Resetting your Kasa Spot to factory default
There are three ways to reset your IP Camera to default factory settings, please note that resetting the device will result in losing all your settings except for Client Settings. If you are firm in doing so, you may follow the steps below:
- Reset through the RESET / Sync button
- Turn the camera lens up to find the RESET button.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 3 to 15 seconds till the LED blinks amber slowly to soft reset to SoftAP mode. Soft reset does not erase the camera settings.
- Press and hold the RESET / Sync button for over 15 seconds till the LED blinks amber quickly to reset to factory mode. It will erase all your custom settings and restore the camera to factory defaults.
- Via the Kasa App
This method will only work if the camera is online, and the LED is solid green.
- Launch the Kasa app, tap the camera you want to reset on the dashboard.
- Click the Gear icon at the upper right corner to go to the Device Settings page.
- Select your Camera in UPnP device list, click Factory default on the right side.
- Tap Remove Device at the bottom to reset the camera.
Issues
For issues about the device, you may contact the manufacturer’s support.
Installing the TP-Link NC450 Camera Control software
- Download the software package from this link: https://www.tplinkcloud.com/download.php
- Double-click the software package. The setup wizard will pop up.
- Follow the setup wizard to install the TP-LINK Camera Control.
- When the installation is completed, the TP-LINK Camera Control shortcut will appear on your computer desktop.
Creating an account
- Right-click the icon, then select Run as administrator to open it. The Login page will pop up.
- Create a new account, then log in. The TP-LINK Camera Control screen will pop up.
Adding a camera
- Connect your cameras to the network same with your computer.
For details, refer to the Quick Installation Guide of your camera.
- Go to the Devices → New Devices page. The system will automatically discover the cameras on your network.
- Click the (+) plus sign or double-click each entry, and enter the camera’s password (admin by default) to add your cameras one by one.
The added cameras will be moved to the Devices → Added Devices page.
- Double-click each entry to rename your camera for easy identification.
Changing your password
Everyone who knows the IP Address of your IPCam can access the device configuration using the default password. It is recommended to change your default password to a stronger one to secure your account. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Open the Camera Control app through your the shortcut or the start menu.
- Go to "Settings" tab.
- At the bottom of the screen, you will see "Change Password"
- Enter the default / current password under "Old Password".
- Enter your desired strong password under "New Password" and "Confirm Password".
- Confirm the changes.
Updating your TP-Link NC450’s firmware
Firmware updates are essential in any devices, it does not only upgrade features but it also resolves security issues found. To update, follow the steps below:
- Download the software package from this link: http://www.tp-link.com/
- Use a decompression software to extract the file.
- Click Browse, then select the downloaded firmware upgrade file.
- Click Upgrade to update the camera's software to the latest version.
- Wait for the upgrading process to complete, then the camera will reboot automatically.
Rebooting your TP-Link NC450
- To reboot, open the Camera Control app through the shortcut or the start menu.
- Go to "System" tab.
- Under "Management", you will see the option to reboot. Click Reboot, then click Reboot on the pop-up screen to confirm. Rebooting will not change the camera's setting. After rebooting, you need to log in to this page again. If you want to reset, follow the steps below.
Resetting your TP-Link NC450 to factory default
Please note that resetting the device will result in losing all your settings except for Client Settings. If you are firm in doing so, you may follow the steps below:
- To reset, open the Camera Control app through the shortcut or the start menu.
- Go to "System" tab.
- Under "Management", you will see the option to reset to default factory settings. Click Reset to restore the camera to its factory defaults. Don't turn off the camera while resetting. After resetting, you need to add the camera to your TP-LINK Cloud account again, find out the IP address of your camera (refer to use the default username and password (admin/admin) to log in to this web management page.
Issues
For issues about the device, you may contact the manufacturer’s support.
Downloading The Kasa Smart Home app
Kasa Smart is your portal to your TP-LINK Smart Home. It lets you add, configure, monitor, and control your connected TP-LINK Smart Home devices. Below are the steps on how you can get started:
- Open the App Store / Play Store on your mobile device.
- Search for "Kasa Smart" app.
- Tap Get or Install.
- Tap Open.
Register or login to Kasa Smart
- Creating your account
- Open the Kasa Smart app on your device.
- On the Welcome Screen, tap Create an account.
- Provide your Email, Password and Location.
You need to input the location to ensure the personal information is stored and managed according to your country’s data privacy laws.
- When finished, tap Create Account.
- Read the Terms & Privacy Policy, then tap Create Account.
- Logging in
- Open the Kasa Smart App on your device.
- On the Welcome Screen, tap Log In.
- Enter Email and Password you registered, then tap Log In.
Setting up your Kasa Spot KC110
To get started with using your Kasa Spot KC110, follow the steps below:
- Download the Kasa Smart app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the app, then log in with your registered credentials.
- Tap the button in the Kasa app and select Kasa Spot.
- Follow the prompts to configure your camera and add it to your home network.
- Place your camera on a flat surface, or install it on your desired placement.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the manufacturer’s support.
Updating your Kasa Spot’s firmware
The firmware on TP-Link smart devices can only be updated by using the TP-Link Kasa App. If you have successfully downloaded the App, follow the steps below:
- Open the app, then log in with your registered credentials.
- Click the icon at the top left to open the side menu bar, then click Settings.
- Under Settings, tap Firmware Update.
- If any firmware updates are available, they will be displayed on the screen.
Restarting your Kasa Spot KC110
- To restart, unplug your device or the power adapter from the power outlet, then plug it back in.
- For devices with removable batteries, remove, then reinsert the batteries to restart the device.
Resetting your Kasa Spot to factory default
There are three ways to reset your IP Camera to default factory settings, please note that resetting the device will result in losing all your settings except for Client Settings. If you are firm in doing so, you may follow the steps below:
- Reset through the RESET / Sync button
- Turn the camera lens up to find the RESET button.
- Press and hold the RESET button for 3 to 15 seconds till the LED blinks amber slowly to soft reset to SoftAP mode. Soft reset does not erase the camera settings.
- Press and hold the RESET / Sync button for over 15 seconds till the LED blinks amber quickly to reset to factory mode. It will erase all your custom settings and restore the camera to factory defaults.
- Via the Kasa App
This method will only work if the camera is online, and the LED is solid green.
- Launch the Kasa app, tap on the camera you want to reset on the dashboard.
- Click on the Gear icon at the upper right corner to go to the Device Settings page.
- Select your Camera in UPnP device list, click Factory default on the right side.
- Tap Remove Device at the bottom to reset the camera.
Issues
For issues about the device, you may contact the manufacturer’s support.
- Keep your IP Camera’s firmware versions up to date. Updating your IP Camera’s firmware not only update features and fixes bugs but more importantly, resolves security issues. The firmware on TP-Link smart devices can only be updated by using the TP-Link Kasa App. If you have successfully downloaded the App, follow the steps below:
- Open the app, then log in with your registered credentials.
- Click the icon at the top left to open the side menu bar, then click Settings.
- Under "Settings", tap Firmware Update.
- If any firmware updates are available, they will be displayed on the screen.
- Password protect your cameras, the steps on how to do it are included in the instructions above.
- Avoid Port Forwarding to your IP Camera
- Change the default passwords of your devices – routers, and other devices connected to the network.
- Keep your accounts secured by using a password manager app like Trend Micro Password Manager or your mobile device protected by using mobile security apps such as Trend Micro Mobile Security for Android or iOS.
- Secure your Home Network by making sure your Trend Micro Home Network Security is always enabled and connected.
What if I have more questions?
For more information, you can visit the following websites and articles:
- Inside the Smart Home: IoT Device Threats and Attack Scenarios
- Smart Yet Flawed: IoT Device Vulnerabilities Explained
- IoT Device Security
- Securing IP Surveillance Cameras in the IoT Ecosystem
- TP-Link Support
Safeguard your Home Network
Use Trend Micro Home Network Security to shield your smart home including your IP Cameras and other connected devices from security threats.