CheapSecurity: A Budget-Friendly, Private CCTV System for Linux SBCs

Welcome to CheapSecurity, a streamlined, self-hosted surveillance solution tailored specifically for Linux-based Single-Board Computers (SBCs) utilizing standard USB webcams.

This project is designed to be a costly cloud-based affordable and privacy-centric alternative to commercial home monitoring, ensuring that your visual data remains entirely under your own jurisdiction.

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🛡️ Project Philosophy

"True security comes from ownership."

The core tenets of CheapSecurity are:

• Privacy-First: By keeping all footage on local storage, the system removes the need for third-party cloud subscriptions and guarantees that your data never exits your local network.
• Cost-Effective: Instead of buying expensive proprietary kits, you can repurpose a spare Linux board and a basic USB webcam.
• Minimalist Architecture: The codebase is optimized for low-power environments, ensuring smooth operation even on entry-level hardware.

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🚀 Key Capabilities

General Highlights

• Hardware Agnostic: Works with nearly any standard USB webcam.
• Resource Efficient: Specifically tuned for boards like the Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi.
• Data Sovereignty: You define the storage paths, how long files are kept, and who can access them.
• Rapid Deployment: Built for a "plug-and-play" experience with minimal maintenance.

Detailed Feature Set

License: This project is distributed under the GNU AGPLv3.

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🛠️ Technical Workflow

The following diagram illustrates how CheapSecurity processes video data:

The Math Behind Motion

Motion is detected by calculating the absolute difference between frames. If the number of pixels exceeding a certain threshold $\tau$ is greater than the minimum area $A_{min}$, motion is triggered:

$\text{Motion} = \sum | \text{Frame}_{t} - \text{Frame}_{t-1} | > \tau \text{ where Area} > A_{min}$

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📦 Installation Guide

Prerequisites

• Python: Version 3.10 or higher.
• OpenCV: Must have V4L2 support.
• Hardware: A USB webcam (defaults to /dev/video0).
• Optional: SMTP details (Email) and a Bot Token/Chat ID (Telegram).

Setup Steps

• Verify OpenCV: Run the following command to check your version: python3 -c "import cv2; print(cv2.__version__)"

• Install OpenCV (If missing):

  • Option A (Recommended for ARM/SBCs): Use the system package manager for optimized binaries.
  • Option B (x86/amd64): Use pip install opencv-python-headless (no GUI needed).

• Environment Setup: Choose the method that matches your OpenCV installation:

  Method A: System OpenCV (ARM)

  cd $HOME/CheapSecurity
  python3 -m venv venv --system-site-packages
  source venv/bin/activate
  pip install -e .
  

  Method B: Pure Pip (x86)

  cd $HOME/CheapSecurity
  python3 -m venv venv
  source venv/bin/activate
  pip install opencv-python-headless
  pip install -e .
  

• Hardware Configuration: Identify your camera: v4l2-ctl --list-devices

• Application Configuration:

  cp config.json.example config.json
  nano config.json
  

  Note: config.json is ignored by git for security; never commit your credentials.

• Launch:

  ./venv/bin/python -m cheapsecurity.app
  

  Access the UI at: http://<your-device-ip>:5000

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⚙️ Configuration Reference

Modify config.json to tune the system behavior: