I have 20 cameras in my surveillance system. I would say half are by Hikvision and the remainder are by Dahua. They are hooked up to NVRs and then to my Lan and then to my desk top computer. I do not see how Hikvision can gain access to them. If they could all they would see is the streets around my house and my backyard.
The surveillance cameras at my last house were made by a Chinese company named Zosi. About 6 months after installing them the login password was changed by someone other than myself. I tried numerous times to reset the password, but the company was of no help. I then checked the logs on my router to find that my DVR and cameras were being accessed from China. I tossed the DVR and installed a system made in Canada at my new house.
The exact same way you just connected and posted here
If your computer is connected to the internet then they can access the material stored on it and through the software control your cameras.
Unless you have installed an outbound proxy server that blocks outbound connections unless approved by you ... then they can call home.
I’m using Ubiquiti and I am own the server.
A bit more expensive but made in the USA and no service fees.
Is your desktop connected to the internet?
L