Not an expert but I like my IP cameras. Most people won't want to setup DDNS through their router with a service such as DynDNS (expensive at $40 per year). So

Not an expert but I like my IP cameras. Most people won't want to setup DDNS through their router with a service such as DynDNS (expensive at $40 per year). So the IP camera manufacturers offer DDNS as part of the product. Register the device, and you're up and running with the live camera feed appearing on your phone. Increasingly the cameras have 2-way mic capability, so it's actually very cool to access it from your phone. It's possible some of the fear is coming from not understanding the connections taking place as part of the DDNS. The actual video stream does not need to be uploaded to the manufacturer, unless they offer media management, backup etc and you've opted in. I prefer saving the video triggered from motion sensors etc to a local NAS.