The cam can record video when an alarm occurs when it is connected to PC and browser. Otherwise, images can be sent via mail or stored on an FTP server. The alarm can be triggered by an external contact or noise, movement (just across the camera field of view, unfortunately).
The integrated DDNS function can not be switched off. Out of sheer paranoia, I have my firewall it is not enabled, as it says in the description supplied - who knows who all there could access from outside into my LAN ...