Latest in Home Security | News, Interviews, Tutorials

Webcam Surveillance Software

As smart home technology becomes more accessible to the general public we are starting to get a better glimpse into what’s possible by firms who have made it their goal to put these tools into our hands. When it comes to Home Security Systems and smart home technology one resource majority of us have is the very same resource you can start using for smart home security purposes: The Computer.

We had the fortunate opportunity to interview three companies who have engineered software that allow individuals the ultimate do-it-yourself experience of turning their home computers and webcams into personal home security surveillance systems. (See More About Security Cameras) (more…)

SimpliSafe Security Review

One of the hallmarks of home security companies is that they require a big commitment. Typically, you’re required to sign a multi-year contract in order to get and install your system. Whenever a home security provider comes along that doesn’t require that kind of long-term investment, it’s worth taking a look to see how they stack up. SimpliSafe.com is one of those companies.

SimpliSafe Quick Facts

Here are the basic specs you need to know about this system:

• It’s a wireless system that uses sensors. The sensors can be place between 400 and 500 feet from the base station. Depending on the size and layout of your home, that distance could be greatly reduced, but the signal should cover most homes – especially if the base station is centrally-located.
• The connection with the monitoring center is cellular-based. This means you don’t require an additional phone line, and SimpliSafe includes the cellular (more…)

Devcon Security Review

The home security marketplace is highly competitive. While the old guard are out there making the same old products, there are some companies that forge ahead with new technologies and new options for home protection. One of the newer kids on the block is Devcon Security.

A focus on service

Devcon’s objective is straightforward. According to their website, they want to “provide each and every customer with superior quality, easy-to-use home security services that come backed by an exceptional, unprecedented level of customer service and support from the best, most comprehensively trained (more…)

Pan-Tilt-Zoom Home Security Cameras

Home security cameras come in many varieties, but one thing that’s common in the vast majority of them is that they don’t move. You install them in one spot and, while you can reach up and readjust the angle, they’re not going to regularly move around.

In fact, cameras that move around are traditionally more the purview of commercial security than they are of residential home security systems. However, there is a trend now among home security system manufacturers to offer Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras – sometimes known as PTZ home security cameras.

How PTZ cameras boost your home security system

What’s the advantage of a PTZ home security camera? They’re the most flexible (and, of course, the most expensive) home security cameras on the market. They have three features that let you do more with your camera than what you could do with (more…)

Young Mom Provides Home Security for Infant Son

Sometimes, the best home security system is simply your will to live and your will to protect your family. A recent incident in Oklahoma involving a young mother and a home invader demonstrates just how dangerous it can be to threaten a family with small children.

This story involves Sarah McKinley, an 18 year-old young mother in Oklahoma City. The holidays proved tragic for McKinley, whose husband passed away on Christmas Day.

McKinley was targeted by a man giving the name of Justin Martin on the day of her husband’s funeral. The man claimed to be a neighbor introducing himself. Wisely, McKinley didn’t (more…)

Home Security in Three Layers

When you think of home security, you typically think of a home security system. Yet, a reliable home security system is only one piece of the puzzle. A more appropriate analogy, however, might be that it’s simply one layer of the cake.

There are, essentially, three layers of security that stand between you and a home invader. Your home security system can interact with all three layers, and you need to consider all three when making home security plans.

Layer One: External Security

The external security has to do with your yard as well as entry points into your house. Measures you can take to secure this layer include:

• Reinforce doors. Most doors are easy to break down. Reinforce your door’s strike plate with stronger screws and a high-heat composite door frame to make it harder to break through.
• Install deadbolts. Deadbolt locks aren’t impenetrable, but they are much harder to pick than standard locks.
• Secure windows. If you’re especially worried, consider (more…)

Preventing Non-Opportunity Home Invasions

Most burglaries are simply crimes of opportunity. A burglar chooses a home to rob, enters the home, takes valuables, and leaves all within a matter of minutes. There’s not a whole lot of planning ahead of time, and it’s relatively easy to deter. Give some indication that breaking in will be a hassle – such as bright yard lights, deadbolts, or a home security system sign – and they’ll choose the next house.

Unfortunately, the most dangerous home invasions can be ones where it’s not a crime of opportunity. If someone has deliberately selected your home to break into, there’s usually a specific reason. Some of the more common include:

• To cause harm to you or your loved ones.
• To steal a particular item or items of value.
• To damage or deface your property.

These crimes can be harder to prevent. In most cases, the home invader has been inside your home. He knows that you don’t actually have a dog, even (more…)

What is an IP Home Security Camera?

There are plenty of camera options when it comes to your home security system. There are cameras that are designed to work with a full system, and there are standalone cameras that simply capture images and retain them. There are wired cameras and wireless home security cameras. One of the newest types out there is the IP home security camera.

What, exactly, is an IP home security camera? There are several defining characteristics of which you should be aware:

• It’s not a closed circuit camera. For decades, the only kind of home security camera you could find was a CCTV camera. These cameras utilize a single circuit that connects the camera with a monitor or recorder. There’s no ability to transmit the data from the camera elsewhere. CCTV cameras may be either wired or wireless.
• It utilizes your home’s computer network. An IP camera uses your home’s computer network to send its signal. Each camera becomes another node on the network. The camera may plug directly into a (more…)

Guardian Security Review

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Should You Have a Home Security Audit?

You can’t be too cautious when it comes to protecting your home and family. After all, that’s why you’ve installed a home security system in the first place. You want to make sure your things are safe from theft and your family is safe from harm.

Yet, even the best home security system can have weaknesses. There are areas that criminals can exploit, bypassing the system, and invading your home.

That’s why you need to consider a professional home security audit.

A home security audit looks at your home and your life under a microscope to identify risks. For example, a home security audit might detect:

• Glassbreak sensors that aren’t functioning.
• A home security system that doesn’t (more…)