Get 40% off home security tech, like video doorbells, outdoor cameras and window sensors

Now is the best time to protect your home with tech. Thanks to a home security sale from our sponsor SimpliSafe, you can get steep discounts on everything you need to stay secure. Grab motion sensors, security cameras, burglary alarms and more.

So if you’ve been holding off on setting up a home security system, now is the time. Right now, you can get 40% off any SimpliSafe system. Don’t worry about the setup: SimpliSafe makes installing your home security system easy.

Here’s all you need to know about this home security sale.

Give the gift of home security this Christmas

Sure, you could give a cute trinket to the older folks in your family. Or you could go one step further and give mom or dad the gift of security this year. Whether shopping for parents, grandparents or friends, a security device is an incredibly thoughtful gift.

Perhaps you’re giving gifts to someone who lives in the same house as you. Maybe they even share your Amazon account. Use this trick to stop people on your account from seeing what you bought them.

Show the people in your life how much you care by helping them with a home security system. A simple sensor can do wonders for their peace of mind. If they live in dangerous areas, grab them a camera for their driveway or backyard.

Now that the security system Kim uses and recommends is on sale, you’re in luck. There’s no better time to protect your family. Plus, there are a ton of gadgets to choose from.

Why Kim trusts SimpliSafe

This award-winning system has an arsenal of sensors and cameras you can use to protect every inch of your home. Once you’re ready to start shopping, check out our top five sensors. Not only is SimpliSafe easy to use, but the setup is a breeze.

It shouldn’t take you longer than 30 minutes to set up your system. Instructions are clear, so you can do it by yourself. You don’t have to worry about annoying salespeople or installation technicians stomping through your house.

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Google has new ways to keep an eye on the kids

It is challenging to keep track of the websites your kids visit and who they communicate with. Fortunately, there is help. For example, Facebook rolled out new privacy settings so you can see what your kids do.

Unfortunately, things can slip through the cracks. This became shockingly clear recently as an investigation found that the popular storytelling site Wattpad is rife with sexual predators.

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Genealogy site data breach: See if your info was leaked

There is something magical about discovering where you come from and how your ancestors migrated around the globe. There are several websites where you can build a complete family tree, with Ancestry.com, My Heritage and FamilySearch being the most well-known.

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5 ways tech can help you feel safer at home

When I host a national radio show and podcast about all things tech, digital security is always in every program. Take your home’s router, for instance. An outdated model can put your entire network, files, and anything connected to it at risk for hackers. Tap or click for five reasons you need to replace that old router.

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Don't ignore this warning from Microsoft - It's real

There are plenty of ways that scammers can entice you to give up valuable information. One common trick is phishing attacks, where criminals send you an email with malicious links or attachments.

The email usually urges you to log in to an account to verify your details, correct an online purchase or reset your password. But with spam making up almost 90% of all emails sent, it’s easy to dismiss them when they land in your inbox.

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Best video doorbells: 5 options for keeping an eye on the porch

A video doorbell can make you feel safe when you’re away from home. Keep an eye on when the kids get home, when packages are delivered or whether any of your neighbors are porch pirates.

But not all video doorbells are made equal. Some are better at night vision, while others provide higher-quality daytime recordings. Tap or click for secret uses for your home security system.

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Did you get a verification code you didn't request? You could be in danger

Our content marketing queen Allie gets texts with her Uber sign-in code now and then. The problem? She’s not trying to get into her Uber account; someone else is.

She ignores them because she’s well-versed in smishing, phishing and other criminal schemes. Tap or click here for a crash course in smishing scams. But of course, not all texts with verification codes are fraudulent. 

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Do this or anyone can see what your security camera sees

Security cameras are among the first lines of defense in protecting your home from criminals. They can notify you of suspicious activity even when you’re far away. You can keep an eye out for package deliveries and check up on your house while you’re at work.

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Is your Roomba spying? How to stop your robot vacuum from sharing data

Are your smart speakers always listening? Big Tech companies will argue, but the answer is yes. Tap or click here for the Amazon Echo settings you need to change to protect your privacy.

It’s not just speakers you need to worry about. Any connected device in your house can be used to monitor you. This even includes your robot vacuum.

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Live alone? Here are 7 tech tips to help you feel safe

There are many perks to living on your own. You can dance around the living room to your favorite oldies. All the dirty dishes in the sink are yours and yours alone — washing them can wait.

Perhaps best of all, nobody will be upset if you decide to spend Saturday binging your favorite show. But that comes at its own cost. You’re not alone if you’ve noticed that your streaming bills have been creeping up. Tap or click here for some secrets to rein in your costs.

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Tech keeps your students safe at school

When my son went to preschool at age four, I taught him to use a cellphone for kids that I tossed in his backpack. It had no apps and four numbers: Mom, Dad, Grandma, and 911. This time was way before school shootings were in the headlines.

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Have a Ring camera? Update to protect yourself from this hack

Software updates can add new functions or patch vulnerabilities that expose your details. Tap or click here to see how a dangerous Zoom flaw puts your computer at risk.

The main reason to update all your tech regularly is to get critical security patches. Amazon’s Ring devices are a perfect example. A severe flaw in the Ring app was recently discovered that needs updating ASAP.

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These SHOCKING hidden spy cameras could be secretly recording everything you do

If you thought the infamous James Bond spy gear was too ridiculous to be true, think again. Life is often stranger than fiction. Take, for example, the shocking hidden cameras you can drink, light up or even hide in your shirt.

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License plate scanners are coming to more cities - Here's what info they can collect in the wrong hands

When police take cover on city roads checking for speedsters, they often have technology that instantly reads back a vehicle’s license plate. Through this, they can get detailed information on the driver and check for warrants. Tap or click here for how digital license plates are packed with many tracking sensors.

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Have a Ring camera? Police can get your footage without permission in some situations

A smart doorbell is useful if you want to see who’s at the front door or what’s going on in the yard. A popular option is the Ring doorbell.

Since the doorbell is in a prime location to watch for unusual activity or potential crimes, Ring’s Neighbors app lets neighbors share videos and screenshots. Law enforcement has occasionally also used Ring footage during criminal investigations. Tap or click here to see how it works.

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Vehicle security warning: Own one of these cars and you’re at risk

When a manufacturer releases a defective product, it can volunteer to recall it. If the risk is significant enough, the government will step in and enforce it. Either way, the consumer may not know about the recall until later.

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Have kids in the family? New way to see who they're talking to and what they're looking at

Social media has come under fire for its invasive privacy practices. Among the biggest culprits is Meta, the parent company for Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook recently rolled out new privacy settings to keep you informed of how you’re being tracked while also giving you options to limit tracking. Some of those settings have been making their way to Instagram. Tap or click here to rein in Instagram’s hold on your data.

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Hidden map on your phone shows everywhere you’ve been and the photos you took there

Google Maps makes navigating unfamiliar cities frustration-free and straightforward. It has an innovative feature that you’re probably not taking full advantage of, Street View. Sure it’s great for looking at your childhood home. But, you can use it for things like creating your own stories and even going indoors. 

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Staying in a hotel, Airbnb or rental? Bring this hidden camera detector with you

Summer’s almost here, and you’re likely anxious to get out there and enjoy some good times. We understand.

Before you leave, you want to make sure your home is protected. A surveillance system is a great way to keep tabs on your home and deter crime. But you can’t go placing cameras at random. Tap or click here for our camera placement tips.

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5 private details about you and your home anyone can find online

Thinking of buying or selling a home? There’s a wealth of information online showing you every detail of a house. Doing your research will help you get a better deal no matter which side of the bargaining table you’re on.

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