Weekend project: 5 simple ways to make your home safer
When building a home security system, every little bit helps. You can make significant changes, like setting up outdoor cameras with facial recognition. This helps you spot familiar faces crossing your street every day.
Or you can make minor tweaks, like recycling old tech for security purposes. For example, you can turn a dusty old phone you no longer use into a surveillance tool. More on that later.
Thanks to our sponsor, SimpliSafe, we have a few tips to help you feel safer around the home. Keep reading for five easy ways to boost your home’s security setup.
1. Turn your old cell phones into security cameras
Security cameras are expensive. The outdated phone in your junk drawer is 100% free. Instead of selling your old phone or trading it in for less than you spent to buy it, try this DIY trick instead.
Turning your old phone into a security camera requires no fancy hardware or tech know-how. You just need to download a security camera app on your phone. Look for something with motion detection and alert features.
Also, when looking for apps, check if they store footage remotely or locally. Your choice of an app depends on how much storage space your old phone has. We recommend Critter.Camera, which also lets you turn old tablets and computers into security cameras.
Tap or click here for a step-by-step guide to turning your used tech into security cameras.
2. Don’t post pictures of your key or your home address on social media
Sure, you might feel proud of yourself for buying your dream home. That might make you want to snap a picture of your key with the caption, “Finally bought my home!” But before you upload your triumphant moment onto social media, hold your horses.
You’re giving burglars the key to your house. Or, at least, the key to creating the key to your home. That’s right: Thieves can make a copy of your house key based on a single picture.
Home security 101: Where to put cameras
When it comes to home security, camera placement is everything. Tech gadgets can be finicky, so their location can make a difference. For example, here are the best places to put your router for better internet speeds.
7 clever uses for your smart doorbell camera
Smart doorbell cameras add a ton of value to your life. Not only do they make you feel more secure in your home, but they can deter criminals, too. If you let a burglar know you’re watching them, they may be too spooked to try anything.
How to install a security camera without breaking any laws
Security cameras are a great way to protect your property. Tap or click here for ways to keep hackers out of your smart home security cameras. But if you don’t set them up correctly, you could pay an arm and a leg. We’re not talking about maintenance fees, either — we’re talking about legal fees.
Crooks are jamming security cameras — Protect yours now!
Security cameras work in two ways. First, they act as a deterrent to thieves. If that doesn’t work, it captures them in the act of stealing your things or breaking into your home.
Your surveillance system is only as good as what your cameras can see. Placement is critical — you don’t want a tree blocking the view of your backyard. You also don’t want cameras to send a notification whenever a squirrel runs across the lawn. Tap or click here for four mistakes you’re making with your home security system.
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.
Home security 101: How to hide a security camera from view
When setting up a home security system, buying cameras is a no-brainer. This way, you can catch criminals in the act so police can quickly track down the bad guys. If you’re too obvious, though, burglars might grab your camera and go. That’s why we’re sharing this guide on how to hide a security camera.
4 hidden perks of a home security system
When you think of a home security system, you might imagine bandits and creepy burglars dressed all in black lurking on the perimeter of your house attempting to find a way in. You think of the loud intruder alert and that critical four-digit safe code pin that you often see being dramatized in the movies.
Anyone can see the layout of your home and what you paid for it - Do this to stay safe
There’s more information about you online than you probably realize. Your hacked passwords, your address, even your credit card details.
Details about your home are everywhere, too. Government sites and resources like Zillow and Redfin list everything from what you paid to the very layout of your house.
Are you a caretaker facing false accusations? Security cameras can prove your innocence
Taking care of unwell family members can be grueling on its own. You have to take care of someone else’s food, medical appointments, restroom usage and more. This applies to any caretaker, whether you’re looking after young kids, animals or even older adults.
Security tip: How to choose and install cameras that upload right to the cloud
Picture this: You’re sleeping soundly in your bed one night. Suddenly, shattering glass jerks you awake. If a burglar’s combing through your home and snatching up your valuables, your mind’s probably racing 100 miles per hour.
Home security comparison: DIY options vs. traditional home security
With so many cybersecurity threats out there you might be focused on protecting your digital life. Even though that’s important, only paying attention to online threats is a huge mistake.
That’s because burglars are still out there in full force looking to invade your home and rip you off. This means having a home security system that you can trust watching your back 24/7 is extremely important.
The best home security system for everyone under your roof
Having a home security system is a must these days. There are just too many criminals in the world to leave your protection up to chance.
But having a system watch your doors and windows isn’t enough. It also needs to protect you from disasters like fires and floods — especially if you have young children in your home or happen to be caring for elderly parents.
Caring for an aging relative? Guide to tech that can help
Caring for an aging parent can be difficult, especially in the midst of a pandemic, when face-to-face interaction with senior family members should be limited as much as possible.
But the risks of sending an aging parent to a nursing home for care are just as real as face-to-face interactions right now, too. As of late May 2020, about 42% of all COVID-19 deaths had taken place in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Forbes reports.
Stuck at home? Make sure your vacation property is safe without having to travel
Do you own a second home? It’s pretty common to own a vacation home or rental property. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 7.5 million Americans do.
With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and travel restrictions ramping up, you might not be able to take that trip you were planning anytime soon. These are strange times and you might be worried about your other property if you can’t travel there.
3 critical features that make a home security system great
Protect your home from intruders and other elemental hazards with help from our sponsor, SimpliSafe’s, complete home security system.
It’s easy to install, with no drilling involved — you can do it yourself in less than 15 minutes! Their service does not require contracts, and it offers 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for less than 50 cents a day.
Doorbell app is handing over your data to Facebook
Facebook has a history of mishandling users’ personal information. It’s been caught multiple times sharing private data with other companies.
Multiple privacy breaches have led many people to delete their Facebook accounts altogether. You should think about deleting yours, too. Tap or click here to find out how to delete your Facebook account.
Protect your data - Amazon employees fired after leaking private customer info
Updated 01/13/2020 – Amazon is having more problems with unruly employees. For the second time in the last couple of weeks, the company announced it had to terminate employees for breaching its policies. Last week we found out employees working for Ring, which is owned by Amazon, were caught spying on customers.