House fires are one of the most traumatic events that could ever happen in someone’s home. Not only do people lose precious property and treasured items, damage repair could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And of course there’s the greatest fear of all: Fires can lead to injury and death.

In 2016, residential fires make up 29% of all fires in the United States. That same year, the U.S Fire Administration reported that 3,390 people died due to fires while 73.2% of those deaths happened on residential property.

Most of us live our daily lives not even thinking about the fire safety of our homes. But these statistics show that it is vitally important for us to make sure our living spaces are protected against these disasters.

Have no idea where to start?

Don’t worry. Here’s everything you need to know to protect your home from fires.

What Are the Odds of Being in a House Fire?

There’s no one answer to this question since the risk of house fires varies by many regional factors, including climate, time of year, poverty and the quality of home structures. For example, in 2016 California was one of the leading states in house fires due to the rampant wildfires that consumed the west coast. And if you live in a colder climate, fires are more likely to occur during the winter season when you want to turn up the heat in your home. Heating systems that malfunction or are left unattended can be a huge risk.

But of course there are many factors that can cause any residential structure to catch on fire.

The Major Causes of House Fires

Let’s walk through all the scenarios.

Cooking Mishaps

Today, mishaps with cooking equipment is the leading cause of all house fires (nearly 50%) and the second leading cause of fire deaths.

It’s important to be careful when you’re cooking up a feast — especially if you are distracted while doing it. Plus if you are using any flammable oils or items near the stove, oven, or open flame, you are putting yourself and your family at risk when you are not conscious of what’s going on in the kitchen.

Heating Issues

Heating equipment is the second leading cause of house fires in the U.S. Usually these scary accidents happen when you’re trying to heat up your bedroom with your space heater and don’t realize how close it is to your mattress comforter or any other combustibles.

Upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding can all catch fire if they are too close to heating equipment.

Fires can also occur if your heating system breaks down or if you fail to properly clean your equipment.

For example, a dirty chimney or wood stove can result in a house fire. Creosote, a dark brown oil that is often left over from burning wood or coal, is highly flammable can build up if your chimney or stove is not cleaned out regularly.

Maybe that’s why people don’t use chimneys has much as they used to, but if you do have one, make sure you have it inspected before you start using it.

Electrical and Lighting Malfunctions

Electrical malfunctions can happen for many reasons.

• Arc faults. This occurs when there is a high power discharge of electricity between two or more conductors within the wires of an electrical system. That discharge can let off a heat so hot that it can melt the wire’s insulation and light up whatever is around it.
• Electrical overloads. Have you ever seen a powerstrip loaded up with so many devices that you prayed to yourself that it wouldn’t blow up? Well, that powerstrip will probably not implode into little pieces, but if any cable on that strip experiences more current than it’s capable of carrying, than it might catch on fire.
• Short circuiting. This happens when currents don’t flow properly in your electrical system. It’s like they take shortcuts from conductor to conductor, therefore causing a rise in heat and putting you more at risk for a fire.
• Current leaks. This tends to occur more in older structures where cables are worn and exposed to excessive moisture or corrosion. Here’s a nightmare: A corroded electrical wire below a wet carpet. Not only can this cause a fire, the conduction of the electricity (via the water) can actually electrocute someone.
• Lightning. If lightning strikes a house, it can cause a major power surge which would overload an electrical system and lead to a fire.

Smoking Accidents

Smoking in and of itself does not cause fires, but the materials used for the activity can.

Cigarettes, cigars and pipes that aren’t properly put out or left by combustible material are a huge hazard when it comes to fire safety. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated that smoking materials caused 17,200 houses in 2014.

We might feel the safest when we are at home, and for some that means we can sit back and enjoy a cigar here and there. But this does not mean we can put our guard down when it comes to disposing smoking materials. Improper disposal can lead to death and injury.

Candle Fires

Many people love to use candles in their home: They are great for aromatherapy, creating a romantic ambiance at dinner, a birthday cake or just light up the house when the power goes out.

Candles are extremely useful, but if we are too careless, they can be extremely dangerous. A fire could easily start if someone bumps a candle off it’s holder. And sometimes people forget to put out their candles before they go to bed and let them burn all the way down and scald the surface they sit on. Or sometimes a person can light a candle near flammable material. There’s a whole bunch of situations where candle lighting can go wrong.

Bottom line is: About 25 candle fires are reported every day in the United States, according to the NFPA. That little light of yours needs to be handled with care.

Natural Disasters

Some fires are just out of our control and there’s nothing much we can do when Mother Nature comes rearing her angry head.

As mentioned before, lightning can cause electrical power surges, which can set off a fire in a home or near it. Forest wildfires can consume entire neighborhoods.

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes can also create fires if they damage heating or electrical devices in a way that causes the equipment (or material around them) to combust.

Intentional Fires and Arson

As a victim of arson, this is also another misfortune that is tough to control — unless one gets into the mind of the criminal to prevent a disaster from happening.

While arson is not one of the leading causes of house fires, 261,330 intentional fires were reported to U.S. fire departments from 2011-2014. An average of 440 people died each year while about 1,300 people were injured annually.

How to Safeguard Your Home Against House Fires

Thankfully there are many ways to protect yourself from a potentially dangerous situations. We’ll walk you through some safety tips for each of the hazardous situations above.

Protecting Yourself from Cooking Accidents

The next time you are preparing a meal, make sure to ask yourself: “Am I alert enough to be cooking right now?”

• Am I sleepy or tired?
• Have I been drinking alcohol?

The reason that we point this out is because a lack of awareness and control over one’s body is what leads to accidents. The oil topples onto the stove. Somehow napkins get a little close to an open flame.

It’s important that you have your head on straight when you are cooking with fire. If you are good to start slicing and dicing, here are few more things to keep in mind:

• When frying, boiling, grilling or broiling, stay in the kitchen. Don’t leave your pots and pans unattended for things to burn. If you need to leave for a bit for whatever reason, turn off the stove.
• When simmering, baking or roasting, check on your food regularly. Again, you don’t want things to burn or catch fire. Take a peak on your food once in a while and stay in the home while it’s cooking. Set a timer to remind you when to check on the food.
• Keep combustibles away from stoves and ovens. Oven mitts, napkins, paper towels, utensils, towels, curtains … Keep them at a safe distance!
• Make sure your electric stove is off when you are not using it. Because electric stoves don’t cook with fire (which is more visible to the eye) sometimes it’s tough to know if it’s on or off — particularly if a pot or pan is covering it. Before you leave the kitchen, double check that it’s turned off.

In the case that you do have a small grease fire…

• Stovetop: Turn off the burner and place the lid on the pot or pan and let the fire die down. Leave everything until it’s completely cooled down.
• Oven: Turn off the heat and close the oven door.

Being Safe Around Heating Equipment

One key to fire safety is making sure your heating equipment is operating properly and out of the way of causing harm. Here are a few things to look out for when you are setting up your home:

• If you need a new heating system, hire a professional to set it up. You might call yourself Mr. or Mrs. “Fix It”, but it is important that your equipment it installed according to state codes and manufacture instructions. Hire someone to make sure everything is set up correctly.
• Keep combustibles at least three feet away from any heating equipment. This will be a sure-fire way to make sure things don’t randomly set on fire. Pun intended.
• Create a kid-free zone. To protect your children make sure to have a three-foot barrier around fireplaces or space heaters.
• When using a fireplace, cover it with a protective screen. This will prevent embers and sparks from flying into the room. And when you dispose of the ashes, make sure they are cool before you place them in a safe metal container.
• Do not use an oven to heat your home. Having an oven open for hours is extremely risky and dangerous.
• Clean your equipment. Have your heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year.
• Make sure you are using the right fuel. If you are using a heater that requires a certain fuel, stick to that. Using anything else can cause a dangerous malfunction.
• Turn off portable heaters before going to bed. You may fall asleep a little chillier than you would like, but this way you’ll be assured that a fire won’t start while you are asleep. If anything bad occurs, you’ll be awake to respond quickly.

Taking Precautions with Electrical Equipment

The tips for electrical equipment are similar to heating in the sense that the emphasis is all around installment and placement:

• Make sure all electrical work is done by a pro. Again it’s important that your home is wired correctly and meets local codes.
• Never plug in more than one heating device into an outlet. So coffee makers, toasters, space heaters … make sure only one of them is plugged in at a time.
• Do not plug in large appliances into extension cords or power strips. Big things like refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves and air conditioners should only be plugged into the wall. These appliances can overload any powerstrips you try to use with them.
• Make sure there are no electrical cords running across doorways or under carpets. Cords placed in these areas are more susceptible to damage and electrical leakages can cause fires.
• For lighting, make sure to use the right bulbs. Before you install your bulbs, look at the sticker that indicates their wattage. If they are appropriate for your light fixture then you’re safe from the bulb melting.

Avoiding Smoking Accidents

Now we at Security Baron don’t encourage smoking tobacco. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking cigarettes is one of the leading causes of lung cancer in America.

However, we are aware that my Americans still smoke regardless of the risks. If you’re going to partake in any type of smoking, follow these suggestions to avoid any fire hazards:

• Use fire-safe cigarettes. These have a “lower ignition propensity”, which means they are more likely to burnout when left alone.
• Smoke outside. Most fire deaths occur inside the home because they are harder to escape.
  Keep lighters and matches away from kids. Lock them up. Put them away where children can’t reach them. You don’t want them playing with fire.
• Never smoke around medical oxygen. Medical oxygen makes everything in the room that much more flammable. Don’t do it. Oxygen makes fires burn faster and hotter.

When you are putting your cigarette, cigar or pipe out:

• Place in a deep ashtray. And make sure that ashtray is away from anything that could burn.
• Don’t place in any form of vegetation. Mulch, shrubs and potted plants can easily catch fire.
• Before you throw away butts and ashes make sure they are out. Douse them with water or dump sand all over them before disposing them.

Treating Candles with Care

Candles are beautiful devices, but we have to be careful when using them:

• Keep them a foot away from anything that can burn. Curtains, lamp shades, table cloths and things of the sort are all susceptible to catching fire. In addition, when you are lighting a candle, make sure your hair and clothing are away from the flame.
• Use sturdy candle holders. You don’t want that baby tipping over.
• Don’t let the candle burn all the way down. Put it out when you are leaving the room or going to sleep. Put it out when the flame is getting too close to the bottom of the container.
• Never light a candle if you’re using oxygen in your home. Again, oxygen makes things extremely flammable.
• When the power goes out, use flashlights. If you’re lighting your whole home with candles, you’ll have a lot of flame to look over. If you aren’t paying much attention, you’re at a higher risk for a house fire.

Arming Yourself Against Natural Disasters (Particularly Wildfires)

While fires cause by lightning strikes, tornadoes and other natural disasters are hard to prevent, there are a lot of actions we can take to curb the damage of wild forest fires.

If you live in an area where you are at risk, you need to make sure that your house won’t fuel the flames:

• Clear your house of pine needles and dead leaves. Check your rooflines, decks, porches, gutters porches and fence lines. Rake. Sweep. Vacuum. Do anything to clean up. Loose embers will eat that stuff up.
• Put away outdoor furnishing. During wildfire season, it’s important to pack up any furniture cushions, rugs, decorations and potted plants. These items are flammable and could encourage a fire to spread.
• Screen and seal all vents and openings. Wind-born embers can fly into homes and start another fire.
• Trim shrubs and trees that come within five feet of your home. This lessens the chance of a bush catching on fire and spreading into your house.
• Close all windows and doors. If you have to evacuate your house, make sure all openings to your house are closed. Most houses burn down during wildfires because of embers that were able to sneak into the home.
• Remove anything that could be a large fuel source. If you own a boat or a car or if you collect wood for the fireplace, move them far away from your house. You don’t want to feed the flames.

Fighting Against Arson

Arson is one of those crimes that requires a community effort to thwart. Where arson is prevalent, police and fire departments recommend that neighbors band together to form a community watch group to ward off criminals before they cause any damage.

But here are some things you can do to protect your own home:

• Install an alarm systems and security cameras. Most arson fires are started inside the home. If a trespasser breaks into your home, then a sound security system could scare them away.
• Make sure doors and windows are properly locked and sealed. You don’t want any holes to encourage arsonists to get in.
• Flammable material should be stored inside the house. If you use wood for a fireplace or a furnace, keep that inside and away from criminals.

If you ever see any suspicious activity, make sure you report it to the police or the fire department in your area.

Fire Protection Technologies to Store in Your Home

While we can make sure our equipment is installed properly and make sure combustibles are not exposed to excessive heat or flames, there are many tools and devices out there that can either help prevent a fire from happening or warn us from any impending danger.

You might want to look into getting these in your home.

• Smoke and Fire Alarms. These will alert you when a fire has started in your home. You should check them once a month, just to make sure they are working properly and the batteries are fully charged.
• Home sprinklers. You might see these more in commercial and school buildings, but you can store these in your home. These sprinklers will help put the fire out once they detect the heat.
• Arc-fault circuit interrupters and ground-fault circuit interrupters. Also called AFCIs and GFCIs, these will shut off the electricity any time a dangerous situation occurs.
• Fire extinguisher. If you can stop a small fire in its tracks before it spreads, that’s the best scenario. A fire extinguisher can help you with that without having to call the authorities. But if the fire is out of control, get out fast.

Sometimes these tools are extremely helpful in a fire situation. But even when you have all the bells and whistles ringing and a fire extinguisher in our hands, you can still get trapped in the flames. We need to have a plan B when things go wrong.

What to Do If You You’re in a Fire

Before the worst case scenario occurs, it’s important to plan your escape.

Gather your family and roommates together and map out the best escape roots and plan an outdoor meeting spot once each of you has gotten out of danger. Everyone in the household should have the emergency contact of the police and fire departments memorized. And if there any infants, children or people with disabilities within the home, they need to be assigned to someone who can help assist them out of the house.

These tips will put you in the best situation when a fire occurs.

When you are actually in a fire:

• Get out immediately. Only call 911 when you are in a safe place.
• If you encounter smoke, crawl out. Most fire deaths occur because people inhale inhale too much smoke.
• Never open a hot door. Chances are more fire and smoke are behind that door. If you have to open a door, check on whether or not it’s hot by placing the back of your hand against it. If it’s hot, find another way to proceed. If it’s cool, you can open it up slowly and carefully.
• Call the authorities once you’re safely outside the house. It’s important to get professional help to put the fire out and help any people who are still inside the building. And if you or any of your loved ones inhaled smoke or are suffering from burns, it’s important to get medical help as soon as possible.

House fires are incredibly dangerous situations and it’s important to know these tips to make sure you put yourself in the best position to escape unharmed.

What to Do After You’ve Experienced A House Fire

When any sort of trauma has a occured to you, your family or your property, it can be very confusing as to how to move forward. You may still be in shock and unsure of what to do. But if you can keep this list handy, you’ll at least have some sort of a guideline.

• If you don’t have a place to stay, contact your local relief center. Places like the Red Cross will set you up with food, clothing, shelter and medicine until you find new housing.
• Call your insurance agency. Talk to them about how to keep your house safe until it’s repaired. Ask them who can help clean up your home from the damage. If you don’t have insurance, look for community groups that can give you some aid and assistance.
• Only re-enter your home when the fire department says it’s safe to enter. And don’t try to use any of the utilities before the firefighters try to turn them back on. It could be dangerous otherwise.
• Protect your finances. Tell your landlord about the fire or mortgage lender as soon as you can. Report any credit or debit cards lost in the fire and keep track of receipts for any money you spend on repair. Your insurance company might need these receipts and they’ll be needed to prove any losses on your tax return.
• Try to find valuable documents. If you can’t find them in the damage, it’s time to replace them ASAP.
• Check in with the IRS. You might be able to receive benefits for people who have experienced house fires.

If you have suffered any physical or emotional traumas please seek a medical professional to help you recover to your normal, healthy self.

A Fireproof Home is a Happy Home

There’s no doubt that house fires are incredibly scarring to the victims involved. That’s why we wrote this article so that you have the tools and wherewithal to protect yourself from fires, but also know what to do if the worst occurs.

We’ve given you a lot of information, but generally speaking, these are the key takeaways to making sure your home is as safe as it could ever be:

• Be super conscious when you are using heating, electrical and cooking equipment.You might be a good cook and you might be an awesome handyman or woman, but it’s vital that when you are using or installing any equipment that they are set up according to code and are far from anything that is flammable.
• Put out smoking materials and candles properly. If you let these things smolder while your gone, your house could be in trouble.
• Fireproof your house from wildfires. Make sure outdoor combustibles are either cleaned up or put away.
• Install fire protection technology to stop fires from getting out of control.
  Have a plan. Educate yourself and your family to set everyone up for survival.

Fires are preventable if you treat your home with precaution. And if they ever do occur, know now that you’ll handle it a little more prepared.

The post Everything You Need to Know to Protect You (And Your Family) from House Fires appeared first on Security Baron.

via Security Baron https://securitybaron.com/featured/house-fire-safety/

I love Costco. It’s the perfect place to stock up on food, toiletries, and…what’s that? They sell security systems, too? What don’t they have?

This isn’t an advertisement for Costco, by the way. It’s a review of the Lorex security systems, sold there, specifically the 8-channel security system with four super HD 2k outdoor cameras. Let’s talk about Lorex as a company.

Founded in the early nineties, Lorex is a distributor of video security systems through brick and mortar stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, as well as online platforms like their website. In 2018, they were sold to Dahua Technology Co, and they continue to operate from their headquarters in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Lorex is an interesting mix of old and new. While their equipment resembles the old-school security cameras of the nineties, they don’t force you into any monthly contracts.

In this review, we’ll talk about what you get with the Lorex security system, how well it works, and how convenient it was to set up. Then, I’ll discuss the professional monitoring options (or in this case, lack thereof), how customer support works, and finally, the Lorex mobile app. There’s no better time than the present- Security Baron’s review of the Lorex security system starts now!

What’s in the Lorex System?

Lorex works pretty differently than most security companies. The majority of their security systems is simply cameras and hard drives. The 8-channel security system I bought includes only a 1 TB hard drive and four super HD 2k outdoor cameras. Let’s see what it’s all about!

1 TB Hard Drive

You’ll back up your footage locally on the 1 TB hard drive. Wondering how much footage 1 TB holds? About 500 hours, or 250 full-length movies. From the hard drive, you can download the footage, share it with friends and family, or upload it to a cloud for additional backup.

Four Super HD 2K Outdoor Cameras

The cameras with this system can be used either indoors or outdoors in conditions from -22 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. With an IP rating of 66, the camera is totally protected from dust and can even withstand powerful water jets. In a nutshell, these cameras can handle whatever weather conditions you throw their way.

Design

There’s no mistaking the Lorex’s four super HD 2K cameras for anything other than security cameras. Big and bulky, the round black camera is encased in white plastic. It’s hard to imagine these cameras blending in with a comfortable home, but then again, Lorex isn’t known for its sleek design.

Aside from its bulky design, the cameras must be plugged in to both DVR and power. Personally, the amount of wires involved concerns me, but not everyone is as into interior decorating as I am. It really comes down to your personal preference.

Video quality

I am completely divided about the cameras’ video quality. While it has 2592p HD vision, with twice as many pixels as the industry standard of 1080p HD, the camera cannot zoom and its field of view is extremely narrow at 89 degrees. That means that you’ll need four cameras to cover a room completely, so this system will only cover one room. A bit disappointing.

Audio

Unfortunately but not totally surprisingly, the four MP camera does not have two-way audio. That means that if you’re livestreaming footage, you can only look- there’s no way to communicate with the people you’re recording through the camera. That’s a shame because two-way audio is a useful feature both in talking with friends and family and, god forbid, intruders.

Night vision

Lorex’s 2K outdoor camera is unique because it has both infrared and color night vision from a bright white light. It’ll use color night vision when light is low, and switch to black and white when it gets darker out. Believe it or not, this baby has 18 infrared LED sensors- the most I’ve seen on a security camera!

Storage

You can either store your files locally in the one TB hard drive, or use free cloud storage (I recommend doing both for backup). While most of Lorex’s cameras are compatible with the Premium Plan, these cameras are not. However, I understand that Lorex has a bunch of different camera options, so I decided to share the Premium Plan’s features regardless.

Aside from cloud storage, Lorex also offers what it called RapidRecap. Basically, Lorex will compile the camera’s motion activity footage and will create a short video, timestamps included. This helps you navigate your cloud history if you’re looking for an exact moment. It’s basically your camera’s event history in a quick and easy video.

Smart Platform Integration

The Lorex Super HD four MP Camera does not have any smart platform integrations, meaning you won’t be able to command it through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Instead, you’ll control your camera the old-fashioned way- through your mobile app.

Artificial Intelligence

Let’s talk artificial intelligence. When it comes to home security, artificial intelligence usually means person detection or facial recognition. While Lorex’s four MP camera can detect movement, it can’t tell you whether the movement was from a person, a shadow, an animal, or any inanimate moving object like a car. That means that you’ll probably receive a lot of unnecessary notifications, so be prepared.

Professional Monitoring with Lorex

All Lorex’s security systems are completely stand-alone, meaning there is no professional monitoring available. Instead, you’ll monitor your own system through the Lorex app.

What does that mean for you? If you have an intrusion, you’ll have to deal with it completely on your own, even if you’re on vacation, in a business meeting, or otherwise occupied. Professional monitoring would allow a team to help you deal with the emergency, whether that means contacting the police, fire department, or medical services.

In the same vein, the system does not come with cellular backup, so it’ll completely shut down if the power goes out.

The good news is that the lack of professional monitoring and cellular backup mean that you won’t have to pay any additional monthly fees after purchasing your equipment. If professional monitoring and cellular backup aren’t important to you, this could be a huge bonus to the Lorex system.

Lorex Customer Support

If something goes wrong with your home’s security, you want a helpful customer support team standing behind you. How does Lorex’s customer support stack up?

How Lorex’s Customer Support Works

To get support, you can check out the online support center on the Lorex website. If you prefer to speak to a human, you can call someone from Monday to Friday, nine AM until five PM EST, live chat, or email.

Customer Reviews

To see how Lorex’s customer support works in practice, I turned to customer reviews from Amazon, Google, and the Better Business Bureau.

Amazon

The exact security system I purchased wasn’t on Amazon, so I looked at reviews for a similar Lorex 16 channel security kit with eight HD cameras and a 2 TB hard drive. The system received a lowly 2.5 out of five star customer rating. This isn’t great, but I do want to point out that only seven people reviewed this system on Amazon. Unfortunately, the one review that mentioned customer support was negative.

“Worst customer service in the industry! I have a system that I can’t use, oh, I can see the cameras but I’m locked out. Password doesn’t work and I’ve called numerous times only to hold for hours. They don’t answer technical support,”

wrote Jon H. Riordan in a one-star review.

Google

After all that negativity on Amazon, I’m pleasantly surprised that Lorex has a 4.4 out of five star rating on Google. Unfortunately, the majority of the reviews mentioning customer support were negative– it seems like people mostly had a good experience with the Lorex system when they didn’t have to use customer support. People complained of long wait times, Lorex not contacting them when they said they would, and unhelpful representatives. Oy!

Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau judges businesses both on their response to customer complaints, as well as their accordance with government standards. Lorex has an overall BBB rating of B+, which is not horrible. They’ve gone down a letter grade due to complaints from 50 customers. While none of the complaint details were available, I did note that 37 out of the 49 reviews regarded problems with products and services, which obviously includes customer support. When I looked into the 22 customer reviews on the BBB website, I saw that they had an overall rating a little over one star- yikes. Again, when I looked into the reviews that mentioned customer support/service specifically, they were largely negative. Clearly, customer support is not Lorex’s strong suit.

The Lorex App

The Lorex app is particularly important as you’ll be monitoring your system yourself. Let’s see what you can do on the app, and what people thought of it.

Features

From the Lorex  Secure app, you can livestream your footage, access your storage, and view a video summary of events and an event history. You can also set up activity zones, particularly important areas for the camera to focus on, and receive mobile notifications.

Reviews

I can only pray Lorex’s app reviews are better than its customer support!

Apple Store

Apple users were not loving the Lorex Secure app. They only gave it a 1.6 star rating from 173 reviews. The large majority of the reviews were one star, so Lorex needs to seriously think about an update. From what I can see, people were having trouble getting notifications from the app, clearly a huge issue.

Google Store

The app did slightly better on the Google Play store, but still pretty bad. From 654 total reviews, it has a 2.3 star rating. I saw many reviews where customers said the app constantly crashes and has trouble connecting to the DVR. If a well-designed, user-friendly app is important to you, you might want to look elsewhere for a security system.

Recap of the Lorex Security System 

People have pretty strong feelings about Lorex’s security system, to put it lightly. But is it the right system for you?

Let’s talk about the positives first, like:

• No monthly fees
• DIY installation 
• Local storage
• Camera able to withstand extreme temperature and weather conditions
• Amazing night vision from 18 infrared sensors

But we can’t ignore Lorex’s negative aspects, such as:

• Poor customer support
• App with bad ratings
• No cellular backup
• No professional monitoring option 

Do you have anything else to share? Leave a question or a comment below.

 

The post Lorex Security System Review appeared first on Security Baron.

via Security Baron https://securitybaron.com/system-reviews/lorex-review/

Founded in Spring 2018, Cove is the latest home security company on the block. They pride themselves on their low-cost professional monitoring, their lack of long-term contracts, and their affordable prices. Unlike many security companies, Cove doesn’t force you to talk to high-pressure salesmen. Instead, you can order your system right through their website- they even have a quiz that determines what system is right for you! I’m loving Cove’s website and sales process, and their 4.9 star rating on Google is definitely intriguing. That’s how I ended up with a security system from Cove so I could see for myself how the main panel, sensors, and key remote work.

In this review, I’ll discuss what I got in the Cove security system, as well as how well it works and how easy it was to set up. Next, I’ll cover your professional monitoring options, how customer support works and finally, the Cove mobile app. Let’s jump in!

What’s in the Cove System?

The Cove security system that I bought includes a Cove Touch Alarm Panel, a door sensor, a motion sensor, and a key remote. Next, I’ll talk about some of Cove’s offerings that I didn’t purchase, like the window sensor, glass break detector, smoke detector, flood sensor, CO detector, and medical button.

Unfortunately, Cove does not have any security cameras of its own, although they claim that they’re working on it. I noticed during their holiday sale, however, that you can get a discount off your equipment plus a free YI camera. Since it’s only available with this deal on the Cove website, I’m not going to write about it in detail, but here’s a full review of the Yi 1080p indoor camera in case you’re interested in using it with the Cove security system.

Let’s talk about each item and what it does.

Cove Touch Alarm Panel

The Cove Touch Alarm Panel is a tablet that controls your entire security system. I like that it’s wireless and doesn’t mount to a wall- this is a trend in newer security systems, and I think it’s a step up. From the alarm panel, you can arm and disarm your security system and monitor environmental factors like smoke and carbon monoxide. If you have multiple people you’d like to be able to arm and disarm your security system, you can add up to 20 user codes. Keep in mind that other users won’t be able to change any other settings, which is great if you’re a control freak like me.

All of the sensors connect through the alarm panel, which has integrated cellular radio. I love that cellular backup comes built in to the system because it means that your security system will stay on even if your power goes out. Plus, the panel is self-diagnosing, and regularly tests to ensure that its communicating with all of the sensors. It will even tell you when battery life is low in any of your system’s components!

Finally, the panel comes with two-way audio so you’ll be able to communicate with the professional monitoring team, plus crash and smash detection and a built-in siren. If a burglar tries to harm the panel in anyway, you’ll be alerted and the siren will sound. With so many capabilities built into one panel, I feel pretty good about the Cove system so far.

Door Sensor

The door sensor comes preprogrammed with the Cove Touch Alarm Panel, meaning the two are already connected.  It can tell when a door is opened or closed. The sensor is wireless and has a battery of at least five years, so you don’t have to worry about changing it every few months. Plus, it tests itself every 60 minutes to make sure it’s still connecting with the panel correctly, which makes your life a whole lot easier. In the panel, you can customize the name of your sensor so you’ll receive even more specific notifications (like that your kitchen door has been opened). The door sensor works with all door styles and is easy to install- but we’ll get to that later.

Motion Sensor

Every security system needs a motion sensor! Cove recommends you put them in high traffic, central areas. For larger homes, you may want to have multiple motion sensors. Like the door sensor, the motion sensor has a battery life of at least five years, tests itself every 60 minutes, and has a customizable name in your alarm panel. Worried your dog is going to trigger the motion sensor every 30 seconds? This sensor doesn’t detect pets under 45 pounds, so you won’t receive unnecessary notifications. Additionally, Cove allows you to arm some but not all of your sensors, so you can walk around at night without setting off your alarm system.

Key Remote

Too lazy to find your Cove Touch Alarm Panel? Simply use the key remote, which allows you to arm and disarm your system with just one touch. You can have multiple key remotes for different people- just put it on your key chain with the rest of your keys, or in a spot that burglars won’t immediately discover. The key remote works from up to 100 yards from your home, so you can disarm your system as you’re walking toward your house or arm it from a ways away. The remote also comes equipped with a panic button that connects with local authorities, a useful feature if you are ever in an emergency situation where talking would compromise your safety. The remote has a battery life of over five years, like the motion and door sensors.

Window Sensor

For your ground floor windows or any windows that are easily accessible, there’s the window sensors. They can tell when a window has been opened or closed, although they should not be used for any sliding glass doors or windows that roll-out with a crank (you’ll use glass break detectors for these, which I discuss next). The window sensors also come pre-programmed with the control panel, have a five year battery life, and test themselves every hour. Of course, you’ll be able to add custom names to your window sensors leading to more specific notifications. If you want,  you can set up the sensor to chime or announce every time the window is opened or closed (although this just seems annoying to me).

Glass Break Detector

The glass break detectors are perfect for sliding glass doors, along with any crank-down window. They can detect when glass breaks within a radius of 15 feet and should be used in an area with a lot of windows. One detector can cover more than one window, which is great for your bank account. This detector comes equipped with tamper protection and dual shatter recognition technology, meaning that you’ll be alerted if someone tries to mess with it. Of course, like the other sensors, the glass break detector has a battery life of over five years, comes pre-programmed for easy setup, and can be named in your Cove Touch Alarm Panel. My only criticism is that the glass break detector, unlike the motion and door sensors, looks bulky and old-school. It’s not the sleekest glass break detector I’ve ever seen, to put it lightly.

Smoke Detector

Cove’s smoke detector catches fires before they take over. You should put the it outside of your bedrooms or in a family room. Cove doesn’t recommend you put the smoke detector in a cooking area, as you may get some false alarms. And you guessed it- the smoke detector has a battery life of over five years, self-tests every hour, and can be custom-named in the alarm panel.

The advantage of having a smart smoke detector is that it connects with your professional monitoring team as well as your mobile app, ensuring that a fire emergency will be covered even if you’re not home.

Flood Sensor

Cove’s flood sensor will let you know if you have a leak before it turns into an indoor swimming pool. Put the flood sensor under water heaters, refrigerators, sinks, or anyone with running water. It can even detect freezes which occur before potential leaks. The sensor tests itself every hour to make sure it works correctly, so you’ll know about a leak the instant that it happens. The battery has a shorter life than the other sensors, but still pretty long at about three to five years.

CO Detector

Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless, colorless, and potentially deadly in high enough concentrations. Cove’s carbon monoxide detector should be placed near bedrooms or even in your utility room to sense CO from your fuel burning equipment. The detector has a battery life of over five years, test itself every hour, comes pre-programmed with the alarm panel, and can be named for more specific notifications.

If your CO detector goes off, you can press its hush button to silence the alarm for five minutes, while the security panel will continue to sound. In this event, everyone should leave the house immediately, including pets.

Medical Button

Last but not least is the medical button, a way to instantly contact emergency services. The button can be worn for easy access, making it great for the elderly or anyone with limited mobility. You can even wear it in the shower, as the button is waterproof. If you prefer, you can keep the button near your bed so you can access it at night. As long as its 100 yards away from the Cove Touch Alarm Panel, it’ll continue to work.

The button comes pre-programmed with your alarm panel, and you can set it to contact medical services, the fire department, or the police. Please note that the medical button doesn’t have automatic fall detection– you’ll have to manually push the button to contact medical services. The button has a five year battery life and an LED light for notifications.

Professional Monitoring with Cove

Professional monitoring is included with any Cove security system, which I’m surprised about. Most newer security companies let you choose whether or not you want to self-monitor. However, I do recommend that you have 24/7 professional monitoring with any security system, so this is alright by me. Still, if you’re looking to self-monitor, you might want to check out the Nest Secure security system.

How monitoring works

24/7 professional monitoring outsources your home’s security to a team of professionals. Say one of your motion sensors goes off when your system is armed. Not only will you receive a notification via your mobile device or tablet, but the professional monitoring team will also be alerted. From there, they can handle the situation for you, whether that means contacting the police, the fire department, or any other emergency services. Professional monitoring is a necessity because you’re not always going to be available to handle your home’s safety, whether it’s an intrusion or an environmental issue. Professional monitoring gives you another layer of protection to go along with your physical security system.

Cove’s professional monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified and UL-listed. Plus, they are hot-redundant with two locations, meaning that if one location loses connection, the other will immediately take over.

Cove InstaTest

If you love to text, you’re in luck- your professional monitoring team can text you during emergencies, making a response time 10 times faster than with other providers. You can even have the monitoring team text a group so you can all stay updated!

Let’s talk through a scenario. Say a motion sensor in your living room goes off. Cove will immediately text you asking if you want them to send help, call you, or do nothing. From there, you can text back your answer, and receive help within 30 seconds. Not too shabby!

Cove LiveAssist

Another way to communicate with your professional monitoring team is through Cove LiveAssist, which utilize your alarm panel’s two-way audio. If you’re home, Cove team members can immediately speak to you through the panel, creating a much faster response than if they had to call your phone.

Options

Cove has two plans: the Basic Plan and the Value Plan. As you can see, both include 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular data which ensures that your system will stay on during a power outage.

I’m a little disappointed that you must get the Value Plan to be able to remotely control your system or receive mobile alerts. Both of these features are key elements of any smart security system, so I think it’s a bit ridiculous that you have to pay minimum $25 a month on top of what you’re already paying for equipment to be able to monitor your system.

Contract Rules

Cove does not have any long-term contracts. Everything is month-to-month, and if you cancel before paying the full cost of your equipment, you’ll simply have to complete the payment and won’t receive any additional fees. 

Cove has an interesting payment structure. You can either choose to “Pay Now” or “Pay Later or Never”. Let me explain.

If you choose to “Pay Now,” you’ll pay for all of your equipment up front. From there, the Basic Plan would cost $15 a month, while the Value Plan would cost $25 a month. Here, Cove incentivizes you to pay for your equipment up front by giving you a $10 a month discount.

If you choose to “Pay Later or Never,” Cove will cover your first $500 worth of equipment. If you have the equipment for over three years, you never have to pay for it. However, if you cancel your plan before three years, you’ll need to pay it out. The Basic Plan costs $25 a month under this pay structure, while the Value Plan costs $35 a month.

Ultimately, it’s your decision whether you want to pay all upfront costs or not, but the good news is that Cove has a 60-day money back guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your system within the first two months, you can return it for a full refund. Given the flexibility here, I’d recommend doing the “Pay Now” plan. Your monthly costs will be less, and if you don’t like your system, you can get back all the money you paid for the equipment. Keep in mind that if you move, you can easily take your system with you- you’ll just need to alert Cove of your address change.

Cove Customer Support

Now that we’ve covered professional monitoring, let’s talk customer support.

How Cove’s Customer Support Works

If you need help with your Cove security system, you can check out the online support center, which has a large section of FAQ’s and helpful articles. If you prefer to speak to someone directly, you can do so through live chat, phone, email, an online form, or even snail mail.

Customer Reviews

Personally, I had a great experience with Cove’s customer support team. I had a few questions about the professional monitoring options, so being the anti-social millennial that I am, I used the live-chat feature. I received prompt, informative answers that spoke to my question directly.  I truly felt like my representative was trying to help me, unlike many other companies which sacrifice customer support for an aggressive sales team. Kudos to Cove for training their customer support team to support customers, not to sell.

Google

Unfortunately, Cove is such a new company that they don’t have a page on the Better Business Bureau. However, they do have a 4.9 star rating on Google, combining reviews from Google customers and TRUSTPILOT. From 129 reviews, 96% were five stars. Clearly, this is an amazing rating. Almost all of the reviews that I was able to see praised the customer support team.

“This company’s customer service is up there with Apple’s in my opinion. Never ever have I had a better customer experience than I have with this company. They’re always friendly and so helpful!”

read a five star review. That’s exactly what I like to hear!

The Cove App

The Cove app is your mobile command center of your security system. Let’s see what you can do with it, and what customers think.

Features

From the Cove app, you can arm and disarm  your system, livestream footage, receive notifications, and control your connected devices (depending on which monitoring plan you choose, of course).

Reviews

I’m hoping that customers love the Cove app as much as they love their customer support. To find out, I checked reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.

Apple Store

The Cove app received a 4.3 out of five star rating from the Apple store. While this isn’t the highest rating I’ve seen from a security app, it’s definitely one of the better ones. Most of the reviews were five stars, and one person summed up the app’s abilities nicely. “Sometimes, at night I don’t want to get out of bed to arm the alarm and I do it from the app. For a lazy guy like me, this app is perfect,” a man wrote in a five star review.

Google Store

Unfortunately, the app didn’t fare as well on the Google Store. It has a 3.8 rating from only five users. Since this sample size is so small, we can’t put too much weight on it.

Recap of the Cove Security System 

So, is the Cove security system right for you? Let’s recap.

The system’s best features include its:

• Month-to-month contracts
• Option to pay later or never 
• Great customer support 
• Mobile app with decent ratings 
• 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup included with either subscription plan 
• 60 day money back guarantee 
• Wireless, pre-programmed system
• InstaText and LiveAssist

However, there are a few things that may scare a customer, like:

• Mobile notifications and remote control of system not included
• No option to self-monitor 
• No smart platform integrations as of now 
• No Cove security cameras

Do you still have questions about the Cove security system? Write them below, or leave us a comment- we’d love to hear from you.

 

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Amazon has patented facial recognition technology that could create a neighborhood network for suspicious persons. Facial recognition could be used to compare subjects to a criminal or “most wanted” database, and could allow users to access suspicious persons’ identifying information.

Amazon’s patent, filed in May of 2018, will allow users to “flag” suspicious persons like someone breaking a neighbor’s window or a hostile co-worker. Aside from what their cameras have captured, users can upload images of the person from other sources. From there, users can receive alerts about the suspicious persons, even if they’re not in any criminal databases. On the other hand, users can flag people as authorized persons who can also be added to the neighborhood database.

Aside from identifying people as suspicious or authorized, the patent allows cameras to recognize suspicious behavior. Algorithms can account for factors like loitering times and the software can recognize suspicious activities like concealing objects, running, or crouching. Subjects’ behavior can be compared to databases for further identification.

Even if the user believes the composite facial image is not recognizable, the software could compare the image to a database of suspicious persons to determine whether or not the suspect is a security threat. By comparing the image to the database,

“…the user of the client device may receive another layer of information about the person that may enable them to make a more educated decision as to whether or not to pursue law enforcement help, report the incident to their landlord, share the information with their neighborhood, etc,”

according to the patent. Once the camera detects a person, users can receive mobile notifications with audio/video data and from there, can decide whether or not to take further action. On top of that, a suspicious person can trigger an audible alarm or announcement from the camera, making further criminal activity difficult. The patent uses artificial intelligence to build upon neighborhood watch apps where users can manually upload photos or videos of what they deem to be “suspicious activity.”

Some are worried about how a neighborhood database of suspicious persons could unfairly target people who have been wrongfully arrested or imprisoned. In the same way, the software would cost a negative light on anyone with a criminal background, regardless of how long ago it was, what their actual crime was, or what they have done with their lives since. The database would be a digital cloud over anyone with a criminal past, and would make all of their neighbors aware of their wrongdoings.

To learn more about the best security cameras with facial recognition on the market today, read the best cameras for artificial intelligence. 

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Google is creating a personalized news service for the Google Assistant. To create this news service, Google has partnered with media outlets like the New York Times, the Washington Post, AP, and USA TODAY, among others. On the Google website, news outlets can submit their content and set up their own news feeds. The sites must be valid Google News sites and can cover topics from business and politics to entertainment and sports.

The Assistant would create a customized slew of news stories and would be able to pause, repeat, or skip around if the user desires. The news broadcast would begin with headlines before delving deeper into specific points of interest.

“Hey Google, tell me the news”

“Here is the news from WYNC…”

“What’s the latest in technology”

“Play at half the speed”

To test the news service, Google will provide it to a specific number of people in the U.S. Currently, users can create a customized news feed by going to Google’s support site, choosing their news sources, and deciding on the order. To hear the feed, users can either use their Google Home device or the mobile app. Categories include general, technology, sports, world, politics, local, business, science, health, art and lifestyle, and entertainment. Users can also ask about a specific news item, like the summer Olympics or a midterm election.

Google constantly updates its Assistant. Last March, Google created routines that allowed users to trigger a slew of actions with a singular voice command. The “Good Morning” routine, for example, could turn a users phone off, adjust the lights, thermostats, or any other connected devices. This update was done after Amazon Alexa offered similar functionality. Google even unrolled a Christmas update that allows children to talk to Santa. Users can expect more updates based on both the time of year and improving already existing services.

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Taylor Swift used facial recognition technology to identify known stalkers at her Rose Bowl concert in May. Her fans watched Swift rehearse through a kiosk at her concert, unaware that their faces were being analyzed. After their faces were detected, the images were cross-referenced with a database that held hundreds of Swift’s stalkers, according to Rolling Stone. 

Swift is not the first entertainer to use utilize facial recognition for their security. Jacky Cheung, a pop star in China, used facial recognition on up to 60,000 of her concert attendees, resulting in three fugitive arrests. In Japan, concert venues have used facial recognition for security since 2014.

Aside from keeping entertainers secure, facial recognition data can be sold to companies. Only a few states in the U.S regulate biometric authentication, and private companies have the right to use your image for any means.

“It’s kind of a Wild West out there right now…As long as it’s private property, they can take your image and do whatever analytics they want with it, including facial recognition,”

says Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU. “Face recognition is one of the most dangerous biometrics from a privacy standpoint because it can so easily be expanded and abused — including by being deployed on a mass scale without people’s knowledge or permission,” he went on. Companies are not required to get customers’ consent before taking their image and using their biometric data.

Since the dawn of the search engine, large companies have collected and sold consumer data such as IP addresses, credit cards, and government ID numbers. Today, facial recognition technology is easily accessible to anyone with a smartphone through iOs and Android apps. It’s not surprising that high-profile entertainers like Taylor Swift have taken advantage of facial recognition technology for their security, although it remains to be seen what they will do with their fans’ data.

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In December, ExpressVPN released a survey that shows that Amazon Alexa devices will be the most popular buys this holiday season.

According to the survey, nearly half of the American population will have smart home devices or speakers in their holiday shopping carts. Which device consumers prefered was contingent on brand trust.

Facebook was particularly worrisome for Americans. The majority of survey respondents (85%) said that the company’s potential to invade their privacy would impact their purchase decisions. About two out of five people (38%) said that they were afraid that Facebook would listen in on their conversations and target them with ads. Nearly half of the respondents said that Facebook was the least trusted brand among Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, and Nest.

Amazon was the most trustworthy out of the bunch with 66% respondents saying they already have or are planning on purchasing Amazon products this year.

Despite popularity of smart devices, people are still worried about their personal security

While the majority of the consumers in this survey plan on buying Amazon Alexa, they are still concerned about protecting their personal information.

About 66% of the American population are worried that smart speakers and personal assistants are susceptible to hackers or companies looking to profit off of personal data. Some people said that if they ever found their device was monitoring conversations, they would throw their device away.

Tossing a Google Home into the trash may seem extreme, but ExpressVPN vice president, Harold Li, says that consumers have a right to be worried.

“One in five U.S. households have an internet-connected device with a microphone or camera, and millions more will be joining them this holiday season,” Li said in a press release.  “No doubt tech and advertising giants are salivating over the potential data mining opportunity, and hackers are highly motivated to find security vulnerabilities.”

What consumers can do to protect their privacy

To prevent any security breaches, smart device users can take additional measures to create more peace of mind.

For example, consumers can:

• Disconnect their device while they are not using it — or at least turn off the camera and the mic.
• Cover up the camera when it’s not in use.
• Know their privacy policies and terms of service and opt out of potentially intrusive features.
• Connect their device using an encrypted VPN service.
• Connect their device with an Ethernet cord rather than using Wi-Fi. (Ethernet connections are harder to hack.)
• Consistently install software updates.

Despite all of the security concerns, smart home devices are not going anywhere anytime soon. Recent studies show that the smart home market is growing rapidly. This year’s holiday shoppers are certainly a part of that boom, but ExpressVPN has shown that these consumers are vigilant, too.

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According to reports, WeWork decided that it will pause its effort to integrate Amazon Alexa for Business in its offices.

WeWork — which had been an early adopter of the service — had plans to put Alexa for Business devices in 500 of the conference rooms they manage worldwide. In 2017, the shared workspace company was apart of Amazon’s initial pilot program among a handful of other companies, including NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Mitsui & Co. The idea was that Alexa for Business could enhance employee productivity and collaboration.

“Virtual assistants, such as Alexa, greatly enhance the user experience and reduce the complexity in joining [conference] meetings,” Frost & Sullivan analyst Vaishno Srinivasan told TechTarget.

Alexa for Business can also come in handy when it comes to scheduling meetings, making hands-free calls, managing tasks and finding information on business apps like Salesforce and Concur. In addition, customers have the opportunity to create their own Alexa skills for internal use.

But as useful as the device might’ve seemed, the initial rollout was not as successful as Amazon would have hoped.

Earlier this year, Amazon ended it’s pilot program after only two months of it being in session. And as of November, reports suggested that WeWork has halted their plans to expand their usage of the product.

So what might be causing the holdup?

According to Irwin Lazar, who’s an analyst at Nemertes Research, adopting virtual assistants might not be at the top of the list for many of these companies.

“In our research, we aren’t seeing a lot of interest in virtual personal assistants or in using voice control in meeting spaces, primarily because IT leaders we speak with have higher priorities or don’t feel that the technology is ready yet,” he said.

Whatsmore, some businesses claim that there are some security risks when it comes to integrating voice activated AI. There’s concern that these devices could record confidential information and steal personal voice data.

Amazon is currently working to address these concerns, particularly when it comes to connecting personal devices to a business account. This way, only vetted accounts will have access to the system and entreprises will not have access to personal employee information.

Amazon is also hoping to expand their virtual assistant service to the hospitality and higher education sectors. But right now, the consumer giant is still trying to work out some kinks in the corporate world. WeWork, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Mitsui & Co. are no longer listed as customers on the Alexa for Business website.

While virtual assistants might have some exciting benefits in the workplace, it looks like it’s going to take some time for them to truly catch on.

 

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When it comes to selecting your perfect security camera, you may not know where to start. Well, I’ve done my research, tested all the cameras, and written about what I believe are the best cameras out there.

But before I begin, I want to go over what you should look for in a security camera. Of course, everyone has their personal preferences, but there are some standards that I find particularly important.

Video quality: For a really clear picture, you’ll want a camera that has at least 1080p HD video display- extra points if the camera can zoom in. Additionally, the field of view should be no more narrow than 120 degrees.

Two-way audio: You’re going to want a camera that has both a microphone and a speaker so you can communicate with whoever you’re recording.

Cloud and local storage: In case you want to back up any footage, you should look for a camera with both cloud and local storage that allows you complete control.

Infrared Night Vision: Unlike a bright white light, infrared night vision from LED sensors is invisible to the naked eye, so the person you’re recording will be completely unaware. Of course, the clarity of infrared night vision doesn’t hurt either.

Convenience: No one wants to spend hours setting up a security camera. I look for cameras with installation that integrates with an app for step-by-step instructions, or has an easy, wireless setup.

Let’s get started!

Best Cameras for Pet-Owners: Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera

For pet-owners, it’s important that your security camera has pet detection, meaning it can tell the difference between people and pets. After all, as much as you love your furry little angel, you don’t need to be alerted of its every move.

The best camera for pet-owners is the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera.

The Netatmo Welcome Indoor Camera comes with pet detection, so your little one won’t cause a push notification (or will, depending on your preference). In general, the Netatmo has some of the best artificial intelligence capabilities around- it can recognize up to 32 faces! 

The camera has fantastic video, with 1080p HD, a field of zoom of eight times, and a field of view of 130 degrees. It also comes with awesome infrared night vision, and- here’s the kicker- local and cloud storage, completely free! They even include a microSD card. Aw, Netatmo, you shouldn’t have. The camera’s other bragging points include its integrations with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Facebook messenger– yes, you read that right. You’ll be able to control your camera just by chatting on Facebook like you do all day anyway! It’s a convenient way to check on your pet.

The camera does lose points, however, for its lack of two-way audio. While you’ll be able to livestream footage of your pet, you won’t be able to command it via the camera. Still, I think that the built-in pet detection makes the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera a great choice for pet-owners.

To learn more, check out our review on the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera.

Best Cameras for Babies: Nest Cam IQ Indoor

Your home’s security is never more important than when you have a baby in your home. Lucky for you, there’s cameras with activity zones and intelligent sound detection.

What are these strange terms? Activity zones means that you will be able to tell your camera which areas are particularly important for it to monitor, and then you can be notified when there’s activity in these spaces (or zones, hence the name). For a new parent, the activity zones could be your baby’s crib or the window in their room. Next, intelligent sound detection can literally tell the difference between your baby crying and an alarm going off, and notify you as such.

The best camera for homes with babies is the Nest Cam IQ Indoor Camera.

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor is Google Nest’s latest indoor security camera, and it boasts features even more impressive than the original Nest Cam Indoor. The basics? The Nest Cam IQ has 1080p HD video, a field of view of 130 degrees, and the ability to zoom in 12 times. You’re going to want to see your baby as closely as possible, so the zoom feature is a huge benefit of the IQ. In the same vein, the camera has 16 infrared LED sensors, making it one of the best cameras for night vision I’ve ever seen. Finally, with two-way audio and a speaker seven times more powerful than its predecessor, it’s fair to say you’ll be able to speak to and see your baby incredibly clearly.

Now let’s talk artificial intelligence. The Nest Cam IQ comes with person detection, which is awesome- it means your camera won’t notify you about things that don’t matter, like a car driving by. I would recommend that you purchase Nest Aware, their monthly subscription package. With Nest Aware, you’ll get familiar face alerts, motion detection, sound detection, person speaking alerts, activity zones, and more. You’ll also get cloud storage for up to 30 days– see below for pricing information. The Nest Cam IQ’s only real negative is its lack of local storage, plus its pricey cloud storage options. I do, however, think Nest Aware is worth it for the artificial intelligence features.

All these features means that you’ll easily stay afloat of what’s going on with your little one. You’ll get amazingly specific notifications, like when your nanny puts the baby down for a nap or when Grandpa comes over. You’ll also be alerted if there’s an unfamiliar face in your home, which may or may not be an intruder.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Nest Cam IQ is integrated with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and even Philips Hue lightbulbs. I find this particularly relevant for parents because sometimes you have your hands full, literally and figuratively. With smart platform integrations, all you need to control your camera is your voice.

This camera may be on the pricier side, but it is leading the industry in video, night vision, and artificial intelligence- all very important features for keeping your baby safe. For more info, check out our review on the Nest Cam IQ Indoor camera.

Best Cameras for Seniors: Canary All-In-One

As seniors are often not the best with technology, it’s important that your security camera allows you to easily check in on your older loved ones, with livestream included. I also prefer cameras that have access to emergency services through a safety button or incident support. My recommendation is the Canary All In-One.

Canary All-In-One

The Canary All-In-One is a great indoor camera that allows you complete remote control. Let’s start with the basics. The All-In-One has 1080p HD video, the ability to zoom in three times, and a whopping 147 degree field of view, one of the widest I’ve ever seen. Similarly, the camera’s night vision impresses with twelve infrared LED sensors. Night vision is especially important for seniors, as many of their accidents happen in the dark. Plus, the camera integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Although your elderly family member or friend may not have ever verbally commanded objects via a robot, these smart home platforms are incredibly user-friendly, much more so than a complicated mobile app.

Of course, no one wants to pay a monthly subscription fee on top of what they’re already paying for their camera, but the features you get make it worth it. First of all, you’ll get two-way audio. Now, I’m not thrilled that two-way audio isn’t included with the camera, but bear with me. For $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, you’ll also get local storage, 30 days of cloud storage, person detection, activity zones, and a safety button. If something does go wrong, you want to make sure the senior you’re taking care of can easily access the police. That’s why the safety button is so important- it makes it as simple as possible for the senior to contact emergency services. You’ll also get access to incident support services, which adds another layer of support in the case of an emergency.

One last thing I’ll mention is the camera’s HomeHealth technology- it has a built-in climate monitoring system which detects the air’s quality, humidity, and temperature. Although it can’t replace a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, it’s another level of security to protect your elderly loved ones.

For more information, read our Canary All-In-One review.

Best Camera for Urban Homes: Amazon Cloud Cam

As city-living can be expensive, I looked for more affordable cameras that can be installed and moved at the drop of a hat. My top pick for urban dwellers is the Amazon Cloud Cam.

At less than $120, the Amazon Cloud Cam definitely won’t break the bank, but don’t be fooled by the affordable price- this camera can compete with the best of ’em. It has the industry standard of 1080p HD, plus eight times optical zoom and a field of view of 120. Plus, it has great night vision from eight infrared LED sensors, and two-way audio. So far, so good.

I must say, this was one of the easier cameras to set up- the whole process took me about 10 minutes. Sure, I’m already in the Amazon ecosystem with Alexa, but all you have to do to set up the Cloud Cam is plug it in, download the app, and pair the camera with your mobile device. From there, the app gives you step-by-step instructions that can only be described as idiot-proof.

Although the Amazon Cloud Cam is a great option for city dwellers, it does have some drawbacks. Amazon only gives you 24 hours of free cloud storage, and there is no local storage available. More cloud storage can be purchased through a monthly subscription, along with activity zones and person detection.

All in all, this camera is super easy to use and definitely covers the basics like video, audio, and night vision. It’s a great option for any urbanite who’s on the go. To find out more information, read our full review on the Amazon Cloud Cam. 

Best Camera for Suburban Homes: Canary Flex

Finally, there’s suburbanites, the group most likely to buy security cameras in the first place. I’m looking for cameras with both indoor and outdoor capabilities from trusted brands, like the Canary Flex.

Canary Flex

We already know that Canary is a great brand, and their Flex camera is a great indoor/ outdoor option. The first thing that strikes me about the camera is package detection. Not only can the Canary Flex detect people, but it can also let you know when your package has arrived. As your home probably doesn’t come equipped with a doorman or security team, you’re going to want to make sure your packages are safe. As someone who constantly orders stuff online, this is a very attractive feature.

Let’s talk about the camera’s other features. It integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, has great night vision, and 1080p HD video. Unfortunately, the video quality is a bit lacking, as the camera often defaults to 720p HD. In addition to that, the camera cannot zoom and its field of view is a bit narrow at 116 degrees. I’m also not thrilled with the lack of local storage, although you can buy a month of cloud storage with the membership. Let’s recap: for $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, you’ll get two-way audio, 30 days of cloud storage, person detection, a safety button, access to first responders, and more.

I think the Canary Flex might work better as an outdoor camera rather than in indoor camera, due to the fact that two-way audio is not included along with the package detection. Still, it gives you the flexibility (hence the name) to use it indoors or outdoors. To learn more, check out our review of the Canary Flex.

Best Camera for Renters: Tend Secure Lynx Indoor

Renters should be looking for cameras that are easy to set up, have flexible storage options, and do not require that you sign a long-term contract. Technically, it is your landlord’s job to keep you safe, but they’re only able to put cameras in the hallways and entrances, not your actual apartment. That’s why renters might want to invest in their own security cameras. I recommend the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor camera.

At only $59.99 (cheaper depending where you buy it), the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor Camera is definitely affordable, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on features. With 1080p HD video, a field of view of 120 degrees, and two-way audio, it certainly satisfies industry standards. Although it has no local storage, it does give you a week for cloud storage absolutely free. While I’m disappointed about the lack of local storage, this may be less important to a renter than to a home-owner. Ultimately, the landlord is responsible for any intrusion, so you can just pass on the cloud footage and let someone else work with the police. The camera comes with a week of free cloud storage, which is pretty generous as well.

The Tend Secure Lynx’s main negative, aside from its lack of local storage, is its complete lack of smart platform integrations. You won’t be able to control the camera using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or any other smart home automation system. Still, this camera is affordable, has good quality video and audio, and offers a week of free cloud storage, a great choice for renters.

Want even more info? Check out our review of the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor Camera.

Best Camera for Home-Owners: Logitech Circle 2

Homeowners aren’t afraid of commitment (at least regarding their real estate). Plus, they’re probably more financially stable than renters, as they needed to cough up the down payment along with any home maintenance payments that come up along the way. For homeowners, I’m looking for cameras with both indoor and outdoor capabilities from trusted brands. I’ve settled on the Logitech Circle 2.

I love an indoor/ outdoor camera because of its versatility. With a home, you may have more grounds to look after, so you’re going to want something that has an extension cord and the wherewithal to handle more extreme weather conditions. For its video quality, the Logitech Circle 2 absolutely kills it. It has 1080p HD video, which we’ve grown accustomed to at this point, but what really gets me is the field of view of 180 degrees. This is fantastic, especially if you have a larger property that requires multiple cameras.

On a more negative note, the camera’s night vision wasn’t quite as clear as I’d like it to be. While the box said you’d be able to see for 15 feet, things got blurry for me at 10. However, I am quite pleased with the camera’s  two-way audio and smart platform integrations, which include Amazon Alexa, Fire TV, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. It’s hard to find a camera that integrates with Apple HomeKit, as its one of the less popular smart home automations, so I like that the Circle 2 really gives you options here.

Now let’s talk membership.

While the Logitech Circle 2 includes 24 hours of free cloud storage plus unlimited streaming and downloads, I would recommend going with a membership, not only for the additional cloud storage but also for the person detection (only available with the premium package). As you can see, the plans are reasonably priced and give you discounts for up to 5 cameras. With the premium package, you’ll also be able to create motion zones, which tell the camera areas that are particularly important to look out for. If you have a house with multiple floors or a baby’s room, this feature is going to come in handy. Plus, you can take advantage of the yearly package because you know you’re not going anywhere. At only $2.98 per month per camera if you pay for the entire year at once, the Premium package makes the camera an even better value.

For more info, check out our review of the Logitech Circle 2.

Best Camera for Small Businesses: Lighthouse Indoor Security Camera

With a small business, you have more people coming in and out of your space, be it employees, customers, or possibly, intruders. That’s why artificial intelligence is so important for business’ security cameras. Obviously, business owners are the busiest people in the world, so you want a camera that will give you smarter, more specific notifications.

The Lighthouse Indoor Security Camera is an indoor camera with incredible artificial intelligence capabilities. Not only does it have facial recognition, but it can also let you know about future events, like when your cashier comes in or when your employees closed up shop. Along with two-way audio, this camera is more than security- it can also allow you to keep track of (and order around) your employees. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop, as they say!

Unfortunately, the camera’s video quality is a bit disappointing. While the camera has 1080p HD, the industry standard, it cannot zoom at all, and its field of view is a bit narrow at 112 degrees. Similarly, its night vision is subpar and can definitely benefit from some more LED lights.

While the camera does not technically have any smart platform integrations, it does have built-in language processing, so you’ll be able to do voice commands. Although the camera has no local storage, it does offer 30 days of cloud storage completely free!

All in all, this camera would be very useful to a business owner, not only to make sure your space is safe, but also to keep your business affairs in order.

Best Camera for Smart Platform Integrations: Scout Indoor Camera

The Scout Indoor Camera, part of the Scout Alarm’s larger security system, has integrations with Google Nest, IFTTT, Philips-Hue lightbulbs,  , Amazon Echo, and Google Home. You really can’t beat the amount of smart platform integrations. Aside from that, the camera boasts 1080p HD video, 14 days of free cloud storage, and infrared night vision. Its weaknesses include its lack of zoom, artificial intelligence, two-way audio, and local storage, plus its narrow field of view of 115 degrees. You win some, you lose some!

Best Wireless Camera: Arlo Pro 2 

Can you believe this little thing can handle both indoor and outdoor conditions? There’s not much this camera lacks. It has 1080p HD video, a field of zoom of eight times, and a field of view of 130 degrees. Plus, there’s two-way audio, cloud and local storage, and integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Stringify.

My main issues with the camera are its lack of artificial intelligence, but with a paid monthly subscription, you can access person detection, activity zones, and even a safety button from the Arlo app. Although this camera’s night vision isn’t the strongest, it has great audio, video, smart platform integrations, and artificial intelligence options.

To learn more, check out our review on the Arlo Pro 2.

Best Indoor Camera: Canary All-In-One

You really can’t miss with the Canary All-In-One. Its stats include 1080p HD video, the ability to zoom in three times, and a super-wide field of view of 147 degrees! The night vision impresses with 12 infrared LED lights, plus integrations with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Now, I must say, if you are going to get the Canary All-In-One (or any of the Canary products for that matter), I recommend doing the paid monthly membership. With the membership you’ll unlock two-way audio, local storage, 30 days of cloud storage, person detection, activity zones, and access to a first-person responder. Considering the membership is only $9.99 a month or $99 a year, I think it’s a great value. Another cool feature of the All-In-One is its HomeHealth technology. Believe it or not, this camera also monitors your climate, measuring your air’s quality, humidity, and temperature. Did I mention the camera costs less than $120?

To learn more, read our review of the Canary All-In-One.

Best Outdoor Camera: Canary Flex

Meet the All-In-One’s sister, the Canary Flex. This camera works for both the indoors and the outdoors (hence the term “flex”) and has some great features. I’m loving the two-way audio, infrared night vision, and integrations with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Plus, unlike the All-In-One, the Flex comes with person and package detection– you read that right. This camera can literally tell you when that special shoes you love come in the mail. A very cool feature, and one that I haven’t seen in any other cameras.

I’m a bit disappointed that the camera can’t zoom, and that its field of view is a bit narrow at 116 degrees. Plus, there’s no local storage, and only 24 hours of free cloud storage. Of course, with a membership, you can get 30 days of cloud storage (see above for prices).

Despite its shortcomings, this is a great outdoor camera option that can definitely get the job done. For more information, check out our Canary Flex review.

Best Camera App: Vivint Indoor Camera

Looking for an app that customers love to use? Vivint Indoor, part of the larger Vivint security system, has incredible ratings- a 4.5 and 4.6 on the Apple and Google Play stores, respectively! The app allows for total control of your camera, security system, and connected devices. As the majority of ratings were five stars, this app really stood out in a sea of poorly reviewed security apps.

Mobile app aside, the Vivint Indoor Camera has some great features like 1080p HD, a field of view of 155 degrees, infrared LED night vision, two-way audio, and 30 days of cloud storage on the house. It also integrates with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and even Sky which connects to smart objects like thermostats, lights and locks. However, I’m a bit disappointed that the camera can’t zoom, and  that there’s no local storage or artificial intelligence features.

Best Camera for Storage: Netatmo Welcome Home Security Camera

If incredible storage options are a priority for you, then the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera is a great option. Not only does Netatmo provide both cloud and local storage, but they also include a micro SD card. As the cloud automatically stores footage to your personal dropbox of FTP server, you won’t have to pay any monthly fees for storage. In a nutshell, if you get the Netatmo Indoor you’ll have unlimited cloud and local storage completely free- it doesn’t get much better than that.

The Netatmo is also one of the best cameras we’ve seen for artificial intelligence. It features not just person detection, but also facial recognition for up to 32 faces! That means you’ll receive highly specific notifications that matter. I’m also loving the fact that the camera integrates with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and surprisingly, Facebook Messenger. That’s right, you can control the Netatmo camera just by typing into Facebook Messenger the same way you would a friend.

The camera’s other strong points include its 1080p HD video display, its ability to zoom in eight times, and its field of view of 130 degrees. The camera also has nice infrared night vision. Unfortunately, the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera does not have two-way audio. I find this a bit surprising, especially considering how advanced many of the other features are. But overall, this is a really innovative camera with superior storage options.

To learn more, read our review of the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Security Camera.

Best Camera for Night Vision: Nest Cam IQ Indoor

If night vision most important to you, I’d go with the Nest Cam IQ Indoor. The latest of Google Nest’s indoor camera, it has a whopping 16 infrared LED sensors– much more than I’ve seen on any other security camera.

Aside from night vision, this camera creates industry standards in nearly ever category. It has 1080p HD video, the ability to zoom in 12 times, and an 130 degree field of view. The camera comes with two-way audio, as well as a speaker seven times more powerful than that of its predecessor, the Nest Cam Indoor. Plus, the camera comes with person detection, and familiar face alerts are available with Nest Aware, their monthly subscription package. Finally, the Nest Cam IQ indoor has integrations with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Philips Hue lightbulbs.

The camera’s only real weakness is its storage. There is no local storage option, and the cloud storage options are pretty expensive. With Nest Aware, however, you’ll also get dog barking alerts, person speaking alerts, familiar face alerts, and activity zones along with your cloud storage.

Clearly, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor Camera isn’t for the faint of wallet, but its incredible abilities make it worthwhile. For more information, check out our review on the Nest Cam IQ Indoor.

Best Camera with Two-way Audio: Amazon Cloud Cam

The Amazon Cloud Cam is a fantastic indoor camera with two-way audio from Amazon, the internet giant. Video-wise, it impresses with 1080p HD display, a wide field of view of 120 degrees, and the ability to zoom in eight times. Of course, its night vision doesn’t disappoint, with eight infrared LED sensors. Obviously, it’s integrated with Amazon Alexa, although I’m a bit disappointed it doesn’t also integrate with Google Assistant.

The camera’s biggest weaknesses are its storage and artificial intelligence. There is no local storage available, and Amazon only gives you 24 hours of free cloud storage. With a monthly subscription, however, you can buy up to 30 days of cloud storage.

The membership also gives you person detection and activity zones. Otherwise, you’ll have no artificial intelligence features.

For more information, check out our review of the Amazon Cloud Cam. 

Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

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Google Assistant has released a new feature that allows kids to talk to Santa. All they have to do is say “Hey Google, call Santa” to be connected with the North Pole. It’s part of a larger release of holiday features aimed at children and families who own the smart speaker.

Aside from helping Santa rehearse for a musical concert, kids can also use Google Assistant to improve their manners with a feature called Pretty Please. This November 29th update rewards users for saying “please” or “thank you” to the Assistant by answering with “thanks for asking so nicely”. Another feature allows users with a Google Play Music subscription to sing along to songs using synchronized lyrics on the Smart Display.

In addition, Google has created non-holiday related enhanced features for its Home Hub. Broadcast Replies will allow someone to remotely communicate with their family at home through Google Assistant. At-home users may reply back through a smart speaker, a Smart Display, or any other Home devices. Next, Google has made it easier to share photos from Smart Displays to family and friends. Users can vocally command Google Assistant to share photos, as well as hide or favorite photos. Finally, Google has made it easier to set an alarm on the Smart Display, adding a timer button to the area where the users swipes up from the home screen.

The Google Assistant’s new holiday features are part of a larger move to create products for children. In late October, Google announced that it has partnered with Disney to create read-along books through Google Home. For a select number of Golden Books, Google Home can add sound effects and music to old-fashioned storytelling. Similarly, Amazon has partnered with Novel Effect, a company that creates voice interactive storytelling for children’s books. Given the exponential increase in the usage of smart home platforms, it’s not surprising that companies are looking to market to children as well as adults.

For more information, read our article about using Google Home routines.

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