We have good news and bad when it comes to the need for modern-day home security.
The good news is that burglaries have been declining for years. The bad news is that you might still end up becoming a victim. Even if no one threatens your home physically, they can still use flaws in your digital security to compromise sensitive information, commit financial fraud, or steal your identity.
We saved the best news for last – there’s much you can do to prevent either. This guide goes over essential preparations and tools that will turn your home into a safe haven.
Physical Home Protection
Improving your home’s security boils down to thinking like a burglar and shoring up any deficiencies you find in the process. Here are some practical tips on how to accomplish this.
Security systems
The smart home era has fundamentally transformed the home security system landscape. Installing one has become a DIY affair, and fierce competition means you can get professional monitoring services and advanced features at a good price.
While specific offerings vary, a comprehensive modern security system covers almost all eventualities. They come with general motion sensors and ones for windows, security cameras, an alarm system, and direct connections to the responsible security company or local emergency services.
You can integrate such systems into the smart home. Linking it with a virtual assistant lets you receive status updates or use voice commands to control the system more conveniently. You may also monitor the cameras’ live feeds remotely via smartphone.
Outdoor and indoor lighting
Lights are a pivotal burglar deterrent, and modern ones can be quite sophisticated. Placing solar-powered, motion-activated lighting on your porch and strategically throughout the yard ensures no one can skulk around in the shadows.
Interior lights play an integral part, too. You can set smart lights up to light up at certain intervals when no one is home to simulate occupancy.
Smart locks and doorbells
Robberies are likelier during the daytime while people are away at school and work. Yet, many Americans don’t even lock their doors during that time. Smart locks make this a non-issue since they use geofencing to keep doors locked when you’re not near.
You can also use their apps to receive alerts if a door doesn’t close properly. Some locks even let you create guest profiles with separate codes that work only during designated times.
Blindly opening the front door to strangers is never a good idea, especially now that you can see who’s on the other side when at work or without leaving your couch. Smart doorbell cameras complement existing security setups and help combat the increasing porch pirate threat.
Secure entry points
Burglars will likely enter your home the same way you do – through the front or back door or the garage. Thoroughly inspect these entry points and take steps to address weaknesses.
For example, you should replace any rotting frames or warped doors since they’re easy to break through. Deadbolts will prevent crooks from using credit cards to jimmy the lock. Adding wood or sheet metal for reinforcement stops them from getting through gaps in a door’s construction.
Your windows are tempting entry points as well. Make them less so by installing guards that prevent windows from opening completely. Replacing large-paned windows with multi-pane ones with break-resistant glass is also a good idea.
Low-tech solutions
While cutting-edge security systems are all the rage, you might still want to supplement them with low-cost, low-tech additions. A visible sticker that warns trespassers about an alarm system will reduce your home’s desirability even if you don’t actually have one. The same goes for dummy cameras. You can also turn on the TV or talk radio programs when you’re not home to augment the lights we mentioned earlier.
Never underestimate the power of community, either! Have your neighbours keep an eye on your property and report suspicious activity. Likewise, you can deter porch pirates by informing neighbours of delivery times and using strongboxes for package storage. Be sure to return the favour for a more secure neighbourhood.
Digital Security
An increase in smart home adoption and our general reliance on gadgets has made cybersecurity a core part of modern home protection considerations. Hackers continually look for weaknesses to exploit, and you’re not safe just because you might keep a low profile.
Keeping your smart home ecosystem updated is a top priority. Individual smart devices are easier to exploit than computers or phones, offering access to vulnerable personal data through recordings and other means.
Manufacturers keep developing new firmware that tackles known exploits; perform regular checkups to ensure all devices connected to your home network use the latest version.
Most smart home gadgets work through an account. That’s one more password to remember and one more potential data breach threat that only gets worse if you use the same password more than once. Setting up a manager program to handle passwords and passkeys simplifies things while making any account you link more secure.
Two-factor authentication is another must and a core password manager component. It allows access only if you accompany a password with a second code. It’s an effective deterrent since a stolen password doesn’t necessarily lead to account theft anymore.
Also, just so you have even fewer chances of receiving all kinds of spam and scams that can lead to security exploits in your home devices, consider using data removal services. Reddit community has great ideas for finding quality security and privacy products, and you can choose the best data removal service there, too.
Sensible online habits can contribute much to your home’s security. You shouldn’t advertise going on vacation on social media. Burglars often know their victims and keep tabs on their socials, so your fun vacation pictures may also serve as calling cards.
Conclusion
Strong locks are still a viable deterrent, but they’re no longer enough to provide all-encompassing protection in the world of tech-savvy burglars and porch pirates. Consider the defences we’ve outlined above, and among the physical protection, don’t forget the digital one as well. Start implementing those tools that aren’t already part of your home defence strategy for peace of mind and more effective protection. Then, you will be much safer than the average person out there.
