Tag: applications (apps)

When building a home security system, every little bit helps. You can make significant changes, like setting up outdoor cameras with facial recognition. This helps you spot familiar faces crossing your street every day.

Or you can make minor tweaks, like recycling old tech for security purposes. For example, you can turn a dusty old phone you no longer use into a surveillance tool. More on that later.

Thanks to our sponsor, SimpliSafe, we have a few tips to help you feel safer around the home. Keep reading for five easy ways to boost your home’s security setup.

1. Turn your old cell phones into security cameras

Security cameras are expensive. The outdated phone in your junk drawer is 100% free. Instead of selling your old phone or trading it in for less than you spent to buy it, try this DIY trick instead.

Turning your old phone into a security camera requires no fancy hardware or tech know-how. You just need to download a security camera app on your phone. Look for something with motion detection and alert features.

Also, when looking for apps, check if they store footage remotely or locally. Your choice of an app depends on how much storage space your old phone has. We recommend Critter.Camera, which also lets you turn old tablets and computers into security cameras.

Tap or click here for a step-by-step guide to turning your used tech into security cameras.

2. Don’t post pictures of your key or your home address on social media

Sure, you might feel proud of yourself for buying your dream home. That might make you want to snap a picture of your key with the caption, “Finally bought my home!” But before you upload your triumphant moment onto social media, hold your horses.

You’re giving burglars the key to your house. Or, at least, the key to creating the key to your home. That’s right: Thieves can make a copy of your house key based on a single picture.

For example, a now-defunct app called Keys Duplicated created house key copies based on photos. Users just snapped a pic of the key, uploaded it to the site and ordered a duplicate, which came within a week for as little as $6, according to GoKeyless.

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