Theres currentlyno shortage of smart security devices for your home, due tothe ascendancy of the smart home market as a whole, coupled with a hardware renaissance driven bythe rise of crowdfunding. Theseconsumer home security devices usually consist simply of an Internet-connected camera of sorts, combined with motion detection and a supporting cloud service and smartphone app to ping you when a potential intruder is detected. Debuting on IndieGoGo today, however, is Cocoon, which adds infrasound into the mix.

By listening to infrasonic sound waves sound below 20Hz, which is undetectable to the human ear combined with machine learning, the device claims to be able to monitor an entire home, including detecting intruders through closed doors and in rooms in the home other than the one where the Cocoon is situated. Should the technology stand up, this potentially solves the shortcomings of most camera/motion detection-based smart home security systems, which are either limited to a single room or require the setting up of zones using multiple devices.

We believe that traditional home security doesnt work. Most people in the UK/U.S. dont have a home alarm system because its expensive and complicated. Those that do, find that they forget to set their alarm or are worried about false alarms disturbing their neighbours or receiving call-out charges from the police, Dan Conlon, co-founder of Cocoon, tells TechCrunch.

We believe that there is a smarter, more accessible way to deliver home security. Our SUBSOUND technology allows a user to protect a typical home with a single, simple device whilst machine learning algorithms learn what is normal for your home to reduce false alarms. Smartphone alerts deliver actionable information to you enabling you to take meaningful action. Were putting people at the heart of home security.

In addition to its infrasonic sound sensor, the Cocoon device packs a traditional motion sensor, microphone and HD camera with night vision and wide angle lens. The idea is that, should unusual activity be detected, youre pinged on your smartphone and can stream live audio and video to check out the scene for yourselves. The accompanying Cocoon smartphone app will use geofencing to enable Cocoon to know if any household members are home so as to eliminate false positives. The device also claims to be pet friendly so that a dog or cat wont set the thing off a loud alarm can optionally be emitted to help disturb an intruder.

On the issue of whether or not a single Cocoon can really listen to and protect an entire house a claim we should treat with a little scepticism, since this is pre-funded and pre-launch the UK startup had this to say:

When any wave fits through a gap it will spread out a bit. The greater the wavelength, the more it will spread out. Because the ripples or waves of air pressure changes Cocoon monitors are of very low frequency they spread out a lot allowing them to travel a long way around a building, even though the tiniest of gaps.

Cocoon is packed full of high quality sensors that it uses to detect these ripples which it converts into digital signals. Each action is different and creates it own digital signature, like a fingerprint, that Cocoon uses to build profiles and determine whether activity is normal.

The company says it has several working prototypes already being beta tested in the wild, and that its raising on IndieGoGo to gauge consumer demand and fund a first production run. However, the Cocoon device wont ship to early backers until Q4 next year. Yes, you could wait an entire year or more before getting your hands on the unproven device. Thats one of the perils of crowdfunding, perhaps at its extreme in this case. Or maybe, unlike more naive hardware startups, the Cocoon team are actually being realistic though the smart home security space could look a lot different in a years time.

To that end, Cocoons British founders have a very respectable track record, including a number of successful exits. Conlon most recently founded cloud storage service Humyo, which sold for $18 million to Trend Micro in 2010. Prior to that he started web host Donhost while still in high school and sold it for $11 million in 2005. Meanwhile, Sanjay Parekh was previously CEO of Webexpenses, which sold in 2012, and Cocoons other co-founders, Colin Richardson, Nick Gregory and John Berthels, have held various roles at Humyo and Trend Micro.

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Cocoon Is A Smart Home Security Device That Uses Infrasonic Sound To Detect An Intruder

The Internet-connected home is arriving faster than you think -- offering conveniences but also new security perils with every smart device you bring inside. Here's how to protect yourself.

Internet-connected home devices like the Nest thermostat promise a new world of convenience -- and new security risks, too. James Martin/CNET

There's a good chance you'll soon have to worry about your house getting hacked.

Everything from door locks and ovens to thermostats and refrigerators are being connected to the Internet to make them "smart," giving you the ability to control or reset these household stalwarts through an app on your smartphone or tablet. You can turn on the heater so you don't have to enter a cold house, unlock the front door for kids or guests who have arrived early, or peruse video from cameras in your living room to see what the cat is doing.

Companies big and small are investing heavily in what's loosely referred to as the Internet of Things, a catch-all term for the technology that makes all the parts of this connected new world work. In fact, researcher IDC expects the market for Internet-connected devices to top $7 trillion within the next six years.

But for every technology step forward, there's nearly always a step back. With the Internet of Things, the very act of giving previously "dumb" appliances intelligence opens the door to new security risks.

Why should you be on guard? Consider that, as a whole, Fortune 500 companies spend about $80 billion a year on Internet security. Yet hackers breach many of these companies' networks.

Devices and networks for the home must be secured against intruders just like those used by a business.

But for many Internet of Things makers, these considerations are often afterthoughts. A case in point: Security researcher Paul Vixie found the quality assurance budget at General Motors was about $50 per car, but a paltry $5 per unit for a cable modem that enables Internet connectivity.

Security snafus wrought by smart-home devices made headlines earlier this year. One firm claimed it found an Internet-connected refrigerator transformed into a spambot, surreptitiously sending out junk email without the owner's knowledge. More ominous and unnerving: Someone tapped into a baby monitor's security camera to verbally harass an infant.

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Lock your doors: Protecting your Internet-connected home

Ive never been all that interested in home surveillance. At my house Ive slept well for years with an old-fashioned burglar alarm and a deadbolt, and despite my love of all things electronic, spy cams have always seems a bit too Scarface for my humble abode.

That is, until someone tried to break in. Thankfully, nobody was hurt and nothing was stolenmy low-tech solution worked well and scared the would-be intruders awaybut as I watched the cops fruitlessly dust for prints on my busted door and unscrewed porch light, I suddenly saw the benefit of a cloud camera. If I could have accessed my video feed from the night of the incident, I might have been able to see who was trying to get in and give the cops a solid lead.

So after a few sleepless nights, I decided to do some research. Even if I never used it as a crime-fighting tool, I figured an extra level of security would at least give me back some of the peace of mind I had lost.

Home security has become something of a cottage industry in our app-connected, always-on world, and the landscape is teeming with cameras that all promise to keep a close eye on your family. Even some baby monitors can do double-duty as a security cam once the little ones grow up, so narrowing the list is a monumental task. But for my purposes, I at least knew where to start.

Dropcam Pro is pretty much the gold standard, but it's starting to get some stiff competition.

You dont need to be a security expert to know the name Dropcam. The original Wi-Fi video recorder was the first to make surveillance simple, and there arent many bad things to say about it. Our own review praised its video quality and image enhancement features, and you can feel its quality as soon as you take it out of the box. Setup is an absolute breeze, and I was literally up and running in seconds, watching crisp, reliable video feeds with wide angles and vivid colors, and enjoying seamless, lag-free streams. In short, its a remarkable little camera.

Since most people probably dont want to obsessively monitor every alert that comes in, the real benefit of the Dropcam model is automatic cloud storage. It can get a little priceyto store a weeks worth of video costs $99 a year, and 30 days of footage will set you back $299but its an indispensable part of the process. Otherwise, youd just have a high-tech burglar deterrent, not a real tool for tracking down crooks.

Quite frankly, I could have stopped my search right here and adequately filled my needs, but since this was about the safety and security of my family, and I wanted to make sure I was buying the very best. So I pitted the $199 Dropcam Pro up against three of its closest competitors: Simplicam, HomeMonitor HD and Belkin NetCam HD.

Much like the iPhone, Dropcams svelte, teardrop look has inspired a generation of similarly designed cameras. HomeMonitor ($200) is different. Housed in a small white square, it looks something like a sawed-off walkie-talkie, right down to the small antennae protruding out of the top. Setup wasnt complicated, but not as simple as Dropcams. Along the way I was required to plug in a supplied Ethernet cable (a necessary step for either wired or wireless connections) and manually enter the cameras 12-digit ID number, which seemed more annoying after zipping through Dropcams near-automatic process.

HomeMonitor comes with an optional stand, not shown here.

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HomeMonitor, Simplicam, and Netcam HD: Can any of them beat Dropcam?

By the Springfield Township Police Department

Automobile Security - Keep automobile windows closed and doors locked even if the vehicle is parked in your driveway or in front of your home. Do not store valuables in the car. If you must leave items in your car or truck, please be sure that they are out of sight and in the trunk if possible.

Home Security - Maintain home security by locking all doors and windows, particularly those on the ground level. Be sure to prune any trees that might provide access to a second-floor window or door. Lock all ladders in your garage or tool shed. Do not place purses, money, jewelry, small computer equipment or other valuables in plain view of a door or window.

Social Media - Do not post on social media your daily schedule or activities, or let others know about your weekend or vacation plans. Refrain from posting vacation pictures until you have returned home from your trip.

Protect your neighborhood - Be a good neighbor and call the police department at any time if you see something out of the ordinary or suspicious in your neighborhood.

The Springfield Township Police can be contacted as follows: emergency - dial 911, non-emergency police business - 215-836-1600 and police administration - 215-836-1601.

Automobile Security - Keep automobile windows closed and doors locked even if the vehicle is parked in your driveway or in front of your home. Do not store valuables in the car. If you must leave items in your car or truck, please be sure that they are out of sight and in the trunk if possible.

Home Security - Maintain home security by locking all doors and windows, particularly those on the ground level. Be sure to prune any trees that might provide access to a second-floor window or door. Lock all ladders in your garage or tool shed. Do not place purses, money, jewelry, small computer equipment or other valuables in plain view of a door or window.

Social Media - Do not post on social media your daily schedule or activities, or let others know about your weekend or vacation plans. Refrain from posting vacation pictures until you have returned home from your trip.

Protect your neighborhood - Be a good neighbor and call the police department at any time if you see something out of the ordinary or suspicious in your neighborhood.

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Springfield Township Police Department urges residents to keep home, cars locked

Brink #39;s Home Security Extinct: Next Best Alternative
Brink #39;s Home Security is no more. They merged into ADT a few years back. This is bad news because ADT isn #39;t the company Brink #39;s was. ADT is extremely bad rev...

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Brink's Home Security Extinct: Next Best Alternative - Video

Strategic Relocation Home Security: Joel Skousen
Hang on to your hats! Joel Skousen covers a ton of information in this short presentation. Including: Hyper inflation, economic collapse, automatic indexing of salaries, global currency, the...

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Strategic Relocation & Home Security: Joel Skousen - Video

NEW DELHI: India's 50 lakh private security guards may man corporate offices and malls all over, but almost all of them are barely trained, unarmed and of little use in emergencies. Coach these 50 lakh to act as 'eyes and ears' of India's 15 lakh police personnel and, may be, allow private security guards to carry arms. That's the home ministry's ambitious plan, make private security, post-training, a force multiplier for cops.

India has only 50% of the number of policemen it needs to serve 1.2 billion citizens. The private security industry, despite its generally poorly trained men, is worth Rs 22,000 crore and is expected, according to a FICCI study, to grow to Rs 40,000 crore by next year. "Police can coach private security guards...police will also sensitise them to spotting threats in typically crowded areas...guards standing at shopping malls and ATMs can also act as intelligence gatherers... criminals tend to drop their guard at such places ...especially when they see cops in khaki are not present," a top ministry official told ET.

Elaborating on the plan, the official added, "If a police station has 100 cops, it will have at least 500 private security guards working in the area under its jurisdiction...if guards are coached by the police...especially before a festive season... this can be a big help".

Security agencies have argued that urban environment threats are now serious and frequent enough for the government to amend its earlier position. Another government concern is unregistered private security agencies handling cash management the ministry plans to launch mandatory registration for all security agencies.

Agencies have asked for rules that allow arms licences with built-in accountability clauses for holders. Home ministry officials told ET the demand is being "closely examined". Armed personnel in private security agencies are now restricted to employees who possess individual arms licences. This severely restricts effective security provision, agencies have argued.

Some of the broader issues concerning private security agencies will be discussed at a FICCI seminar on Saturday. Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju is the chief guest, and FICCI has communicated the private security agency sector's demands to the government.

The industry chamber has argued that in view of the spread of MNCs in India, demand for better-trained and better-equipped private security far outstrips supply and that quick official remedial action was needed. Tackling the problem of unregistered security agencies is urgent, ministry officials said, because three-quarters of agencies are not registered despite a decade-old central law on private security making registration mandatory.

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Home Ministry plans to train 50 lakh private security guards as police force multiplier

Smartphones are pretty clever these days and can almost be used to do anything. But it cant tell you if you have an intruder in your house, can it?

Maybe it can with the help of a new home security system thats currently on Indiegogo, a crowdfunding website.

Designed to work with your smartphone, Kibbi helps you keep tabs on your home through its app (available on Apple, Android or Windows devices), providing you with an HD live stream.

The kit is also equipped with night vision camera, sensors which can be attached to doors, windows or anywhere you want motion or change in temperature to be detected, as well as a microphone so you can hear as well as see.

Other smart camera security solutions will only detect an intruder once they are in your home, says Ronnie Nag, of QL London.

However, Kibbi will notify you as soon as it detects something when, say, a front or back gate is opened or a door or window is knocked or tampered with.

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This home security system is powered by a smartphone

Home Security Systems Stockton CA | CALL 855-952-8045 | Rutledge Security Systems
Home Security Systems Stockton CA - Need a security system in Stockton CA? Call: 855-952-8045 Not happy with your current alarm company, monthly monitoring fee, the dependability of your alarm...

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Home Security Systems Stockton CA | CALL 855-952-8045 | Rutledge Security Systems - Video

ALERT-Potential License Denial or Suspension for Failure to Pay Taxes

Effective July 1, 2012, the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is required to deny an application for licensure and to suspend the license/certificate/registration of any applicant or licensee who has outstanding tax obligations due to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the State Board of Equalization (BOE) and appears on either the FTB or BOE's certified lists of top 500 tax delinquencies over $100,000. (AB 1424, Perea, Chapter 455, Statutes of 2011)

Once it has been determined that an applicant or a licensee is on a certified list, the applicant or licensee has 90 days from the issuance of a preliminary notice of suspension to either satisfy all outstanding tax obligations or enter into a payment installment program with the FTB or BOE. Any such person who fails to come into compliance will have his/her license denied or suspended until the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services receives a release from the FTB or BOE. The form for requesting a release will be included with the preliminary notice of suspension.

The law prohibits the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services from refunding any money paid for the issuance or renewal of a license where the license is denied or suspended as required by AB 1424.

The FTB and BOE are currently expanding the certified lists from 250 to 500, but you can check if you are currently on the FTB's certified list at: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/aboutFTB/Delinquent_Taxpayers.shtml or the BOE's certified list at: http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/top500.htm. If you believe you are on either list in error, please call the FTB at (888) 426-8555. For Bureau related licensing issues please call (800) 952-5210.

News You Can Use

Assembly Bill 2220 Signed Into Law (Posted October 29, 2014)

Appropriate Use of BSIS Firearms Permit Application (Posted October 14, 2014)

Notice of Alarm Company Operator Disciplinary Review Hearing - October 21, 2014 (Posted October 8, 2014)

Notice of Private Security Disciplinary Review Hearing - October 21, 2014 (Posted October 8, 2014)

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Bureau of Security and Investigative Services