Home security company SimpliSafe has unveiled a holiday sweater prototype that promotes social distancing by using alarms and flashing lights.

As the holiday season approaches and coronavirus cases continue to spike across the US, more people have started considering whether it's safe or not to meet up with loved ones. To tackle this problem, SimpliSafe designed the Social Distancing Sweater, which is rigged with motion sensors that set off the knitwear's siren and flashing LED lights when someone steps within six feet of the sweater wearer.

Read more: McDonald's is putting new COVID measures in place to combat what it internally says could be the worst stage of the pandemic yet

"As the experts on protection, albeit home protection, we wanted to give people a playful way to protect themselves during this year's holiday celebrations," SimpliSafe creative director Wade Devers said in a news statement announcing the sweater. "It's really meant to bring some lightheartedness to a time that's otherwise proven very stressful."

Inadvertently, Simplisafe is also highlighting how unevenly the pain of the pandemic is spread through the retail industry.

"Ugly" sweaters have become something of an annual tradition, and they've grown into a multi-million dollar cottage industry. They're not worn for fashion, but to parties purposefully thrown to show off garish threads around the holidays

No parties to go to this year likely means fewer ugly sweater sales too. At the same time, sales for holiday decorations have gone way up, selling out at many stores, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

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MILWAUKEE, WI (WDJT ) Now you dont get f****** nothing because youre a stupid mother******. You cant read and write and speak the f****** England language.

Those remarks from a UPS driver were captured on a home security camera from a Latino recipient in the Milwaukee area, who was not home to receive a package.

The mother of the recipient reached out to CBS 58 and Milwaukee Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, after she said she was stonewalled by UPS to respond to the incident.

It was offensive, Zamarripa said. I was angry and upset as well when I saw the video.

The family does speak English, and they say theyve never actually communicated with the UPS driver.

The recipient works overnight, and was not home when the package was delivered.

The last name is Aviles.

We can only surmise that he made such a racially charged, racist remark because he saw a Spanish surname on the package, Zamarripa said.

The Latino advocacy group Forward Latino says they are immediately demanding a meeting with UPS.

They want the driver out.

Some other groups have called us wanting to participate as well, Forward Latino President Darryl Morin said. And at this point, I dont see anything other than dismissal being acceptable.

UPS sent CBS 58 the statement: We offer our deepest apologies to the family. There is no place in any community for racism, bigotry or hate. This is very serious and unfortunate, and we are taking appropriate action.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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UPS driver accuses Latino package recipient of being unable to read, write or speak English - KTVZ

A rating of 83 puts Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) near the top of the Consumer Cyclical sector according to InvestorsObserver.

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc's score of 83 means that it ranks higher than 83% of stocks in the sector. In addition, its overall score of 51 ranks it higher than 51% of all stocks.

Analyzing stocks can be hard. There are tons of numbers and ratios, and it can be hard to remember what they all mean and what counts as good for a given value. InvestorsObserver ranks stocks on eight different metrics. We percentile rank most of our scores to make it easy for investors to understand. A score of 51 means the stock is more attractive than 51 percent of stocks.

This ranking system incorporates numerous factors used by analysts to compare stocks in greater detail. This allows you to find the best stocks available in the consumer cyclical sector with relative ease.

These percentile-ranked scores using both fundamental and technical analysis give investors an easy way to view the attractiveness of specific stocks. Stocks with the highest scores have the best evaluations by analysts working on Wall Street.

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) stock is higher by 0.47% while the S&P 500 is down -0.73% as of 2:43 PM on Friday, Dec 18. FBHS has gained $0.42 from the previous closing price of $88.89 on volume of 971,132 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 has risen 15.29% while FBHS has gained 36.85%. FBHS earned $3.51 a per share in the over the last 12 months, giving it a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.3.

Click Here to get the full Stock Score Report on Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) Stock.

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Can Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc (FBHS) Stock Rise to the Top of Consumer Cyclical Sector? - InvestorsObserver

A Russian hacking campaign has struck several federal agencies, according to security companies and news reports.

Earlier this year, hackers compromised software made by a cybersecurity company you might not have heard of. The infiltration led to a massive malware campaignthat's now affecting US federal agencies as well as governments around the world, according to the security firm and news reports.

The hacked company, SolarWinds, sells software that lets an organization see what's happening on its computer networks. Hackers inserted malicious code into an updated version of the software, called Orion. Around 18,000 SolarWinds customers installed the tainted updates onto their systems, the company said.

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The compromised update process has had a sweeping effect, the scale of which keeps growing as new information emerges. Based on newspaper reports, the company's statements and analysis from other security firms, a Russian intelligence agency reportedly carried out a sophisticated attack that struck several US federal agencies and private companies including Microsoft.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump floated on Twitter the idea that China might be behind the attack. Trump, who didn't provide evidence to support the suggestion of Chinese involvement, tagged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had earlier said in a radio interview that "we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."

US national security agencies issued a joint statement Wednesday acknowledging a "significant and ongoing hacking campaign" that's affecting the federal government. It's still unclear how many agencies are affected or what information hackers might have stolen so far, but by all accounts the malware is extremely powerful. According to analysis by Microsoft and security firm FireEye, both of which were also infected with the malware, it gives hackers broad reach into impacted systems.

On Thursday, Politico reported that systems at the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration were also affected. Also on Thursday, Microsoft said it had identified more than 40 customers that were targeted in the hack. More information is likely to emerge about the hack and its aftermath. Here's what you need to know about the SolarWinds hack:

Hackers managed to access a system that SolarWinds uses to put together updates to its Orion product, the company explained in a filing with the SEC. From there, they inserted malicious code into otherwise legitimate software updates. This is known as a supply-chain attack, because it infects software while it's being assembled.

It's a big coup for hackers to pull off a supply-chain attack, because it packages their malware inside a trusted piece of software. Instead of having to trick individual targets into downloading malicious software with a phishing campaign, the hackers could rely on several government agencies and companies to install the Orion update at SolarWinds' prompting.

The approach is especially powerful in this case because hundreds of thousands of companies and government agencies around the world reportedly use the Orion software. With the release of the tainted software update, SolarWinds' vast customer list became potential hacking targets.

According to reports from Reuters, The Washington Post and TheWall Street Journal, the malware affected the US Homeland Security, State, Commerce and Treasury Departments, as well as the National Institutes of Health. Politico reported on Thursday that nuclear programs run by the US Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration were also targeted.

It's still unclear what information, if any, was stolen from the federal agencies, but the amount of access appears to be broad.

Though the Department of Energy and the Commerce Department have acknowledged the hacks to news sources, there's no official confirmation that other specific federal agencies have been hacked. However, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency put out an advisory urging federal agencies to mitigate the malware, noting that it's "currently being exploited by malicious actors."

In a statement Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden said his administration will "make dealing with this breach a top priority from the moment we take office."

In addition to gaining access to several government systems, the hackers turned a run-of-the-mill software update into a weapon. That weapon was pointed at thousands of groups, not just the agencies and companies that the hackers focused on after they installed the tainted Orion update.

Microsoft president Brad Smith called this "an act of recklessness" in a wide-ranging blog post that explored the ramifications of the hack. He didn't directly attribute the hack to Russia, but described its previous alleged hacking campaigns as proof of an increasingly fraught cyber conflict.

"This is not just an attack on specific targets," Smith said, "but on the trust and reliability of the world's critical infrastructure in order to advance one nation's intelligence agency." He went on to call for international agreements to limit the creation of hacking tools that undermine global cybersecurity.

Former Facebook cybersecurity chief Alex Stamos said on Twitter that the hack could lead to supply-chain attacks becoming more common. However, he questioned whether the hack was anything out of the ordinary for a well resourced intelligence agency.

"So far, all of the activity that has been publicly discussed has fallen into the boundaries of what the US does regularly," Stamos said.

Yes. Microsoft confirmed Thursday that it found indicators of the malware in its systems, after confirming Sunday that the breach was affecting customers of its cybersecurity services. A Reuters report also said that Microsoft's own systems were used to further the hacking campaign, but Microsoft denied this claim to news agencies. On Wednesday, the company began quarantining the versions of Orion known to contain the malware, in order to cut hackers off from its customers' systems.

FireEye also confirmed last week that it was infected with the malware and was seeing the infection in customer systems as well.

Other than FireEye and Microsoft, it isn't clear which of SolarWinds' private sector customers saw malware infections. The company's customer list includes large corporations, such as AT&T, Procter & Gamble and McDonald's. The company also counts governments and private companies around the world as customers. FireEye says many of those customers were infected.

Unnamed US government officials have reportedly told news outlets that a hacking group widely believed to be a Russian intelligence agency is responsible for the malware campaign. SolarWinds, cybersecurity firms and US government statements have attributed the hack to "nation-state actors" but haven't named a country directly.

In a statement on Facebook, the Russian embassy in the US denied responsibility for the SolarWinds hacking campaign. "Malicious activities in the information space contradict the principles of the Russian foreign policy, national interests and our understanding of interstate relations," the embassy said, adding, "Russia does not conduct offensive operations in the cyber domain."

Nicknamed APT29 or CozyBear, the hacking group named by news reports has previously been blamed for targeting email systems at the State Department and White House during the administration of President Barack Obama. It was also named by US intelligence agencies as one of the groups that infiltrated email systems at the Democratic National Committee in 2015, but the leaking of those emails isn't attributed to CozyBear. (Another Russian agency was blamed for that.)

More recently, the US, UK and Canada have identified the group as responsible for hacking efforts that tried to access information about COVID-19 vaccine research.

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Microsoft head calls SolarWinds hack 'act of recklessness': What you need to know - CNET

This market research report includes a detailed segmentation of theglobal smart home appliances marketby product type (home appliances [smart home security system, smart lighting, smart speaker, smart plugs, smart thermostat, others], kitchen appliances [smart microwave/oven, smart refrigerators, smart dishwashers, smart washer/dryers, others]), by technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF technology, Zigbee, cellular technology, near field communication), and by region (North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW). The market research report identifies Samsung, LG, GE Appliances, Electrolux, Panasonic, Philips, Whirlpool, and BSH as the major vendors operating in the global smart home appliances market.

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Overview of the Smart Home Appliances Market

Infoholics market research report predicts that the global smart home appliances market will grow at a CAGR of around 32% during the forecast period 20192025. The demand for smart home appliances is increasing due to several factors such as increased digitalization, growing consumer awareness of smart hubs, rising living standards, growing consumer purchasing power, and increased consolidation & sustainability.

The shift in consumer buying power is one of the major drivers contributing to the growth of the smart home appliances market. Increase in demand for energy-efficient appliances is anticipated to create new business opportunities for smart home appliances vendors. Advancement in IoT is one of the key factors for smart homes & home automation, which is driving the smart home appliances market. Wider availability of financing options, increasing nuclear families, changing lifestyles, and launch of new & advanced models are few factors leading to the growth of the smart home appliances market.

There are certain challenges being faced by smart home appliances vendors, which may hinder the market growth. Few challenges in the smart home appliances market include concerns about device security, efficiency & durability of products, and high product costs of home appliances. Complete usability & interoperability of connected devices is also one of the factors that can create issues when consumers want to integrate a smart solution from one vendor into the smart hub offered by a different vendor.

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According to the smart home appliances industry analysis, North America accounts for the largest share of the global smart home appliances market in 2019. Drivers supporting the growth of the smart home appliances market in North America include increased focus of consumers toward home security and growing demand for energy management devices. The number of smart homes in the US is expected to increase significantly during the next few years due to growing number of connected devices. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period due to the increasing presence of home appliances vendors in this region. With strong economic growth in this region, domestic as well as foreign manufacturers & retailers of home appliances witness potential opportunities for expansion in the APAC market.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research Competitive Analysis and Key Vendors

The report covers and analyzes the global smart home appliances market. Major vendors across different verticals are planning for high investments in this market, and as a result, the smart home appliances market is expected to grow at an impressive rate in the coming years. The key players in the market are adopting various organic as well as inorganic growth strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations & partnerships, joint ventures, and few other strategies, to be in the strong position in the market.

Few of the Key Vendors in the Smart Home Appliances Market Research:

SamsungLGGE AppliancesElectroluxPanasonicPhilipsWhirlpoolBSH

Consumer electronics companies, including Samsung and LG, have shifted their focus toward smart technology devices, which could benefit them in their home appliances business. Traditional appliances companies, i.e., Electrolux, BSH, and Whirlpool, have also become key players by acquiring significant capabilities in the smart appliances segment.

There are numerous other vendors that have been studied based on the portfolio, geographical presence, marketing & distribution channels, revenue generation, and significant investments in R&D for analysis of the entire ecosystem.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research By Product Type

Home AppliancesSmart Home Security SystemSmart LightingSmart SpeakerSmart PlugsSmart ThermostatOthers

Kitchen AppliancesSmart Microwave/OvenSmart RefrigeratorsSmart DishwashersSmart Washer/DryersOthers

The home appliances segment is estimated to hold the largest market share and the kitchen appliances segment is expected to witness significant growth at the highest CAGR during the forecast period 20192025.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research By Technology

Wi-FiBluetoothRF TechnologyZigbeeCellular TechnologyNear Field Communication

Wi-Fi technology is estimated to hold the largest market share in 2019 as it is preferred as connectivity for remote control & monitoring, and cellular technology is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period 20192025.

Smart Home Appliances Market Research Benefits

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the smart home appliances market. Globally, the adoption of smart home appliances is expected to increase significantly during the next few years. The report discusses the market in terms of product type, technology, and regions. Further, the report provides details about the major challenges impacting the market growth.

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Smart Home Appliances Market Growth Analysis By Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Application Forecast - LionLowdown

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Thanks for reading this article;you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

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Global Connected Home Security Device Market Size |Incredible Possibilities and Growth Analysis and Forecast To 2026 - The Courier

The Apple HomePod is capable of controlling compatible at-home tech like smart cameras and lights through Apple HomeKit. It takes your music streaming to the next level too. With Apple Music and AirPlay, your favorite playlists and Apple device tunes will sound better than ever before, thanks to the HomePods A8 audio chip and 360-degree adaptive sound staging. Then, theres everything you can do with Siri. Ask the voice assistant questions, and shell scour the web to find your answers.

The HomePod can perform most functions without a hitch, but tech is tech. Whether a poor Wi-Fi connection or a holdup with AirPlay pairing, there are some HomePod glitches that pop up again and again. Weve taken a deeper look at some of these bugs (for both the standard HomePod and newly released HomePod Mini) to better understand what can cause these troubles and different things you can try to fix them.

A white screen, Wi-Fi incompatibility, or a -6722 error code. These are all signs that your HomePod cant get through the devices initial setup. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try to work past this. For starters, youll want to confirm your iOS device and HomePod are on the same Wi-Fi network and are both running the latest firmware. If all checks out, and youre still having trouble, check to make sure two-factor authentication is enabled for both your Apple ID and iCloud Keychain.

For two-factor authentication, on your iOS device, go to Settings > Your Name > Password and Security, then make sure the option is turned on. For the iCloud Keychain, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud. If Keychain is disabled, toggle it on.Once youve confirmed everything is enabled and paired correctly, begin the setup process once more. If youre still having trouble, it could be network-related. Well cover that in our next section.

This issue can rear its head for a multitude of reasons and is not all that uncommon for smart speakers in general. For starters, as part of iOS 12, your HomePod will jump on the same Wi-Fi network as your preferred iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). If youve recently changed your homes Wi-Fi password or relocated your HomePod to a new location, the speaker will need to be re-paired to the network.

To do so, grab the iOS device you plan on using for setup and hold it near the HomePod, then tapSet Upwhen it appears on your device screen. When prompted, select the HomeKit Room you want the HomePod to be placed in, then tapTransfer Settingsto send your iOS device settings (iCloud credentials, Wi-Fi info) to your HomePod. After entering your Apple ID password, your HomePod should be good to go.

Sometimes, Wi-Fi drops may be the result of poor firmware or glitches in the HomePods operating system. Right now, there are numerous reports of HomePod Mini owners experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi drops. Apples current solution is to unplug the HomePod and plug it back in. If the hard reset doesnt fix the issue, you can perform a factory reset. To do so, log into the Home app, select the HomePod in question, and tap Remove. Your HomePod will then un-link from your HomeKit account and reset itself.

If youre operating your HomePod in a home with poor bandwidth or a ton of walls and floors between the speaker and your router, the speaker may kick itself off Wi-Fi now and again. To correct the issue, try moving the HomePod closer to the router. If youre still having trouble, a hard reset of your network gear may do the trick. Unplug your router and modem, wait 10 seconds then reconnect the modem and then the router. Once everything is back online, say Hey, Siri to test your HomePods connection. If the speaker still drops Wi-Fi, it may be worth it to invest in upgraded internet gear. With Wi-Fi, you truly get what you pay for, and a powerful router can make all the difference.

Your HomePod uses Siri to run the show. The voice assistant carries out your smart home commands, connects you to your preferred music services, and searches the web for answers to your questions. But sometimes when you say Hey, Siri, your HomePod may not respond. There could be a few reasons why.

The HomePod uses a six-microphone array (three-mic array for the HomePod Mini) to pick up on your voice commands. In most cases, the speaker should be able to hear you, but too much environmental noise can definitely get in the way. Try moving your HomePod to a quieter location, or away from obstructions that block the speaker, then test by saying Hey, Siri.

If theres still no response, and you know your HomePod is paired to your preferred iOS device, go into the device settings and toggle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on/off. Doing so may be enough to get Siri back online. If all else fails, you can opt for a hard reset of the HomePod. Unplug, re-plug, then test Siri.

Using Airplay, you can instantly stream music to your HomePod from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV. If youre trying to play content and not getting any audio from the speaker, there could be a couple of culprits.

The first thing youll want to do is make sure your HomePod and Airplay-designated iOS device are both on the same Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is enabled. If youre going to be streaming from your Apple TV, youll also need to make sure Airplay is enabled for the device. To do so, using your Apple TV remote, go toSettings, selectAirplay, then make sure the function is turned on.

Still no Airplay? As weve mentioned previously, do a hard reset of both your HomePod and your iOS device, then try using Airplay again.

Your HomePod can be the brains of your entire smart home. From lights to locks and home security, all can be managed and customized in the Home app. But once in a while, you may run into a situation where you cant get your smart gear to respond.

The first thing youll want to do is open your Home app and make sure the devices youre trying to control are available and online. If a device is missing, manually re-add it and then test to see if your HomePod will control it. If theres still trouble, take a look at what firmware both the HomePod and your smart devices are running. If youre one or two updates behind on either device, that may be enough to cause handshake issues between your gear.

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Common HomePod problems and how to fix them - Digital Trends

BOSTON, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Perigee, founded by a former NSA mathematician, combines network exploitation and machine learning expertise to stop malicious threats, improve behavior, and extend the life of connected devices in real-time. Today, Perigee announced the closing of their first institutional capital round of $1.5M.

The round was led by Outsiders Fund's Austin McChord and Teddy Seem, with additional investment from Westport, Contour Venture Partners, BBG Ventures, Innospark Ventures, Ray Rothrock, and Corey Thomas. The newly invested capital will be used to hire new talent, further develop the product, and grow the enterprise within environmental controls and beyond.

McChord, founder and former CEO of data backup service Datto, said, "Teddy and I are incredibly excited to work with such a talented team. This space is clamoring for new thinking and we are really excited to be backing Mollie and her vision around how the ever-changing security landscape can be improved."

Perigee's founder and CEO Mollie Breen previously led a team at NSA where she focused on critical infrastructure. With Perigee, she is extending that expertise to critical infrastructure across enterprises with a specific focus on connected devices.

The same brand of connected thermostats installed in the physician lounge and in the NICU will inevitably be a part of a different workflow and have a different risk profile. Perigee isolates threats unique to a specific thermostat, in real-time, in order to minimally impact an enterprise's critical operations.

"Connected devices are used to increase the ROI of certain critical operations by making them faster and automated, and we focus on increasing the ROI of the devices themselves by making them more trustworthy and longer lasting," Breen said.

Perigee is uniquely positioned to bridge IoT security and IoT analytics.

Breen said: "Analytics solutions are often not built with security in mind. We are a security-first solution, that quantifies improvements in a single device's overall behavior and hygiene, for all devices."

The company is focusing initially on devices within HVAC and environmental controls in critical industries like healthcare at a time when these sensors are of the utmost importance.

"HVAC and Environmental Controls play an important part in patient care. If you don't have those, especially now due to COVID-19, you're not taking care of them. These systems are just as important as your Electronic Medical Record. Secure them like it," said Mitch Parker, CISO of Indiana University Health.

The Perigee team sees HVAC and environmental controls as the optimal starting point to expand into the growing footprint of connected devices.

Breen said: "As real estate developers look to healthcare to set future standards for healthier buildings, working with hospitals means we understand the most critical devices today, and in the future too."

About Perigee

Perigee provides protection and enhancement for connected devices' entire life cycle. Perigee was founded in 2019 by former NSA mathematician Mollie Breen, CEO.Learn more at: http://www.getperigee.com

SOURCE Perigee

https://www.getperigee.com

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Perigee Raises Pre-Seed to Bring Security and Performance to HVAC and Environmental Controls - PRNewswire

The founder of Heart & Home Real Estate, John Romito, shared, Every home is different, and home security systems need to be adaptable and upgradeable to meet the needs of a given family in a given home. For him, the road to finding the right security system begins by asking the right questions.

Romito added: While intruder detection is a paramount consideration, so is fire and carbon monoxide detection, as well as sprinklers and other disaster prevention precautions. Ultimately, a proper home security system encompasses these aspects, all while staying within a predetermined price range.

Weve interviewed other experts on the home security front and asked them about their opinions regarding other factors to consider when choosing the ideal residential safety system. Here are their answers:

Get one with an independent cloud system or one that does not rely on your broadband connection. This makes your security system even more secure because it can still send you alerts even if your internet connection is dead. Additionally, it prevents intruders from tampering with it.

By Oliver Baker (Co-founder and Managing Director, Intelvita)

Check out the reviews for local companies via your preferred review platform, we like Google as it seems the least biased. Also, call and ask how far out theyre scheduling their service appointments. Inquire about what brands of hardware and smartphone app control software a company uses and check in to reviews/complaints about the hardware and how reliable it is and how easy to use. Finally, compare three companiesif possibleon their pricing to make sure everythings fairly priced. You dont necessarily have to go with the lowest, but its good to know what market rates are for your area.

By Louis Wood (Home Security Expert, DefendItYourself)

Choosing the right kind of home security system is very crucial especially in these times of crisis. They come with a huge range of benefits apart from protecting your house and yourself. So, there are various factors that you should consider while choosing your next home security system. One of those would be emergency alerts. Most security systems pride themselves in mobile access. But staying connected all the time can be frustrating, as youre not always available on-call for these alerts. So, you need a professional monitoring system that can contact the police and/or the fire department at the time of emergencies.

Jennifer Will (Editor, Etia.com)

You can choose between any number of home security packages and you can even combine them to get the best result. But before you do any of that, you need to figure out what kind of component you want to be part of your security system. For example, if you want to verify people requesting entry to your house, you can install a smart doorbell with a motion sensor. It can help you verify people who request entry to your home by activating a camera placed near your door.

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Decide whether you want 24/7 professional monitoring, self-monitoring, or both. Some companies require professional monitoring, while some dont offer it at all. Also, some companies charge extra for self-monitoring, so take those costs into your bottom line. Furthermore, there are some security systems that require or offer professional installation, usually for a fee of around $100. However, some systems youll be able to install yourself to save money.

By Aliza Vigderman (Content Manager, Center Field)

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5 Ways to Choose the Right Home Security System - Security Insider Access Online - Security Insider Access Online

Team spirit: From left, Andy Piggot, SVP of Customer Service at Minim, Jeremy Hitchock, Executive Chairperson of the Minim Board; Colby Jordan, Managing Partner at Orbit Group, and Gray Chynoweth, CEO of Minim. Courtesy Photo

MANCHESTER, NH Gray Chynoweth is happy to field a call about his new venture, as CEO of Minim Inc., another home-grown Manchester game-changing industry founded by Jeremy Hitchcock that on Monday completed a merger with Zoom Telephonics.

What home security and connectivity means to Chynoweth in the context of Minim may be different from what the average consumer understands about it all. But one thing we can all relate to, he says, is the need for a home network that works when we need it to, and that provides some sense of security in a pandemic world that has left us all feeling a bit insecure.

Were all stuck with these challenges, were all stuck working or teaching or learning from home, and the number of devices we have connected to Wi-Fi networks is growing dramatically its not just computers, says Chynoweth. Its laptops, TVs, vacuums, garage door openers, you think of the number of devices you have connected, you quickly get to 20 or 30 or more.

Minim provides hardware and software that powers the cable modems and other Internet access products under the Motorola brand that have become essential for the way we live and work, he explains.

It used to be at the office you had someone take care of these things. Thats not how it is today. You need to make it easy, safe and simple; thats where we come in. We deliver a hardware and software solution, Chynoweth says.

When asked about how consumers will benefit from Minims innovation, he points to the Motorola Whole Home Mesh WiFi System as seen on Amazon.com.

Go to Amazon and buy one of our routers with modem-managed software, he says, noting its capacity for speed and connectivity, as well as the Moto-manage app allowing users to monitor and maintain Wi-Fi performance.

This has Minim software, so you can see what is connecting on your home network and no device is doing things it shouldnt, making a persons connected home a secure one, including parental controls.

With the merger complete, the next phase will be rapid innovation. Its a lot of work, but likely the most fun part for Chynoweth and Hitchcock, who met in the early 2000s through the Chambers Leadership Greater Manchester program, and went on to scale a little start-up together called Dyn that was eventually acquired by Oracle, and which helped establish the citys silicon millyard status.

We both sat in the back of the bus I was with Sheehan & Phinney at the time, and Jeremy was CEO of Dyn. We were riding in the back of the bus on the first day of Leadership Greater Manchester as Syl Dupuis and John Clayton were giving us a tour of the city, Chynoweth recalls.

Although Chynoweth says he followed his fathers footsteps to a career in law, connecting with Hitchcock provided his passion for technology a clearer path forward.

I was Microsoft-certified in high school and have always been a nerd, and developed websites in college, he says.

Together, along with the rest of the Minim leadership team which includes Sean Doherty, CFO; Nicole Zheng, CMO; and Alec Rooney, CTO and with five new board members, including Liz Hitchcock, Principal at Orbit Group, Chynoweth sees growth in the immediate future here in Manchester and beyond, building a company with a national and global footprint.

Our goals are very ambitious. We believe we have the team and timing to build an incredibly important company that is based here in the northeast, he says, much like Dyn, but already they have employees working around the country and the world, including manufacturing.

Going from small to large is really at the core of what attracted me to working with Jeremy and Liz again. We had a chance at Dyn to not only have an impact on the world but on our community. Im really excited at having a business of size and significance here. There are lots of smart people here to help us compete in the global marketplace, Chynoweth says.

A smaller percentage of our total employee base will be in Manchester, and were excited about it; its a great place to build a business and to operate. Our goal is to continue to make the NH technology ecosystem thrive with all the things were doing with time talent and treasure, thats what were excited about, he says.

Learn more: Minim.co

Click here for more information about the merger.

About Minim

Minim is the creator of innovative internet access products that dependably connect people to the information they need and the people they love. Headquartered in Manchester, NH, the company delivers smart software-driven communications products under the globally recognized Motorola brand. Minim end-users benefit from a personalized and secure WiFi experience, leading to happy and safe homes where things just work. To learn more, visit https://www.minim.co.

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Minim: A merger, a rebrand, and a refresh as global force in home security and connectivity - Manchester Ink Link