Choosing the best security system for your apartment comes down to a few factors. First, determine your budget for upfront and monthly monitoring costs. Then, compare the benefits of installing a system versus relying on the buildings security.

Decide which sensors your apartment needs to protect the doors and windows and determine if you need a doorbell or other camera. Consider an indoor camera or two for extra peace of mind.

Finally, choose a system thats easy to install and take down that requires no hole drilling or screws for installation to comply with the buildings related rules.

Selecting the right components for your apartments security system is key to ensuring optimal protection without violating rental agreements. Consider these features:

For renters, choosing a security system thats easy to install and remove is crucial. Look for DIY systems that dont require drilling or permanent changes to the apartment. These systems often use adhesive mounts or standalone devices, making them ideal for renters who need to comply with leasing restrictions.

Cost is a significant factor when choosing a security system for your apartment. Consider both the upfront cost of equipment and any ongoing monthly fees for monitoring services. Balance your budget with the level of security you need, remembering that many effective systems are available at a range of price points.

Before committing to a security system, understand the contract terms. Some companies require long-term commitments, while others offer more flexibility with month-to-month options. As a renter, you might prefer a system with no long-term contract to align with your lease terms.

When selecting a security system for your apartment, the range of available features can significantly impact its effectiveness and convenience. Key features to consider include:

These features not only fortify your apartments security but also provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.

Excerpt from:
Best Security Systems For Apartments Of 2024 Forbes Home - Forbes

Even though Hosts had permission to install indoor cameras in common areas, many Airbnb guests were perturbed by the perceived invasion of privacy such as one female guest, traveling by herself, who stayed at an Airbnb and found a camera in the bedroom which she claimed wasn't listed on the Airbnb listing page. Reports such as this likely influenced the company's decision to ban indoor cameras after April 30.Following that deadline,if guests report finding cameras in their homes, Airbnb will investigate, assess, and remove listings if needed. Outdoor cameras, while still allowed, will also have new limitations, being restricted from more personal areas such as saunas.

Airbnb's Head of Community Policy and Partnerships, Juniper Downs, states, "These changes were made in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts, and we'll continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community. Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb."

So, as Airbnb makes this change, Hosts will need to take heed. And if you're one of many homeowners thinking ofturning your home into an Airbnb for a cool side gig, it's crucial to keep up with the changing guidelines to ensure everything runs smoothly.

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Airbnb's Unexpected Home Security Ban Sets A New Standard For Rental Property Owners - House Digest

SAVE $80: The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is just $49.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $129.99. That's a 62% discount.

We live in an incredible timepractically anything you want can arrive at your doorstep in just a few days, if not a few hours. However, this convenience comes with the concern of unattended packages sitting on the front porch. If you tend to check delivery status about 12 times per hour, today's deal could help by taking the guessing game away from package delivery.

As of March 8, the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is just $49.99 at Amazon, down from the typical price of $129.99. That's a savings of $80 or a discount of 62%.

The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell packs in the safety features you're looking for when selecting a home security system. The camera uses a wide 180 degree viewing angle which means you'll be able to see front door visitors from head to toe. The camera also features night vision so you'll still be able to keep an eye on later deliveries or those that arrive at 4:30 pm in December. It's also designed to weather-resistant, capable of withstanding rain, cold, heat, and sun.

This model of the Arlo video doorbell requires some wiring to install. You'll need to have existing electrical wiring with voltage between 6V AC and 24V AC and a 10VA. To install the doorbell, you'll have to turn off the power to the breaker and follow a few simple steps to connect the doorbell to your home. Once connected, you'll want to set up the Arlo app to complete the installation process.

From the Arlo app, you'll gain access to video calls and notifications. You can see and even speak to delivery people through the two-way audio, should you have special instructions or simply want to thank them for their hard work. You can also prerecord messages to play during a delivery.

When it comes to security, the Arlo has a built in siren that you can trigger either automatically or manually through the Arlo app, should the need arise.

Spring cleaning season is a great time to upgrade your home security system and thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can add the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell for just $49.99.

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Best home security deal: Get the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell for just $49.99 at Amazon. - Mashable

Lithe Audio and Lilin have announced the integration of Lilin's AI camera range within the Lithe Audio iO1 outdoor wireless speaker.

This pioneering technology marks a significant leap in security systems, offering an unprecedented level of automated audio deterrence without the need for a traditional control system. Built-in alarms and security announcements within the speaker ensure zero-latency local announcements independent of an internet connection. This integration is part of a move towards the future of decentralised smart systems. By eliminating the need for a central controller, this integration empowers residential and commercial properties with more efficient and autonomous security solutions. The system's flexibility allows for the creation of different zones with specific announcements.

The core benefit of this integration is its proactive approach. While traditional security systems rely on footage review after an incident, this solution deters potential threats before they materialise. When a potential threat is detected, an automated announcement will alert individuals in the vicinity, providing them with information and prompting appropriate actions. By informing individuals that they are under surveillance or that their actions are being monitored, potential intruders may be warned off.

Wesley Siu, co-founder of Lithe Audio, said : Audio announcements can serve as an effective deterrent. The psychological impact of a human-like voice delivering warnings or instructions can be more persuasive than traditional alarms. Our partnership with Lilin now provides the market with high quality speakers delivering fast, smart, clear and intelligible audio alarms that are autonomous of any central controller. This is an unprecedented and highly effective solution, and were thrilled to be at the forefront of this new era of smart security deterrents.

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Lithe Audio and Lilin integrate AI for home security - HiddenWires

Airbnb hosts may have good reasons to want to install security cameras inside properties they rent outtheyve been used to catch theft, or vandalism, or even just non-compliance with rental rules. But concerns about privacy violations have pushed the property rental company Airbnb to ban all indoor security cameras in all of its listings worldwide.

Our goal was to create new, clear rules that provide our community with greater clarity about what to expect on Airbnb, Juniper Downs, Airbnbs head of community policy and partnerships, said in a blog post by the San Francisco-based company announcing the new measure on Monday. These changes were made in consultation with our guests, Hosts and privacy experts, and well continue to seek feedback to help ensure our policies work for our global community.

Changes to their policy, according to Airbnb, which previously allowed indoor cameras in common areas such as living rooms so long as they were disclosed, will take effect on April 30. The update simplifies Airbnbs approach and makes clear that security cameras regardless of their location, purpose or prior disclosure are prohibited inside rented out properties. As the majority of listings on Airbnb do not report having a security camera, this update is expected to impact a smaller subset of listings on the platform.

Read More: We Asked An Etiquette Expert About Home Security Cameras

Airbnb has been dogged by controversies in which renters have found seemingly hidden cameras in their lodgingsincluding in areas with a reasonable expectation of privacy like bathrooms. In an essay titled Airbnb Has a Hidden-Camera Problem, former technology staff writer for the Atlantic Sidney Fussell reported in 2019 that in some cases, distressed guests had to resort to social media for Airbnb to settle their complaints. The problem has become so common that sites including the Washington Post and Fast Company have published guides on how to find hidden cameras in your Airbnb, and NBCs Saturday Night Live aired a skit last week parodying Airbnb with references to cameras in the toilet and the bedroom.

Last August, a couple filed a $75,000 lawsuit against a Maryland host for allegedly placing hidden cameras recording their intimate moments in the bedroom of a Silver Spring property they rented out. One member of the couple, who installs smoke detectors professionally, discovered the cameras after spotting two smoke detectors in the bedroom.

And in September 2023, Indonesian police intervened after a newlywed Chinese couple took to XiaohongshuChinas equivalent of Instagramto share that they found a small camera hidden in a wall power socket in an Airbnb room in Kota Kinabalu. The couple said they searched the room after a previous hotel they booked under the platform also had cameras.

Airbnb also apologized to a New Zealand family in 2019 after the renters found a hidden camera live-streaming their stay in Cork, Ireland.

In 2015, a German woman sued Airbnb and an Irvine couple after she said she hadnt been informed of a camera in the living room of the southern California rental she had stayed in, where she walked around naked. The suit reached a settlement in 2017.

Airbnb did not immediately respond to TIMEs request for comment.

In its announcement about indoor cameras, the company clarified that devices like doorbell cameras and noise decibel monitors continue to be permitted on Airbnb and can be an effective, privacy-protective way for Hosts to monitor security for their home and get ahead of issues like unauthorized parties. However, outdoor cameras are prohibited from monitoring indoor spaces and spaces like enclosed outdoor showers or saunas, Airbnb added.

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Why Airbnb Is Banning Cameras in Rentals - TIME

CNET has tested tons of home security cameras over the years, and can help you find the right one for your needs.

There are hundreds of home security cameras on the market, ranging drastically in price, functionality and quality. With all the options, it can be hard to not become overwhelmed fast, especially when you're considering something as important as your home's safety. After CNET's years of testing home security cameras, we have some tips if you're on the hunt for a new one. Here are a few parameters to consider:

This, of course, is a big one. You don't want anyone peeping on your property or hacking into your camera. Wireless home security cameras can be more susceptible to hacking due to their connectivity to Wi-Fi networks and remote access, especially if you have poor router security. Wired home security cameras that don't use Wi-Fi at all are generally more secure. (Read more about the pros and cons of wired vs. wireless systems here.) And as we mentioned above, data breaches and security vulnerabilities can also be dangerous for your privacy, so it's important to consider a company's recent reputation.

One of the first things you'll need to consider is where you want to place your home security cameras. If you want your camera to be located outside, recording your porch or yard, you'll likely want an outdoor camera that's also weather resistant or features night vision.

While many cameras can be used interchangeably for indoor or outdoor purposes, some cameras are solely made for indoor usage, like the Wyze Cam Pan v2, so make sure you're buying cameras that can handle the outdoor elements.

Video quality should be a major consideration when buying a home security camera. In simplest terms, your camera won't be effective if the only footage being recorded is grainy and unreadable.

The higher the resolution, the better the video quality. Most home security cameras on the market now have 1,080p resolution, but others even have 2K resolution (like the Arlo Pro 4) or 1,536x1,536 resolution (like the Arlo Video Doorbell). Just remember, the higher the video quality, the more bandwidth it takes up and the more likely your camera is to experience lag times or glitches.

Field of view (usually provided diagonally) refers to how broad the camera's view is. Broader is generally better because it captures more space and makes it easier to spot activity. The average security camera tends to top out around 130 degrees, although some go beyond that. Pan and tilt features make the field of view less important since the camera can move around.

Battery and wireless cameras versus wired options are a matter of taste, since both types have pros and cons.

Wireless options are usually easier to install and operate, and often use cloud storage, so you can access your footage from anywhere. Wireless security cameras have their own power supply, so even during an internet or power outage, they can still record and save footage. One of the biggest disadvantages, though, is you'll need to manually change the batteries or charge them every so often, unless you get a solar-powered home security camera.

Wired cameras are hardwired to a steady connection, so they don't need to be recharged and can often boost a high-quality video resolution. They tend to be more reliable, secure and consistent in video quality while not requiring monthly cloud storage fees. On the negative side, wired home security cameras often need to be professionally installed and don't integrate with smart home systems like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Some Wired home security cameras (like the Google Nest Cam Indoor) typically have better video and audio quality.

Not all video storage is equal. You have two main options and picking one is up to your personal preference. There's cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server to be saved, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to hold any footage you'd like to save. Usually, cloud storage requires a monthly fee.

When you're installing wireless home security cameras, keep in mind that the smart home camera you buy (and your security system as a whole) will only be as good as the quality of your Wi-Fi connection at the location where you plan to install it. So check your Wi-Fi speed before you drill holes in the walls or otherwise mess up your door frame, brick or siding for your home security camera. If the connection is spotty on your wireless security camera, you'll notice significant lag times, pixelation in the live feed and other Wi-Fi delays that make the video quality poor and home security cameras a pain to use.

With a good Wi-Fi connection, you should be in good shape to use your indoor home security camera or outdoor home security camera without any major camera system issues and get clear footage every time. Still have questions? Take a look at my home security camera buying guideand the below FAQs.

Read more here:
Best Home Security Cameras of 2024 - CNET

While Amazon's Ring makes some of the best video doorbells we've tested, the tech giant also owns the entry-level security camera brand Blink. The battery-powered Blink Video Doorbell lacks the more professional monitoring features of Ring's options (like identifying subjects as package delivery), but Blink's budget camera makes up for it in performance and ease of use. You can see how the two compare in this Blink versus Ring video doorbell faceoff where Blink bested Ring in several key areas.

Right now, the Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2 is just $44 on Amazon. That's $25 off and the lowest price for the complete system. You'll want to buy it bundled with the Sync Module 2 to store video locally rather than pay a monthly fee, which is an especially hot pro coming off of Ring's recent service price increase. While you won't get package detection or a more granular level of smart home controlthis is still an excellent way to keep an eye on your doorstep.

Although you can buy the Blink Video Doorbell for even less at $36 by itself without a Sync Module, I wouldn't recommend this bundle. The Sync Module not only lets you record the crisp 1080p video to a USB drive to avoid paying for cloud storage, but also lets you access live-view and two-way audio at any point in time rather than only in response to a doorbell press or motion event.

Blink's Video Doorbell battery lasts for up to two years at default settings. While Blink doesn't sell a separate chime you can play a sound for button presses and motion alerts through Blink Cameras or Amazon Echo devices. If you opt to install it to your existing doorbell wiring it can tap into your in-home chime. Plus if you have an Alexa smart home you can see who's at your door and respond from an Echo Show or Fire TV device.

More here:
Blink's video doorbell just crashed to $44 and it doesn't require a subscription - Tom's Guide

This Amazon sale on Blink gear is the perfect opportunity to pick up some home security cameras or thatvideo doorbellyou've been wanting to buy. Luckily, since Blink is Amazon's budget-friendly alternative to the Ring cameras, which are quite expensive, you can save yourself a pretty penny. There are a lot of options to pick from and several bundles which are perfect if you're looking for a more comprehensive solution. We've collected some of our favorites below, but it's worth checking out the whole sale using the button below.

If you want something like the Ring Video Doorbell for less, you can opt for theBlink Video Doorbelland get one for just $35 in this sale. The Blink Doorbell runs on batteries and has a relatively easy setup that doesn't require you to run cables. It has a 1080p resolution, motion detection and can store content locally, assuming you have the Sync Module 2, which is going for $35 on Amazon. It's also available bundled with two fourth-gen Blink Outdoor cameras for $138 instead of $240.

If you're looking for additional coverage outside your home, you can't go wrong with the third-generation Blink Floodlight camera. It has a 1080p camera with a relatively clear picture and two-way audio, so you can have a conversation. The floodlights can hit 700 lumens, which should be more than enough to light up the average yard. Best of all, it's wireless and runs on four D-cell batteries, so you don't have to worry about running a power or Ethernet line. Unfortunately, it's only discounted in a bundle with the Video Doorbell, but if you're buying a new setup from scratch, you can grab the set now off Amazon for the discounted price of $125 instead of $150.

Be sure to check out the entire sale for more discounts and bundles to suit your home's needs. And if Blink's offerings don't work for you, our smart home deals roundup has got you covered with alternative picks.

See the rest here:
Snag Up to 43% off These Blink Security Cameras and Doorbells - CNET

WASHINGTON In their second attempt in as many weeks, U.S. House Republicans impeached Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, marking an inflection point in the growing rift between the GOP and the White House over immigration policy decisions at the southern border.

In a 214-213 vote, the House approved two articles of impeachment that charged Mayorkas with willfully ignoring immigration law and lying to Congress about the status of border security. It is only the second time in history that a Cabinet member has been impeached; William Belknap, the secretary of war and a former Iowa state legislator, was impeached in 1876.

A vote on the same resolution failed spectacularly last week, 214-216, while House GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana was absent due to ongoing cancer treatments. Republican Blake Moore of Utah switched his vote from yes to no as a procedural move to allow the resolution to be reconsidered.

House Republicans are far from done, House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green of Tennessee wrote on X before the Tuesday vote. Secretary Mayorkas has sparked the worst border crisis in American history, and its long past time for him to be impeached.

Green held several hearings on impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas.

All House Democrats present and three Republicans voted against the two articles of impeachment. Critics of the process have said a Cabinet official should not be impeached over what they say are policy disputes.

The Republicans who voted against impeachment were Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Tom McClintock of California.

President Joe Biden slammed House Republicans, calling the impeachment vote petty political games.

Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States with his family as political refugees, has spent more than two decades serving America with integrity in a decorated career in law enforcement and public service, Biden said. Instead of staging political stunts like this, Republicans with genuine concerns about the border should want Congress to deliver more border resources and stronger border security.

Following the vote, Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for DHS, said in a statement that House Republicans will be remembered by history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain rather than working to solve the serious challenges at our border.

The Senate will be required under the Constitution to hold an impeachment trial. Conviction would require a vote by two-thirds of that chamber.

According to the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House impeachment managers will present the articles of impeachment to the Senate when the chamber returns later this month. Senators will be sworn in as jurors in the trial the next day. Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray, a Washington state Democrat, will preside.

The impeachment effort, initiated by Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, is perhaps the most high-profile example of the growing clash between Democrats and Republicans on how to handle an unprecedented number of migrants at the southern border.

Tensions have only increased after Senate Republicans tanked a bipartisan border security deal last week. The agreement would have significantly overhauled U.S. immigration law by creating a temporary procedure to shut down the border during active times and raising the bar for asylum claims.

The border security deal, which was tied to a $95 billion security package, died in the Senate after Republicans fell in line with GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who has centered his campaign on stoking fears about immigration at the southern border.

The global security package passed early Tuesday without the immigration deal.

House Democrats have decried the efforts to impeach Mayorkas as political, while Republicans have argued that Mayorkas should be held accountable for what they have deemed a crisis at the southern border.

The first article of impeachment accuses Mayorkas of a willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law, and the second accuses him of a breach of public trust by making false statements during congressional testimony, particularly citing statements by Mayorkas telling lawmakers the border is secure.

Due to House Republicans razor-thin majority and absences last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana could only afford to lose two votes during the first impeachment vote, on Feb. 6. Scalise was back in Washington on Tuesday, giving Republicans the margin they needed to overcome three members voting with Democrats.

The same GOP lawmakers who voted against the second impeachment also voted against the first Buck, McClintock and Gallagher.

Gallagher, who was a key holdout in the effort to impeach Mayorkas, announced shortly after that he would not seek reelection.

In an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, Gallagher explained his vote against impeachment, expressing concern about the precedent it would set.

Creating a new, lower standard for impeachment, one without any clear limiting principle, wouldnt secure the border or hold President Biden accountable, he wrote. It would only further pry open the Pandoras box of perpetual impeachment.

The White House said in a statement last week that impeaching Mayorkas would be an unprecedented and unconstitutional act of political retribution that would do nothing to solve the challenges our Nation faces in securing the border.

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U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security chief Mayorkas on second try Oregon Capital Chronicle - Oregon Capital Chronicle

A serial burglar in Edina, Minnesota is suspected of using a Wi-Fi jammer to knock out connected security cameras before stealing and making off with the victim's prized possessions. Minnesota doesnt generally have a reputation as a hotbed for technology, so readers shouldnt be surprised to hear that reports of Wi-Fi jammers used to assist burglaries in the U.S. go back several years. PSA: even criminals use technology, and more are now catching on -- so homeowners should think about mitigations.

Edina police suspect that nine burglaries in the last six months have been undertaken with Wi-Fi jammer(s) deployed to ensure incriminating video evidence wasnt available to investigators. The modus operandi of the thief or thieves is thought to be something like this:

A security expert interviewed by the source publication, KARE11, explained that the jammers simply confused wireless devices rather than blocking signals. They usually work by overloading wireless traffic so that real traffic cannot get through, the news site was told.

Searching back through news reports concerning burglaries where Wi-Fi jammers have / may have been used surfaces plenty of prior evidence of this practice. A Ring community post about one of the firms wireless doorbells missing a porch thief after being subjected to a Wi-Fi deauthentication attack was posted back in January 2020. It is also easy to find reports of burglars using Wi-Fi jamming technology over 2021, 2022, and 2023 with reports becoming more frequent over time.

We mention Ring as one of the firms that popularized video doorbells to solve multiple home security concerns, but other wireless smart home security products from Blink (Amazon) and Nest (Google) will also be vulnerable to wireless signal jamming.

Worryingly, Wi-Fi jamming is almost a trivial activity for potential thieves in 2024. KARE11 notes that it could buy jammers online very easily and cheaply, with prices ranging from $40 to $1,000. Jammers are not legal to use in the U.S. but they are very easy to buy online.

Before we go, there are a few suggestions given to those now wondering about the efficacy of their home security systems with wireless components. Firstly, physically connect some of the devices which allow for a wired connection and local storage of footage. Secondly, utilize smart home technology that makes it appear that someone is at home. Your device may also have the ability to send alerts when the signal / connection is interrupted, and playing with those settings might be worthwhile.

More here:
Wi-Fi jamming to knock out cameras suspected in nine Minnesota burglaries -- smart security systems vulnerable as ... - Tom's Hardware