Home security cameras are a great way for homeowners to remotely monitor their home at any given time. They provide an instant and effective security measure to keep both your property, family, and kids safe.
There are numerous advantages to investing in a home security camera, some of which may be obvious. Installing a security camera in your home is a great way to monitor your property from anywhere, keep a watchful eye on your kids, and even help to prevent break-ins.
However, as technology continues to develop, smart home devices, and in particular, home security video cameras, are increasingly being targeted by hackers and malware. On top of online threats, there are other factors that could have an effect on the efficiency of your camera, including the location, weather, and software updates.
As you seek to make your home smarter and safer, it’s important to ensure your connected devices are secure and protected from possible attacks and in place to capture footage clearly.
So, before you install your home security camera, consider the following do’s and don’ts to stay protected.
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Do:
Place them in the right location
One of the most important things to take into consideration when setting up your home security camera is placing it in the right spot. Consider placing it in an area that will capture your home in the best position and give you the widest angle of view.
If you are installing your camera in an outdoor location, try to place it around 8-10 feet from the ground, either by the front door, back door or first-floor windows.
If you are installing your camera inside your home, consider placing it in the corner of a room. Doing so will give you the best possible vantage point and will help to capture the whole room.
Check the camera regularly
Try to check your camera at least once a week. Although you may get alerted of any unusual activity, the camera may not have picked up on a potential intruder or something else peculiar. Check the footage of your camera periodically to be sure.
Protect your camera from external factors like the weather
Depending on where your camera has been placed, it may require a weatherproof case to protect it from harsh weather conditions like rain or wind. Ensure you choose a camera that is suitable for the conditions it will be used in. If possible, place your outdoor camera under eaves or in a location that is semi-shielded.
Clean and maintain the camera
It’s important to check and clean the lens of your camera by using a suitable screen cleaning kit or wipe every once in a while to ensure a clear image. Having a dirty lens might affect the clarity of your footage.
Run regular updates, if and when required
Your home security camera may occasionally need to update its software. It’s important that you don’t ignore these updates as they often include critical fixes to potential security holes. Unsure whether there is an update available? Then be sure to check the settings within the camera’s app. The sooner you update the software, the sooner you can be confident that your device is secure.
Make your home wireless network secure
There a number of steps you can take to make sure your home wireless network is secure and protected from potential hackers. Being aware of malware, password and Wi-Fi network security are all important components of having a safe wireless network.
Change your password regularly
One of the easiest things you can do to prevent security breaches is to change your password regularly. Most people will try to use their old password but only make a small change. For example, you may only change a lowercase letter to an uppercase letter. Try to avoid doing this and instead use a completely different and unique password to your original one. By changing your password frequently, you are making it harder for attackers to access your device.
Create a strong password for your camera
Alongside creating a strong password for your Wi-Fi network, it’s vital to create an equally strong password for your home security camera. If you aren’t already prompted, after the initial setup, make sure you don’t forget to add a password for your camera. Most home security cameras will offer a basic authentication login, just make sure you also remember to change this password frequently.
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Don’t:
Place your camera near direct sunlight
Placing your camera in direct sunlight can have an adverse effect on the quality of images/videos from your home security camera. Bright light, whether that be from artificial lights or the sun, can cause glare and high contrast in your footage. When this occurs it can be hard to tell what is going on. Be sure to take the angle of the sun and indoor lights into consideration.
If you are placing your camera on the outside of your house, we recommend finding a location that provides some shade, if possible, like under the porch of your building.
Place your camera in a location that violates your neighbor’s privacy
If you are installing an outdoor security camera, double-check that’s it’s not invading your neighbors privacy. Don’t point the direction of your camera into your neighbor’s homes and try to focus on the area surrounding your own property. Although you are wanting to keep home safe and secure, it’s important that you don’t violate anyone else’s privacy in doing so.
Give your Wi-Fi password to friends, neighbors or guests
We recommend keeping your Wi-Fi account private. If you have friends, neighbors or guests who are wanting to connect to your Wi-Fi, create a separate ‘guest’ network for them to log into which doesn’t link to your home security devices.
Use the same password for multiple devices or services
Is your home security camera password the same as your other smart home devices or even services like your email and online banking? If so, try to change this by using a different password from the one you use for other devices or services. By using the same password you are increasing the risk of a security violation considerably. Try to avoid using passwords with any personal info, but instead make it random and unique.
Install your camera before testing the equipment
Don’t install your camera before testing it works. There is nothing worse than installing your home security camera to realize at a later date that it hasn’t been capturing any footage. Operate the camera and make sure it works as expected. Is the footage is clear? Is the Wi-Fi signal strong enough in the location you are wanting to position it in? Is anything blocking its view?
Place security cameras where they don’t belong
Don’t place your home security camera in areas of your home where you expect a level of privacy – like the bathroom. If an intruder was to break in through a bathroom or other unmonitored area they will still be captured on your security camera if they move around your house. Even if you are confident that your cameras are secure, there is still always a risk that malware or hackers could get hold of your footage.
