Fun new smart-home products release every month these days and more and more manufacturers are getting in on the trend. As such, the prices of internet-connected devices are becoming more affordable, and we’re all quite spoiled for choice.

While this is a good thing, keep in mind that having a house full of smart tech also poses some downsides. In particular, these new products can open you up to increased risk of being hacked by a cybercriminal. To stay safe, then, it’s necessary to be proactive to keep hackers at bay. Here are some things you can do today.

Select Products from More Security-Conscious Brands

Keep in mind that there are multiple reasons to consider brand-name products. While the main one most people consider is that these gadgets should be more reliable since the brand is well-known and trusted, another plus is that better security is also more likely.

Manufacturers who have been around for a while and built up a good name focus on retaining their reputation. As such, they do what they can to produce quality goods that are also secure. These companies are able to spend time and money testing tech to ensure it’s hard for hackers to break into. They also typically release more regular product updates to increase security as time goes on.

Update Default Settings

Once you’ve purchase smart-home products, it’s time to set them up in your house. At this stage, be sure to not skip the step of updating the default settings on your gear. Manufacturers generally use the same user names and passwords on all their devices and then make this information publicly known. They encourage customers to update settings ASAP but this suggestion isn’t always followed.

You’ll be keen to start using your new smart-home products straight away but for security’s sake, take a few minutes to change the username and password first. Hackers have access to the publicly listed details as much as anyone else, and can thereby use the information to try to break into your gadgets if you don’t make the required updates.

Utilize Security Software

Another prime way to keep cybercriminals at bay is to utilize security software. If you’re like most people, you use your smartphone, tablet, and laptop to control the smart-home gear you buy. This means that if hackers get into these devices, they could from there find their way into your smart-home gear, too. This opens you up to multiple attacks, both digitally and on-site.

To avoid this situation, protect all your computers. Install quality maximum security antivirus software that will prevent hackers from breaking into your systems. Choose products that protect against a variety of threats (including spam, ransomware, spyware, and malware) and that provide real-time alerts if there’s a breach of security.

Make Sure Your Wi-Fi Network is Secure

It’s also essential to secure your Wi-Fi network. You shouldn’t leave your router unlocked at any time, but this is even more imperative once you bring smart-home gear into the mix. If anyone in the vicinity can use your internet connection without your knowledge or login, they can use this access to find devices connected to the modem and cause havoc as a result.

Stay safe by setting up a hard-to-crack username and password on your internet router. The password needs to be at least eight characters in length and made up of a variety of symbols, upper- and lower-case letters, and numbers. Also, change this password every few months to further increase security.

Regularly Update Software and Firmware

Lastly, keep in mind that the updates developers release for their products are there for a reason. Many people take release updates as an annoying occurrence, but in fact it’s vital to run the latest versions of programs if you want to keep hackers away.

Product manufacturers continually taking note of any security gaps that may open up in their gear (including both software and firmware) that could be used by hackers to break in. As such, they find ways to plug these security holes and release updates containing the newer, more secure version.

Keep your home and information safe by setting up your smart-home gear and other products to update automatically whenever new releases come out. That way, you know you’re always as protected as possible.

Today there are numerous threats to smart-homes from hackers around the world. Thankfully, though, it doesn’t take too much to protect your devices and reduce the risk of your home being compromised.

Your home is an important part of your life and that of your family. It’s not only the place where you live but also a safe haven where you can learn, find your identity and enjoy some privacy. One common concern many homeowners in America have is whether or not their home is truly secure, especially when they are away at work or during the night when everyone is asleep.

According to alarms.org, approximately 6% of break-ins happen during the day and most of the time they occur in homes that don’t have home security systems. Apart from keeping your doors locked when you are away, it is also a good idea to install a hidden camera from Spy Centre to protect your family and your possessions even when you are away.

How can a surveillance camera help make your home secure? Here are 5 ways you can use a security camera to make your home much safer.

1. Monitor the Perimeters of Your Home

One great way of keeping trespassers out of your compound is by mounting outdoor security cameras on your home’s perimeter. Burglars hate being spotted and that is why they target homes without security systems. When you have several cameras in your property line you can keep unwanted visitors out and in the event, there is a break-in you will have surveillance footage which you can hand over to the authorities.

2. Use a Spy Camera to Check Who Is At the Front Door

If you do not have a peephole at your front door to confirm who’s there before letting them into your house, do not worry. With a small spy camera, you and your loved ones can answer that knock on the door with confidence. A spy camera will film everything that happens outside your front door and you can combine it with a CCTV camera inside your kitchen so that you can easily keep tabs with what’s going on even as you carry on with your chores.

3. Protect Your Garage

Your garage is home to your expensive vehicles, equipment and other valuables that you don’t commonly use in the home. Despite this fact, many people still leave their garage doors wide open, making it very easy for burglars to walk right in and steal your treasured items. By installing a visible surveillance camera in your garage, the unwanted visitor will know that they are being watched and this will go a long way in keeping your garage safe.

4. Install a Nanny Camera for Your Child’s Safety

Outdoor protection is very important but do you know what happens inside your home when you are not around? Your children are very important to you and knowing that they are safe when you are busy at work can give you peace of mind. This is why you need to invest in a nanny camera to protect your children when you are away. A nanny camera is often concealed or disguised to look like a household object such as a wall clock. With the nanny camera, you can easily capture your child’s interactions with their caregivers and that way you determine if your children are safe at home or not.

5. Watch the Pool or Other Areas Where Your Children Play

Install a closed-circuit camera next to your swimming pool or playground to monitor your children as they enjoy the outdoors. That way you will allow your children to be independent but still keep a protective eye on them to ensure that they do not slip or get injured.

Get The Perfect Lawn Edges With Your Weed Eater – The Best Tips!

Are you set on having the most beautiful possible lawn? Even the best lawn mowing strategy will not suffice. As a result, it will still require a great gas weed eater, so here are the top 5 tips on how to edge a lawn perfectly!

Intro

Even if you master the best mowing technique, and your lawn looks beautiful and neat, the job is not yet finished. Look at the rebellious leaves of grass left around your walkway, driveway, and flowerbeds, and you will realize you still have to edge a lawn to obtain a perfect result. Here is where the lawn edgers tips come into play. Without further due, here are the main things you need to know to learn how to edge with a weed eater:

Mowing Comes First

Any lawn maintenance process should start with mowing. The lawnmower you are using will remove excessively grown grass in bulk, giving you a clear perspective on the exact height of grass you wish to mow your lawn at.

And before jumping to the gas weed eater, you should always trim first. The trimmer will help you get rid of spots you might have missed under the shrubs, and give an ultimate form to your hedges and trees. Only then you can start pondering how to edge with a weed eater.

Choosing The Right Time

If you have just watered your lawn after you finished mowing and trimming, you should wait until the grass dries entirely before starting to edge it. Avoid edging whenever your grass is wet, for that matter. Otherwise, the leaves of grass might get stuck in the weed wacker’s string, considerably reducing its performance and efficiency.

Also, instead of edging every once in a while, you should do this as often as you can. This way, you won’t allow time for your grass to grow too much, and each edging session should go smooth and fast.

Wearing Protective Gear

Much like for any other lawn maintenance-related activity, you can never be too safe even if you’re edging grass. The good part is that if you are already a dedicated gardener, you might have purchased all the necessary protective gear already. However, to be on the safe side, we will briefly revise the essential safety gear needed before starting to edge a lawn.

The first item you need to secure is safety goggles, especially when you are driving your weed wacker along driveways or walkways. It might not seem so, but the edger’s blades can spin very fast and in the process, throw out chunks of dirt or small stones. These might accidentally be turned into dangerous missiles, so you need to keep your eyes covered at all times. You should also consider wearing close-fitted gardening gloves to hold a firm grip on your gas weed eater, and a pair of resilient shoes to prevent tripping or slipping.

Edge A Lawn On Predetermined Trajectories

Before starting to edge, take a step back and look at the big picture. It will give you a great perspective on the desired result and will help you predetermine your trajectory. Using a rope or a garden hose to mark the predetermined edging trajectory can be of great help. Moreover, once you have established exactly where and how you want to edge your lawn, you can grab the weed wacker and start edging. A quick tip: don’t step on the grass while edging, always walk on the hard surfaces of your driveway or walkway. It will help you keep in line with your desired route, and control the gas weed eater with better accuracy.

Controlling The Edger

The secret behind perfect edging lies in equal body movements and perfect control of your edging unit. If you want to edge a lawn uniformly, you need to hold your weed wacker firmly while you are walking.

You should also pay attention not to change the edger’s position. While your edge, the guard should be facing up at all times, and you should have the string spinning perpendicularly over the surface. Catch the right 90- degree angle, and the result will be a narrower cut surface, which will make it much easier for you to shape the edges as you wish.

Edge a Lawn Conclusion 

And there you have it. These are the essential aspects you need to consider before starting to edge a lawn. Make sure to follow them in order, starting from the mowing and trimming of the yard, and ending with the control and position of your gas weed eater. And even if you don’t get the ultimate result from the very first try, don’t stress yourself too much. It is the best part when you edge a lawn: you can do it over and over again, improving with each new try, until you get that perfectly edged result.