5 tips for setting up a Smart Home Security Camera

The rise of smart home technology has filled our homes with connected devices and devices, including security cameras.

It’s easier than ever to set up your home security system, make sure the kids get home safely and sneak a peek at your home when you’re out of town. But if you don’t want to install a complete smart home security system, there are plenty of relatively low-cost ways to monitor your home while you’re away. Here’s how to get the most out of your devices so you can better protect your home.

1. Don’t Hide Your Camera

Unless there’s a specific activity where you want to get someone working, like someone breaking into your car, don’t bother hiding your outdoor security cameras. According to research from the University of North Carolina, most burglaries consider the presence of security cameras when selecting targets and avoiding homes where they could be caught in the act.

2. More protection than your front door

Choosing the right location for your home security camera will depend a lot on the layout of your home. However, there are a few important areas that need to be more important than others.

Your front door sees a lot of traffic, from guests to deliveries. Covering your entrance with a camera or video doorbell helps keep an eye out for intruders, but keep an eye out for more mundane things, like whether your delivery driver is handling your packages properly.

It would help if you also covered less obvious places in your home. The back door is a common entrance for intruders, as they’re more likely to be unlocked, but ground-floor windows on either side of the back of your home also have a tempting option lead to intruders. Consider placing a second pair of eyes on these vulnerable spots.

3. Set up motion detection

You don’t have time to monitor your Camera 24/7 or watch hours of video, so make sure you have a camera with motion detection.

Some cameras allow you to place certain spaces in the Camera’s field of view to track movement. So, for example, you can be alerted when something arrives at your doorstep, but not when a cat runs across your yard.

Some smart camera systems also require a subscription to advanced features. For example, the Nest Camera can detect general motion. Still, with a Nest Aware subscription, the camera can distinguish between a tree swaying in the wind and a person approaching your door.

Consider the type of activity you want to track and enable the appropriate feature on your Smart Camera once you connect it.

4. Do you have a power source?

It should go without saying that your outdoor Camera will need a power source. Consider whether you want a battery-powered camera or a camera that connects to a nearby electrical outlet. There’s no need to plug a power cable into your home to plug it into an outlet, but be aware that battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras tend to drain quickly in colder weather. Look for an outdoor Wi-Fi camera to connect to the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands to ease network congestion. If you’re having trouble getting a good signal outside, try a wireless range extender.

5. Secure your account

You’re installing a smart security system so you can keep an eye on your home, especially when you’re not there. However, if you don’t secure your account properly, you will leave the metaphorical door open for intruders to pass through your Camera.

To prevent this, make sure you change any default passwords on your Camera. Old or unbranded cameras often use very simple security, and the password for them is a Google search, potentially opening you up to some scary situations.

For Smart Cameras like Nest, Amazon, or Wyze, be sure to provide your account with a complex password and enable two-factor authentication if available. If your camera is connected to Wi-Fi, make sure your router is secured with WPA2 encryption. You can never be too careful.