Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors of 2017

Carbon monoxide (CO) is called the silent killer because it cannot be detected. It is odorless, tasteless and invisible, which makes it impossible for humans to know when there is a CO leak. Because it cannot be detected it is at the top of the list of deaths that occur from poisoning.

You create carbon monoxide every time you burn something like wood, natural gas, wood, oil, propane or charcoal. When the burn is done outdoors there is not much to worry about as the carbon monoxide is released into the air and quickly dissipates, which may not be great for the environment, but it isn’t harmful to you.

It is only when you have carbon monoxide in a confined space that you need to take additional precautions. The most common places where carbon monoxide poisoning occurs is in your home, garage or RVs. It is important that you take the proper steps to help you minimize the possibility of an undetected CO leak.

Having a CO detector is not an option, it is a requirement. When you are dealing with an odorless, tasteless and invisible poison, you need to do all you can to keep your family safe.

Here are a few steps you can take to make sure that you keep your family safe from CO poisoning:

• Understand the risks of carbon monoxide: Risks include anything that burns a fuel like your fireplace or generator. This also includes your car and gas appliances. It is important that any device in your home that burns fuel is properly maintained and kept clean.
• Keep Vents Clear: You should always make sure that your vents are open and clear. This includes vents for your dryer, stove, furnace and your fireplace. Vents should always be cleared of snow and ice, or any other debris that could block air from getting out.
• Don’t run gas burning devices in a closed area: Don’t start your car in a closed garage and leave it running, or fire up gas operated lawn equipment indoors.
• Install more than one CO alarm: Everywhere you could have a CO leak, you should have a CO alarm. They should be placed by the fireplace, the stove, in the basement, in the garage and anywhere else a leak could occur. If you can, choose ones that can communicate with each other. By communicating they can alert you to a leak in the basement while you are in the kitchen.
• Keep CO alarms properly maintenance: Make sure that you have a battery backup should your power go out, and check the battery backup regularly to ensure it is functioning properly.

With over 400 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths and more than 20,000 emergency room visits a year, it is important to know how to identify the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. While you can’t smell, see or taste carbon monoxide common symptoms of poisoning include dizziness, nausea, headaches, confusion and passing out. Should you feel like you are suffering from any described symptoms and you have a fuel burning device in your home, you should seek help immediately.

Types of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Similar to smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors work to identify levels of carbon monoxide that exist in your environment. There are three primary ways that they detect CO, the first is a metal oxide semiconductor, this is a three layer device constructed of a metal conductor, insulating silicon layer and a semiconductor silicon layer.

The second option is a biometric sensor, this uses colored gel to determine CO levels and the last option is an electrochemical sensor, this device measures the concentration of gas by oxidizing the target gas to measure it.

Much like there are several ways to detect CO, there are several detectors that you can choose from, these are the most common types of CO detectors:

Battery-operated

If you are looking a basic CO detector, this is it. They lack some of the bells and whistles that the more advanced detectors have, but it you change the batteries every three months it should work just fine.

Hardwired

These carbon monoxide detectors are hardwired into your home and use your existing power grid. If you get one of these, look for one that allows a battery back-up. You will want to make sure that the detector still works even if your power has gone out.

Dual-function

Your carbon monoxide detector doesn’t have to work alone. You can get one detector that covers CO and smoke, it saves you from with installing and maintenance a bunch of detectors.

Smart

Smart carbon monoxide detectors and alarms are in my opinion worth the money, the do more than just tell you if there is a CO leak, they are also self-sufficient. They do regular checks to make sure they are working correctly, and they also sync with other smart devices in your home. Some also have apps that allow you to know when something has gone wrong even when you aren’t home. Which is awesome if you have pets.

Digital

Digital alarms aren’t the most advanced, but these detectors can show you current levels of CO in your home. They will sound an alarm should they detect an abnormal amount of CO.

Options	Nest Protect 2.0	Halo	Home Alert	First Alert OneLink	Kidde
Battery operated
Hard-wired
Dual CO/Smoke Detector
Android/iOS App				iOS
Ionization
Photoelectric
Battery Backup

Nest Protect 2.0

If you have decided to take the smart approach to CO detection, first good choice, and second the Nest Protect 2.0 is a great way to get started. This hybrid CO and smoke detecting device is not only effective, it’s also attractive. Not that the all white round ones aren’t, but let’s face it we all cringe a little when we see them on the wall or ceiling.

Nest Protect2.0 not only works to keep your home safe when you are there. You also have an app that will send you alerts when you are away, and if there is a false alarm you can use the app to disarm it. It also has some of the most up to date detection sensors, which makes it our first choice when it comes to CO detectors.

We like the Protect2.0 because you will know the minute you have a leak. This allows you to take immediate action to keep your family and pets safe. It also works as a smoke detector which means you can have one lovely device, rather than two plastic disks. I know that looks aren’t everything and its what is inside that matters, but it’s not bad to get both looks and brains, is it?

Nest also allows you to choose between a hard-wired or battery operated device, so you don’t have to choose just one option. The next cool thing Protect 2.0 can do is talk to you. When it detects smoke or CO it will notify you using a human voice to ensure you know that there is an imminent threat. While that may freak you out the first time you hear it, hopefully, you won’t hear it too often.

Nest does care a bit more about aesthetics than some of their competition but that doesn’t mean that Protect 2.0 is lacking anything on the inside. It has a ring of colorful LEDs that alert you to its current status.

• Blue is setup mode
• Green is when it’s functioning as normally
• White is an added nightlight feature
• Yellow or Orange will indicate there may be a CO or smoke issue
• Red means it has detected CO or smoke and you need to address it immediately

You don’t even need Wi-Fi to use the Nest Protect, it will still alert you if there it detects carbon monoxide or smoke. And while you should make sure it is running properly especially if you have the battery operated version, it will do its own diagnostics and if something should stop working it will let you know. If you have more than one Protect they can also communicate with one another. However, if you do have Wi-Fi, which since you are buying a smart CO/Smoke detector you most likely do, you can do some other cool things that are only available using Wi-FI.

You can name your Protect, mine is named George Costanza (it’s a long story), you can opt out of certain features, and receive notifications about software updates. You can also pair Protect with other Nest products like the Nest Thermostat and Nest Cam. Inside your Protect you can find a camera, a nightlight, sensors to detect heat, humidity, occupancy and a mic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=METDdcmklVE

PROS:

• It is a refreshingly new design for a CO/smoke detector, and not just a plastic disc
• You can manage your Nest Protect using iOS and Android apps
• It plays well with other Nest devices and IFTTT
• You can silence false alarms using the app from any location

CONS:

• It is a little expensive
• It could use an upgrade that would allow it to store historical data

First Alert Onelink

You know how you see potential in someone and you are frustrated that they can’t seem to reach it. That is kind of how I feel about the First Alert Smoke and CO detector. While it is better looking (okay, okay looks may matter a little bit), than the traditional round plastic disc, it just comes in short. And the maddening thing is it doesn’t have to. It could live up to its potential.

It’s a smoke detector, and a CO detector, but to say its smart may be stretching things a bit. The thing is it has all of the features that could make it smart, they are all there, voice alerts, in-app silencing features, hard-wired options and notification and alerts, packed into a decent looking device.

It can even communicate with other devices. But for some odd reason, these features do not do what they are supposed to do. The First Alert will work as a smoke and CO detector, that it can do. It also has battery-powered and hard-wired options (which comes with a battery backup). It is backed by a company in First Alert that knows what it is doing when it comes to smoke detectors and other safety devices.

So if you want a smoke/CO detector that can set off an alarm when it detects one of those two options, this is a great device. If you bought it for its smarts, that is where things get a bit tricky. First, it only works with Apple. So if you don’t like or use Apple, you might want to keep looking.

But even if you love Apple, you may still want to keep on walking, the way it works with Homekit is lackluster at best. I am not even sure why it’s there. The app is basic and getting a notification on your smartphone isn’t as quick as it should be. When you are dealing with the possibility of smoke or CO in your home the last thing you want to do is wait even 2 minutes for a notification.

The potential is there, the company knows what it is doing when it comes to providing a solid smoke/CO detector, but it’s in the smart features where it seems to disappoint. I think in time this could be a Nest-like product but for now, it’s a lot to pay for a basic device.

PROS:

• It is great at detecting CO and smoke and sounding a loud alarm
• It looks better than the traditional plastic disc
• You can get a battery operated or hard-wired device

CONS:

• It is priced above what the device can do
• It only works with Homekit and it doesn’t even do that very well.

Home Alert

Home Alert is not a CO or smoke detector, but it is a device that can make your existing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors smarter. Home Alert has a three part system, first, it listens to your other CO and smoke detectors by connecting to the Gateway, which is the main hub. Second, it provides sensors that can detect flood and freeze emergencies. You can use their app to monitor your home for CO and smoke alerts. You will also get email and mobile alerts if something goes wrong.

Home Alert doesn’t actually monitor for dangerous gas, it listens for your existing CO and smoke detectors to set off an alarm and then it reports the alarm to you. So if you need a CO or smoke detector, don’t buy this device. Alone it cannot detect anything. It only works if you have existing CO/smoke alarms that lack a notification feature.

This is a good option if you have older CO/smoke detectors that you don’t really need to replace. Home Alert can add a level of smart to your existing devices that will allow you to get notifications should one of your existing detectors sound an alarm.

It is a clever way to give you a few smart home features without having to replace your working alarms with more expensive smart alarms and detectors. But at a price of $99.99, you can probably buy a decent CO/smoke detector that comes with those features, and maybe even a few more. Their package does include a hub, and water and freeze sensors, as well as the app.

PROS:

• It can turn your existing CO/Smoke detectors into smart devices by reporting alarms to your smartphone
• If you don’t want to replace your existing devices you can use this to be able to get alerts when ou aren’t home.

CONS:

• For $99.99 you can buy an actual smart CO/smoke detector
• It’s not a CO or smoke detector it just listens for your detectors to sound an alarm then it tells you that an alarm has gone off.

Kidde KN-COPP-3

If you are in the market for an affordable device, the Kidde KN COPP 3 is a good place to start. With over 90 years of experience being one of the world’s largest fire safety device providers, they know what they are doing. In addition to fire safety, they also provide carbon monoxide detectors that allow you to see your CO levels using a digital display.

What makes this CO detector popular is the price, for around $30 you can get a capable device that can alert you when it detects even a small increase in particles in your home. This allows you to place CO detectors around your home without breaking your budget.

With CO detectors that refresh every 15 seconds, you will always know what your carbon monoxide levels are. And if something doesn’t look right you can take immediate action. But let’s say you don’t spend your entire day staring at the CO display, your Kidde will keep checking in and alert you with an 85 dB beep if it detects something unusual.

And unlike most detectors that only alert you in an emergency, the Kidde KN-COPP-3 lets you know if you have a small leak that may become more severe. This buys you time to get your family ready to go to a safe location.

This hard-wired detector comes with a built-in battery back-up and holds the distinction of being the most popular carbon monoxide detector on Amazon.  But if you are looking for a smart CO detector, this one isn’t the one for you.

It lacks the features of a smart device, it cannot send alerts to your smartphone. So you won’t be able to know if something has happened at your home when you are away. You also need to wire them to your electrical grid, which if you are like me, means you are going to need to contact an electrician.

However, if you have existing smoke detectors, and you are just looking for something simple and affordable, the Kidde is a good option, especially when you have elderly family members that live alone. Kidde is a great and affordable way to keep your family safe from CO poisoning. I mean you don’t climb to the top of Amazon by accident.

PROS:

• The Kidde KN-COPP 3 is the most popular CO detector on Amazon
• Although it is hard-wired it comes with a battery backup
• It’s an affordable sensor that shows your current CO levels
• It sounds an alarm of 85 dB if it detects a rise in CO levels to alert you

CONS:

• It isn’t a smart device and it cannot connect to other devices in your home.
• You have to hard-wire it into your electrical grid, which may mean that you need an electrician.
• It doesn’t include a smoke detector.

Halo

It’s time to get a little smarter, while Nest 2nd generation is a great smart carbon monoxide and smoke detector, it’s not the only smart alarm on the market. Halo, while one of the newer CO/smoke detectors, is one that you should get to know.

In addition to being a carbon monoxide and smoke alarm, it also knows the weather. Halo can send you weather alerts to your smartphone using the app. You can even choose which type of weather alerts you want to receive.

So if like me you live in a place that may have hurricanes but never snow, you can set Halo to update you should a hurricane form in the Atlantic. But if you are in Denver snow would be something that you would want to know about, so you can have your Halo alert you of a coming snowpocalypse.

Halo reads the temperature and humidity as well, it can also tell a house fire from burnt toast. So if your cooking usually ends up in a smokey mess, Halo won’t set off your smoke alarm unless you have started an actual fire. Like the time I forgot to take the pan off the stove before I tried to flambe some brandyand started a very small fire. Luckily it was easy to put out.

Halo is also a dual threat. It uses two different detection processes. First, it uses the photoelectric process which works to detect smoldering fires, and it also uses ionization that works to detect fast-flames. While both processes are found in other devices, Halo is the first CO/smoke detector that uses both in one device.

Your Halo CO/smoke detector is also very friendly. It has been created to work with as many other smoke and CO alarms as possible. It will even send an alert to other alarms and receive alerts as well.

PROS:

• Halo is new and friendly. It is designed to work with other alarms.
• It gives you the weather, and it will let you decide what weather you want to see
• It uses ionization to measure temperature and humidity
• Halo knows when you have burned the pizza and it won’t embarrass you by setting off an alarm

CONS:

• Halo is new, so you can expect changes and updates as glitches are fixed.
• While Halo wants to talk to other devices it’s off to a slow start so you can expect updates as some of the original bugs are worked out.

Understanding Ionization

I am a nerd. If you read my reviews and guides you know this. So as a nerd I need to know what makes things work. So the first thing we need to understand is the ionization process. It is a process by which an atom or a molecule acquires a negative or positive charge. This charge is from gaining or losing firm ions and happens most often in conjunction with other chemical changes.

So how does Halo figure ionization into the speed factor that they claim they have over Nest? First ionization is all about energy. Electrons are raised to higher energy levels by absorbing energy from an external source. If you continue the process over and over there will be a point in which the electron goes completely out of the nucleus, and then you have a positive ion. Electrons in an atom are attracted by the positively charged nucleus.

But how does this work in my CO/Smoke detector?

Ionization CO/smoke detectors have a small amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates, which works to ionize the air and cause current to flow between the plates. When smoke enters the chamber it disrupts the current and flow of the ions. This reduction in the flow of the current activates the alarm.

What about photoelectric detection?

The photoelectric effect is in reference to the emission or ejection of electrons from the surface of a metal in response to incident light. When electrons are emitted in this process they are referred to as photoelectrons. This theory implies that this effect can be attributed to the transfer of energy from the light to an electron.

So how does this work in your CO/Smoke detector?

When smoke enters the chamber, the smoke particles scatter the light causing some of the light to hit the sensor. The sensor then sets off the alarm. Photoelectric detectors work best on smoldering, or slow burning fires.

But does this mean Halo is faster than Nest, maybe not. But Halo is the only device that can monitor smoldering flames and fast-flame using one device.

Nest doesn’t currently support ionization and only uses photoelectric detection. This decision to forgo ionization was based on the fact that ionization detectors produce a small amount of radiation. Kidde does both but on different devices.

Halo is the only device that uses both photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric is the preferred if you are going with just one option, but having both increases the device’s ability to detect both fast-flame and smoldering fires.

In conclusion

First, allow me to thank you for letting me have my moment of nerdiness, I find all of this so fascinating. Now back to what you need to keep your home safe. If you have working CO detectors and smoke detectors in your home, unless you really want smart devices, you should keep them.  You can use Home Alert or another similar product to turn your boring smoke detectors into something smarter that can alert you if something should happen while you are away.

Just make sure you change the battery, that incessant beeping drives my dog Ernie crazy, and it doesn’t put me in the best mood either. You should really consider replacing your detectors if they have been around since the 1970’s. It’s advisable that you replace them every 10 years.

If you want something that looks good Nest is probably the best option. Halo doesn’t look bad, but Nest has made an investment in creating smart home devices that look as good as they work. But if you want a CO/smoke detector that covers all the bases, Halo is a strong contender as it uses both photoelectric and ionization which can identify both smoldering fires and fast-flames.

You can also find more basic devices that will just sound an alarm that are less expensive. At the end of the day, it’s not just important to have both a CO and a smoke detector that works and that will keep your family safe, it’s imperative.

So go check your current detectors, and make sure that you have both a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector (or both in one device) and make sure they are working. If they aren’t you should look into a replacement that works for you. There is nothing that we shouldn’t do to keep our homes and families protected.

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The Complete Apartment Security Guide

While renting an apartment living often comes with a lot of perks, it also comes with a higher risk of break-ins and home intrusions. Often the security in apartments is lacking, that is why looking into adding your own security system is crucial.

There are some great advantages when you live in an apartment community, you can get access to amenities like gyms and pools, which are a nice feature when you are renting. But you also need to make sure that you have all of the security you need to keep you and your family safe.

There are things you should consider when you are looking for a new apartment to move into. While you may be focused on the number of bathrooms, it is also important that you don’t overlook security. By following these steps you can better assess the level of security you need before you sign a lease.

The first and most important thing you can do to make sure that the location you are interested is safe is to observe everything. While you may like the look and the location of the apartment, you should make sure that you are reviewing everything.

You should always check your surroundings, that includes the grounds, stairways, walkways, parking lots, building entrances or apartment entrances. You want to make sure that the property is well lit and that elevators and stairs are easy to access.

It is also a good idea to check areas where an intruder could hide, like laundry facilities. If you see something that concerns you, you may want to continue your search for the right apartment. You should never feel like your personal safety is at risk in your apartment or in the community.

Here are some additional tips that can help you evaluate the apartment community before you move in.

Assess Your Surroundings

When you are asking about an apartment you are interested in, most good sales people aren’t going to quote crime statistics. That is why you need to do the research yourself.  You can often research online at sites like Crimemaping.com, Spotcrime.com, and CrimeReports.com and see if any robberies or other crimes have been committed on the property or in the area.

You can also talk to the local police department, and even to people who currently live in apartments that would be near to the one you want to rent.

Check to Make Sure The Property is Well Kept

While your new place may look great when you do the walkthrough there are some things you should look for before you move in. If you see things like water stains, broken windows or damaged drywall, you may want to reconsider. You will also want to make sure that basic maintenance to the landscaping and walkways is taking place.

How the landlord or property manager takes care of the community will give you insight into how seriously they take the security of all of their tenants. If you don’t think the care about the property, it may be a sign that you need to keep on searching.

You will also want to make sure that your new place is well lit. Typically someone that means to do harm to you won’t want hide in plain sight. So if you have areas of your community like hallways and entrance ways that aren’t well lit you should address that with the landlord or property manager.

If they aren’t willing to repair or add new lights in places like your stairways or laundry facilities you may want to consider looking for another place to live.

When you take a tour of the apartment there are some things you should be looking for:

• Does the main door have a peephole that you can see out of clearly. If not you should ask if one can be added. Opening the door without knowing who it outside presents a clear a security risk.
• Make sure that entry to your building is secure. You should ask if there is a key code or key to the exterior doors.
• Request that the locks in your new apartment be replaced if they haven’t been already. And while many apartment communities may rotate locks, you should ask for a new lock. If someone trying to break-in or rob an apartment knows that locks are rotated, they could use a key that could open your lock.
• Check all of the window locks to ensure that they are secure and cannot be compromised. People that want to break-in can find a way, it is your job to make sure that you don’t give them a way to enter your home.

Check for Ways to Escape in the Event of an Emergency

There are two reasons you want to check on emergency exits, the first is pretty obvious, you need a way to get to safety in the event of a fire or other emergency. The second reason you want to check on how your emergency exits operate is to make sure that no one can use your way out to safety as a way in to rob your apartment or worse.

If you have fire escapes make sure that the ladders aren’t accessible by someone trying to break in. Once you feel confident that the community you live in is safe there are still a few things that you will want to do after moving in.

Now that you are in your new home you will want to make sure you have a plan in place for your home security.

• Make sure that all of the sliding doors are secure: one of the most tempting options for someone trying to break-in is a sliding door. Most of these doors don’t have locks that are sufficient enough to keep an intruder out. In addition to always keeping the doors locked, you should also place a pole into the track. There are also stick on locks that can prevent the door from being opened.
• Buy better blinds: most of the time the blinds provided by your landlord or property manager aren’t the most secure. If you are at street level investing in blinds that can block out any view from the outside can keep your home safe by closing off access to seeing what electronics or other valuables that are in your home.
• Add a few locks: while you most likely have a deadbolt on your door, you can also look at adding some additional locks like a chain lock to keep someone who is trying to force your door open from being successful. If for some reason you main door doesn’t have a deadbolt, you should add one as soon as possible.
• Buy renters insurance: while the property you live in may be protected by insurance your valuables are not. You can usually get a decent renters insurance policy for less than $20 per month. This policy will protect your personal belongings and replace them at full value. Renters insurance can also protect you should any damage occur in your apartment.
• Purchase a safe: adding a safe can help you keep items of value, even sentimental value, safe from an intruder who has broken into your apartment. You can buy a decent safe for around $100. But buying a safe isn’t enough, you will need to place the safe in a location where someone cannot find it. You can also talk to your property manager about securing it to the floor or wall which can make it harder for someone who is trying to steal it.
• Add a home security system: apartments are at a higher risk for a break-in, which means even if you do everything on this list you may still find yourself coming home to find your valuables are gone. There are some solid options when it comes to adding a home security system for your apartment that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Don’t share your vacation plans or photos until you are home

Social media is awesome, and I get the need to make all of your friends jelly by forcing them to look at you on a jet ski or kite surfing. But you can do all of that when you get home. Sharing your pictures while you are away will let anyone and everyone that follows you know that you aren’t home.

So unless you want to put up a giant virtual billboard that lets people know you aren’t at home, just wait a bit and share them from your apartment that hasn’t been broken into because you are too smart to tell people you are on vaca.

These are some of our favorite home security options for renters

What we like about LifeShield…

LifeShield offers a wide variety of devices that can be easily integrated into apartment living. Their goal is to provide their customers with some of the most advanced home security devices around. Which makes them a good fit for someone who lives in an apartment.

Because all of LifeShields sensors are wireless and do not require direct power, they are easy to place and easy to move should you decide to reside somwhere else. You will need to have a power source for the cameras and the keypad, but both have a battery back-up should you lose power.

While most apartments have at least a smoke detector, you have to be there to contact the fire department in the event that it goes off. But Lifeshield has a solution for that. They provide a fire safety sensor that will listen for the alarm to go off and then contact their monitoring center and alert the fire department.

You can also control the system using a smartphone, tablet or laptop, which makes it an ideal solution for apartment dwellers. You can access an online portal that can show you all of the activity that has taken place in your home. Additionally, you can set up notifications by text or email, and view the live feed from your security cameras.

LifeShielsd also offers a package that is made just for renters. You can get a fee security system with the purchase of a monthly professional monitoring package , you will also have to pay an activation fee. They manufacture all of their own equipment, so you don’t have to try and figure out what company you need to contact should a devices stop working. You can just call them.

LifeShield uses a third party professional monitoring service to provide their service. Protection 1 provides you with monitoring seven days a week, 365 days a year. They have five UL listed centers in the United States. By using a redundant system they can use all five centers to monitor your service, which means if something happens to one center there are four other centers that can make sure that your home stays safe.

What we would like to see them do better…

There a few things we would like to see changed, or improved when it comes to LifeShield. The first if their customer service. They are rated as one of the lowest rated home security companies when it comes to customer service. While their rating has improved, they are still lacking. Customers common complaints are about billing and service issues.

This seems to be largely due to the acquisition of LifeShield by DirecTV after the deal was complete and DirecTV took ownership of LifeSheild the level of customer service was not the same level as it was with the original owners of LifeShield.

Something else we would like to see from LifeShield is a home automation offering, even a small one would be nice. Most home security providers are incorporating home automation devices into their home security offerings to provide their customers with a fully automated and secure home. So why with the power of DirecTV behind them they haven’t added one yet is something of a mystery.

What we like about Frontpoint…

If you are looking for great customer service, and you don’t mind home security devices that look a bit outdated, then Frontpoint is a great way to protect your apartment. Another nice thing is if you commit to a 36-month agreement you will get $300 off the price of the system.

As long as you keep your agreement you can move the system to a new location should you need to move. Because FrontPoint is 100% wireless it is easy to set up and requires no tools or skills. Which if you are me, is awesome. I love technology but I am not the handiest of girls.

In addition to being completely wireless, Frontpoint also provides their monitoring services using a cellular connection. Which means you will never lose service, even if your wireless connection or power goes out.

When it comes to equipment, you own it. And as the owner of your equipment, you can pack it up and move it whenever and to wherever you want. You also don’t have to pay a fee to get your security system delivered, it will arrive within days of you buying it.

And should you hate everything you were sent, you have 30 days to return it and get all of your money back, Frontpoint will even pay for you to ship it back to them. But should you want to stay, there are some other pretty sweet benefits that you can take advantage of for the price of on the house.

Yep, you get some free things. You will get fire, carbon monoxide, flood and life safety monitoring and you won’t have to pay anything additional to get it. Yay free things!

What we would like to see them do better…

While there is a lot to like about Frontpoint there are a few things that we think they could improve upon. Like their three-year equipment warranty, we are seeing more and more lifetime warranties on equipment even when you purchase it outright, it would be nice to see Frontpoint extend their warranty period.

Another thing we like is more than one contract option. While you can take the system with you wherever you go, what if you just don’t like it. If you are outside of the 30 day period you will find yourself paying a fair amount to end your contract.

 

What we like about SimpliSafe…

Another system that we like for renters is SimpliSafe, it is a fully wireless DIY home security system that has a professional monitoring option. They are also free of any contractual obligations. So you can end your service at any time without the fear of a large cancellation fee.

If you fear a system that is DIY because the last time you tried to install something it ended up with you getting a concussion (which happened to me), I can tell you that even I could put together my SimpliSafe package. And if I can do it, you can absolutely do it.

There are several packages that you can choose from, which is great if you are currently living in a smaller apartment. Each package will provide you with the equipment you need to keep you and your belongings safe.

One of the things that used to be missing from SimpliSafe’s equipment lineup was a camera. SimpliSafe recently addressed that by adding a night vision camera that comes with a built-in motion detector. It is currently in Beta Release, but to know that you can add it is something to look forward to.

SimpliSafe has two options when it comes to their professional monitoring service. Both provide 24-hour protection and a cellular connection, and neither of them requires a contract. The contract thing is kind of a big deal, as it is not often that you can find a professional monitoring option that doesn’t tie you in for at least twelve months.

What we would like to see them do better…

One thing that hasn’t seemed to change, outside of the addition of a new security camera, is the way SimpliSafes devices look. They continue to look cheap and plastic. While most of the devices we use are plastic, there is something dated about the way most of their devices look.

We also wish that SimpliSafe’s devices would integrate with other third party devices to allow users to build a home automation system that includes their devices. And we wouldn’t mind one bit if they improved their mobile apps.

Some suggestions for your new apartment

Having lived in an apartment for a while, I am happy to share with you.

1. Make sure that you always secure your patio doors, and never leave anything on the patio that you don’t want to be stolen. But if have some things that you want to get rid of, by all means, leave them out.
2. If you meet someone who lives in your building, no matter how attractive they are, don’t date them. Should your relationship end, you will see them all the time. And worse you may see them with someone else. So my advice is to save yourself the heartache and just be friends.
3. Consider adding a better lock to your patio as well, especially if you are on the ground floor.
4. You should get to know the people who manage and maintenance the property that you live on. This allows you to know when someone unfamiliar may be at your door so you can contact the rental office to confirm they work there.
5. Check every exterior door to make sure its locked before you leave your apartment.
6. If you don’t already have one, create a social media site where you can connect with your neighbors and share things that may be suspicious.
7. Buy sensors that allow you to turn your lights on and off from a smartphone app to make it look like you are home when you are away.
8. Check everything, and then check it again before you move in, you don’t want to miss something that you may regret later.

Moving into a new apartment, especially when it’s your first home is an exciting time. And while it is easy to get excited about buying furniture for your new place, you should also take the time to evaluate the level of security in your apartment. You also need to know that the property is well kept and secure you want to make sure that you are in a place that you can feel safe living in.

You should look for surveillance cameras, and check the lighting on walkways and building entrances. You should also make sure that there are cameras and proper lighting in laundry rooms and other common areas where you could be at risk.

And last but not least you should add a security system, you can find options that are affordable and apartment friendly. Apartments are one of the first targets for intruders, which makes adding additional security a must.

The post The Complete Apartment Security Guide appeared first on Home Security List.

source https://www.homesecuritylist.com/complete-apartment-security-guide/

Piper Home Security Review 2017: Is Piper the device that can do everything?

Keeping your home safe is something that we all know is important. With break-ins occurring every 13 seconds, you may leave yourself open to being robbed, or worse being home when an intruder breaks in.

If you are looking for a simple way to upgrade or add a new home security system, the Piper nv is a great place to get started. With the Piper nv security bundle, you will not only get the Piper nv security camera, you will also get two sensors for your windows or door.

If you are wondering how a camera is going to know when someone opens your door, worry not. Piper nv isn’t just a smart home security camera, it’s also an all in one security bundle. In addition to being a camera, the nv is also a home security hub with is pretty nifty.

If DIY scares you, the Piper nv will be your very best friend. It is plug and play, which means no complicated connections, it’s just easy peasy. It can operate on a wireless connection, so you don’t even need to connect it to a router. Which means you can have a pretty decent home security system up and running in a few minutes.

If you live in an apartment or rental home where you cannot attach things to the walls, the Piper nv is a great option. You can easily take it with you when you move and it doesn’t take up too much space.

Why we like Piper nv

By making nice with the Z-Wave home automation Piper nv can connect with other smart devices like smart plugs, smart door locks, and doorbells. These connections allow you to integrate your Piper nv into a larger home security solution.

They also make it easy for you to review stored security camera records by keeping your footage stored in the cloud, which allows you to view it at any time. While Piper nv can connect with other devices, it is not a complete home security system in an of itself. It can be a valuable part of a larger solution, but on its own, it lacks some of the benefits you would expect from a home security system, like a professional monitoring option.

But that doesn’t mean your Piper nv isn’t without its charms, it employs both motion and sound detection to check for abnormalities, and should it find something it will alert you on your phone. It is also a formidable weather tracker, it can tell you the temperature, both indoors and outdoors, and the humidity level.

Connect Z-Wave devices to the hub and you can manage your lights, smart switches, and any other compatible devices. When it comes to the camera you have several options, Settings, Events and Recording. Settings allow you to manage your camera, you can enable or disable the siren, set the temperature to Celsius or Fahrenheit, and activate the Pet at Home features.

The Pet at Home feature lets you adjust the motion sensitivity to keep your dog or cat from triggering an alarm. You can also set up contacts in Settings using the Trusted Circle option, this will allow you to choose who receives alerts should an alarm be triggered.

On the Events and Recording pages, you can see a list of all of the events and recordings that have triggered the camera. You can see the time and date of each recording. You can access 35-second recorded video that is stored in the Piper Cloud. You will be able to store up to 1,000 clips in the cloud for free, once you exceed 1,000 the Piper cloud will start to overwrite them with new recordings.

You can find tabs to add Z-Wave devices, set security rules and view live video near the bottom of the dashboard. Using rules you can set standards for each security mode, you can have the alarm sound when motion is detected or when the temperature exceeds a set parameter.

If you want to set the camera to record video, or you want to create alerts or push notifications you can select them using the Options menu. You can set alerts and notifications to be sent by text, phone or email.

If you are connecting Z-Wave devices the Control page will allow you to set up rules, you can create schedules, set temperature parameters and manage when your lights come on and when they go off, you can have them turn on automatically when your Piper nv sensor senses it is dark.

You can also see additional data on the Vitals tab. There you can see what the temperature is inside and out, if you see a snowflake, that means you should stay in and make some cocoa, at least that is what I think it means.  You can also see the humidity, so you can know what kind of hair day you will have, and you can view data on ambient light, sound, and motion for the last 48 hours.

And if you think reviewing your camera’s data is exciting, you are going to love the Live Video tab, here you can view live streaming video. So if you have been wondering what the cat does when you are away you can finally see it’s the same things he does when you are home.

You can also view your cat’s activities from a fish-eye perspective and you can zoom in and out to make him look larger, or smaller. So while the Piper can’t do everything, the things it can do are pretty sweet.

PROS:

• Piper nv is more than just a security camera, it houses a hub that can support Z-Wave devices
• You can review clips of video from the cloud or view live streaming video using the app
• You can easily have your Piper nv camera up and running in a matter of minutes
• Added window and door sensors can give you additional security options

CONS:

• While they connect with Z-Wave devices, they could have a larger catalog of devices to choose from

 

The post Piper Home Security Review 2017: Is Piper the device that can do everything? appeared first on Home Security List.

source https://www.homesecuritylist.com/piper-home-security-review-2017-piper-device-can-everything/

Best Home Security Systems For Renters

If you are renting an apartment or house you may think that you don’t need to add a security system because the home or apartment isn’t yours. But while you may not own the home, almost everything that is in your home belongs to you.

That is why adding a security system, even when you are renting, is a good idea. Depending on the rules of your rental you may want to reach out to your landlord before adding a system. You should also look into a portable system that isn’t hardwired, if you pay for the system, you don’t want to leave it there, or have an issue removing it.

We know that you may have questions about finding the right home security system as a renter, but that is why we are here, we can help you find and install a security system that will work for you. That is why we have put together this handy guide to make it easy for you to find a system that will work for your space.

What you should look for in a home security system when you are renting

With so many wireless home security system available, there is no reason for you to choose a hard-wired system. It will involve installation when you put it in, and if you move you will have to have it uninstalled, so my advice is to keep it simple. I have a fully wireless security system in my apartment for a few reasons, it’s easy to install and I can take it with me when I move into a new place.

Finding a wireless security system is so much easier than it used to be. When I bought mine the problem wasn’t that there wasn’t a good option, it was that there were too many great options. Which makes us both luck and sometimes, if you are like me, a little overwhelmed. I like to research everything,

I like to research everything, which means I have tested and tried almost every system. But now you can take advantage of the fact that I am a total and complete nerd. I mean I love to research and write about home security systems, so yeah, there’s that. So you can use my nerdiness to help you find a great home security system for your apartment or rental house.

Before you choose a system, there are a few things that you want to decide. The first thing you need to know is, do you want to manage your own system, or do you want a monitoring service. If you don’t want to use a monitoring system and something should be detected by your security system they will send you a notification, and then you are responsible for contacting the authorities.

Honestly, I don’t recommend this option. By the time you receive a notification and contact the proper authorities you may end up coming home to find all of your valuables gone. There are some great wireless companies that provide reasonably priced monitoring services.

Having a professional monitoring service means that wherever you are, they will be listening for alarms and they will be able to immediately get in touch with your local authorities. Professional monitoring means that you are covered 24/7. When you monitor your own system you leave yourself up to the possibility of missing a notification or being in an area where you cannot receive notifications.

When you monitor your own system you leave yourself up to the possibility of missing a notification or being in an area where you cannot receive notifications. If you are away on a vacation you would need to make sure that someone had access to your home, which also poses its own unique risks.

We will provide you both monitored and self-monitored options, but I will encourage you to choose a professional monitoring service. While I have never experienced a break-in I like knowing that I don’t have to manage everything if one should occur.

There are some great budget friendly professional monitoring service, so if you are concerned about cost, we can help you find something that can work for you. These are our top choices when it comes to finding a home security system for your apartment or house rental. Our favorites include a monitoring service.

Our top home security service for rental properties #1

To be honest, Frontpoint is also our favorite when it comes to home security for any type of home. But we especially like it when it comes to apartments or rental houses. One of the reasons we like and so often recommend Frontpoint is their professional monitoring. They have a pure 100% cellular monitoring service. So no power in your home, no problem. No internet in your home, no problem.

With Frontpoint’s monitoring service you will always be covered. No one can cut a wire and deactivate your home security, which makes them one of the best DIY home security services around. They also have some additional service that will protect your home even if someone gets in and tries to destroy the control panel. Should someone try to damage the panel Frontpoints crash and smash technology will send a distress signal to the monitoring station.

When it comes to the equipment there are several packages that you can choose from. If you are just getting started there are some good options that can help you build a solid security system even if you are in a small apartment.

While you can choose your package, each package requires a 36-month contract. But the contract doesn’t keep you from moving the security system if you move or are relocated. These are the current packages and equipment available from Frontpoint.

	Protection Plan	Interactive Plan	Ultimate Plan
Professional Monitoring Service	$34.99	$44.99	$49.99
Control Panel
Door/Window Sensors	3 ($32.99 each for additional sensors)	3 ($32.99 each for additional sensors)	3 ($32.99 each for additional sensors)
Motion Sensor	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)
Smoke/Heat Sensor	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)	1 ($64.99 each for additional sensors)
Garage Door Sensor			1
Water/Flood Sensor	$44.99 each	$44.99 each	1 ($44.99 each for additional sensors)
Glass Break Sensor	$74.99 each	$74.99 each	$74.99 each
Light Control		1 ($49.99 each for additional controls)	1 ($49.99 each for additional controls)
Thermostat Control		Call for price	Call for price
Door Lock Control		Call for price	Call for price
Wireless Indoor Camera			$129.99 each
Wireless Outdoor Camera			$379.99 each
Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera			$189.99 each
Keychain Remote	$29.99 each	1	1
Alarm.com Mobile App
Estimated Upfront Cost	?	?	?

What you can expect from Frontpoint

The first thing you can expect is someone who is helpful and friendly. When I first contacted them to ask about their services they were knowledgeable and patient and answered all of my questions. They are also open to allowing us to use their devices and service to complete our reviews. Which is not always the case when you reach out to a service provider.

Frontpoint is a DIY system, but they do provide you some decent instructions. As an instructional designer, I am always ready and willing to critique instructions, but while I had a few questions all in al it as an easy system to set up. If you get your system and you have questions they will also be happy to help you.

Once you have your system set up you are pretty much ready to go. And you can just leave it in the hands of the monitoring system. Rapid Response is the center that FrontPoint uses to manage their professional monitoring services. Rapid Response is an established company that provides fire alarm monitoring in New York, so while they outsource they do it with an experienced well-regarded organization.

PROS:

• FrontPoint is a very customer friendly company
• It is a full DIY wireless home security system
• Their professional monitoring service is 100% cellular
• They have the added benefit of using Z-Wave technology
• Their crash and smash technology can alert the monitoring system even if the control panel is damaged

CONS:

• The only contract option is 36 months
• While the DIY isn’t that hard, you will have to do all of the install yourself

Link Interactive may look new, but they have an old soul. They are part of a larger home security company known as Mountain Alarm. Mountain Alarm a Utah-based regional security company that has been in business for over 60 years, has partnered wth Alarm.com to create the Link Interactive brand. And it seems to have been a success, as Link Interactive can be found at the top of most home security review lists.

And we are among the crowd that thinks Link Interactive has a lot to offer. By partnering with Costco they were able to grow the Link Interactive brand, and while that partnership has ended Link Interactive still enjoys the benefits of name recognition. And while that makes them recognizable, it is the service itself that deserves all the accolades.

While primarily a home security system, Link Interactive also excels when it comes to home automation. More and more security and full home automation can be found bundled to create a better customer experience.

Their automation offerings include smart locks, lighting controls, small appliance automation, garage door controls and of course home security alarms, cameras and sensors. They also user-friendly apps for almost every device you can think of. They have an app for Android, iOS, Windows 7 phone, Apple Watch, and Blackberry. Which pretty much covers every device but Google.

Like Frontpoint, Link Interactive has professional monitoring services, which is something you need, so you should at least strongly consider one. They have three levels of service.

Services Offered	Basic	Gold	Platinum
Monthly Fee	$29.99	$34.99	$39.99
Cellular Monitoring 24/7
Fire, Carbon Monoxide, Smoke Detectors
Distaster Monitoring (flood, fire, freeze)
Smartphone App
Home Automation Control
Text/Email Alerts
Motion Activated Video
Recorded Video Playback
Ability to Schedule Video
Video Monitoring
Live Video Monitoring
Learn More	View Plan	View Plan	View Plan

If you are trying to decide on a plan, the Elite plan is the best of the three and with only a ten dollar difference between the three plans, it is worth it for what you get. The Elite plan will allow you to use the Link Interactive app to connect with your video camera.

You can view a live stream, set a schedule, record and even control your footage for all of the cameras you have. The Elite package will also alert you if a motion detector or sensor detects an open door or window.

Link Interactives Elite package also include Cloud storage that allows you to review recorded clips, you can store up to 1.000 video clips a month if you need more storage you can get additional space for $5 per month.

Purchasing Your Equipment

Link Interactive has removed the pre-selected equipment packages and now allows you to choose the devices you want a la carte, which allows you to build a home security system that works for you. One thing you will need to purchase is the Link Interactive Go! Control Panel, it functions as both a home automation system and a home security hub. Created with 2GIG Technologies the Go! Panel can control all of the devices that you purchase.

While you will need to sign a contract, they are not as long as some of the other home security providers, you can choose a 12, 24 or 36-month contract You also get a 30 day trial period, but once that period ends you will be bound to the contract option you have selected.

Like FrontPoint, Link Interactive is DIY, which means you are the installer. It’s not too hard to install, but the synchronization may take you a bit of time to set up. Link Interactive provides videos that can help you with the installation, and if you are really stuck, which has happened to all of us, you can contact their customer support. They are available to you by email, phone, skype and live chat, and they are more than willing to help you with the installation process.

Link Interactive has made some adjustments to their service to make it more appealing to new customers, they have lowered the cost of their professional monitoring plans, and they now allow you to choose the equipment that you want without having to purchase a package. Which makes them a great fit for your apartment or rental home. Being able to get what you need makes it easier to create a home security system that works for you.

PROS:

• They use both wireless and cellular with their monitoring service
• It is a full DIY wireless home security system
• You can easily reach their customer service if you need help with installation
• Their Elite package allows you to monitor live feed using their smartphone app
• Their crash and smash technology can alert the monitoring system even if the control panel is damaged
• There are three contract options 12, 24 and 36 months, you also get a 30 day trial period

CONS:

• There is only a 2-year warranty on equipment
• While the DIY isn’t that hard, you will have to do all of the install yourself

There are a lot of reasons to like Protect America, they are a great option for renters as the service is wireless and should you need to move out, the service will move with you. We also like that they have no equipment or activation costs. Which makes it easy for you to get a quality security system without a huge upfront investment.

Protect America is also easy to work with, they will help you find the best package for you. So if you have a small space, they will help you find a package that works with your square footage. You can also work with them to create a more customized solution.

You can add items like a talking command center, glass break detectors, flood detectors and security cameras. By working with Protect America you can put together an equipment package that works with what you need.

Protect America provides professional monitoring services, which is something that you should seriously consider (just a friendly reminder). They use Criticom Monitoring Services (CMS) which is a highly rated monitoring service. This service will contact law enforcement or emergency services for you in the event that an alarm is triggered.

Packages	Copper	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Equipment Fees	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free
Monthly Fees	Landline $19.99 Broadband and Cellular $41.99	Landline $35.99 Broadband and Cellular $47.99	Landline $37.99 Broadband and Cellular $49.99	Landline $39.99 Broadband and Cellular $51.99	Landline $42.99 Broadband and Cellular $54.99
Commitment Term	36 months	36 months	36 months	36 months	36 months
Equipment provided	Base, Motion Detector, 3 door/window sensors	Base, Motion Detector, 6 door/window sensors	Base, Motion Detector, 9 door/window sensors	Base, Motion Detector, 11 door/window sensors	Base, Motion Detector, 14 door/window sensors
Check Pricing	View Plan	View Plan	View Plan	View Plan	View Plan

Something that we really like about Protect America is their lifetime home security equipment warranty. No matter what package you choose or which devices you add, they are all covered by a lifetime warranty, which is not all that common in this industry.

PROS:

• As of today the Protect America rates are guaranteed for the life of your contract
• You don’t have to pay any installation or equipment fees
• You can get professional monitoring starting at $19.99 which is one of the lowest prices we have seen
• You get a 30-day free trial
• Lifetime warranty for equipment

CONS:

• If you want cellular coverage you will pay for it.
• The $19.99 monitoring plan requires a landline phone

LiveWatch, previously known as a company called SafeMart, may not be the biggest home security services around, but they do have some cool equipment and features that make them an interesting company to watch.

They provide 100% wireless equipment, they also provide you with a touchscreen control panel with has a built in camera, so if someone is trying to disarm your panel they can take a picture of them. Which is one of the coolest features we have seen in a while.

While they aren’t at the top of out list, there are some things we like about them. They have some of the most customer friendly policies we have seen. You can cancel anytime without a fee. Yep, you don’t like it, you can say adios and ride off into the sunset with no fee.

They do have a one year contract, but with no fee for canceling your aren’t tied. While they do make you purchase your own equipment, they also give you a year to return them, so if that first year you just aren’t feeling it, you can just return everything and find something new.

There are a few ways you can go with LiveWatch, you can do just equipment without a professional monitoring service, you can do equipment and a monitoring service, or you can just add monitoring service. If you already have a system and equipment that you love, you can just add LiveWatch to monitoring things for you.

LiveWatch also gives you more options when it comes to professional monitoring. They have four plans, and their rates are more than competitive. They are also able to provide service in all 50 states, which means if you need to move they can move with you.

LiveWatch uses a proprietary alert system called ASAPer, it allows them to send instant notifications to a preset group of contacts. If a break-in or other alarm triggering event should occur everyone on the contact list will receive an instant notification, they can then access a group chat portal where they can address and resolve the issue.

LiveWatch Plug and Protect IQ 2.0 also makes it easier to install, you do have to purchase it as a package, and while the price tag of $599 may seem steep, we think it’s worth it. It is a DIY system, so you will need to install all of the devices, including the IQ 2.0. Touchscreen panel.

So if you are renting you will need to check with your landlord to see if you can install the panel. If you do get the go ahead to install your system, the nice thing is that the devices come pre-configured, so after you set everything up you don’t have to spend the rest of the day trying to figure out how to get the system to work.

If you are looking for a technology focused security system for your rental house or apartment, LiveWatch is one you should be watching.

PROS:

• They are invested in providing current technology, their TouchScreen control panel has a camera that can take a picture of someone who may try to destroy it
• It is compatible with a variety of third-party equipment
• While it is DIY, its not hard to install
• There is no cancellation fee should you find yourself no longer needing, or liking the system

CONS:

• The equipment cost can get fairly expensive

One nice thing about AT&T Digital Life is that it is very renter friendly. While with other systems you may find you have to make them work in a rental, AT&T is ready to go the minute you have it set up. They are one of the better security systems when it comes to home security systems.

What I love about AT&T Digital Life is how seamlessly they merge home security and home automation. You don’t have to choose one or the other because they exist as one. But that awesomely seamless perfect smart home will cost you more than some of the other providers.

With Digital Life you will get a lot of modern cool technology, but you will pay more for it. So it comes down to what you can afford and what you want. If you want a DIY system that you can install, Digital Life isn’t that. It is professionally installed, and you will pay for that too.

AT&T Digital Life has thoughtful and well-designed packages, if you just want to start with a security option, the Smart Security package comes in around $4o per month. You get a decent starter package when it comes to equipment and you also get 24/7 professionally monitored service.  If you want a more robust package you can get Premium Security for $65 per month.

If you are on a budget the Smart Security only requires a $50 equipment fee and a $40 per month payment. This is an attractive option if you are living in a small apartment, it can provide you with the security you need, and should you move into a larger place you can upgrade your package.

Another way that using a product like AT&T Digital Life has advantages is when it comes to professional monitoring. While some DIY providers have an add on professionally monitoring service, some just leave it up to you to manage your security.

If you don’t have a professionally monitored system you will be in charge. If something in your home triggers an alarm, you will most likely get a notification sent to your smartphone. Once you receive the notification it is then up to you to contact the authorities.

While it may seem like cost savings to not have a professionally monitored service, its something you should consider. If you aren’t attached to your phone 24/7 and you don’t want to be, then a monitoring service is something you need.

They also have a simple pricing structure, so you don’t have to try to calculate what your “actual” cost will be, they tell you straight up what your price will be. The professional installation is also a nice service. Especially if you are a novice. All of the installers have been background checked so you know that they will do the job professionally.

Another nice feature that Digital Life has everything that you need to keep your apartment or rental house safe. And if you need to move, it can move with you.

PROS:

• AT&T has some street cred when it comes to the equipment they provide
• You can make your own automation processes, which means you are the captain of the ship
• Their professional installation is on point

CONS:

• 2-year mandatory contract is a bit of a downer
• The setup fee is a bit more than is needed.

If you want a simple DIY home security system that you can manage on your own iSmartAlarm can provide that for you. You can also start small with their basic starter package, so if you are just looking for something that will let you manage your home security, we would recommend checking iSmartAlarm out.

It isn’t that hard to install, but it is not without a few glitches that may make you yell a few choice words during the setup process. If you choose the Preferred package which is the basic one, you will get CubeOne which is the hub that you will need to connect to the router.

You will also get one motion sensor, two contact sensors (for your windows and doors), two remote tags and window stickers. The “tags” are key fobs that you can use to access the system. They allow you to set, disarm or set off the alarm.

If you choose iSmartAlarm you may find yourself frustrated at the limited amount of options should you want to add to your system. You can buy contact sensors, but beyond there isn’t a lot of room to grow. One thing that is nice is that iSmartalarm allows you to integrate with IFTTT, which can allow you to connect other devices that can work as a part of a more robust home security system.

If you upgrade your package to the Premium level you will receive iCamera KEEP, it may be a bit challenging to plug in, but once it is plugged in it should work well. It did a decent job for us when we tried it.

One area that still needs some improvement is the way their apps perform. This is not a new issue for iSmartAlarm, and while they have released several versions that have fixed some of the bigger issues, the app is still just basic. If you have the camera yo can watch the feed, but outside of that its just average.

iSmartAlarm is a pure DIY service that doesn’t offer a professional monitoring option. So you will need access to your smartphone anytime you area way. If something triggers an alarm you are the point of contact. You then have to assess the situation and contact the appropriate authorities.

PROS:

• It is easy to setup and easy to use
• You can connect it with other devices to create a larger system using IFTTT
• If you choose the Premium Package you can add iCamera KEEP

CONS:

• You are the point of contact if you are notified of an alarm you need to contact the authorities on your own
• The app still needs some improvement.

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When you live in an apartment or rental home it can be frustrating to add a home security system, you most likely can’t put in new wiring or put holes in the walls. That is why we like SimpliSafe. No new wires, and no holes in the wall. Which makes it a great DIY security system for renters.

Purely wireless it is easy to set up and with five different packages, you can create a security system that can work for your apartment or rental home. It is also one of the most popular home security systems for renters.

You don’t have to worry about a contract that ties you in for an extended period. If you want your system to be professionally monitored, SimpliSafe can now do that for you. And you can still do it with no contract.

While some reviews may indicate the lack of a camera with SimpliSafe that is no longer the case, which makes us pretty happy. It was one big piece of the security puzzle they were missing. But now they have a SimpliSafe Security Camera, it is currently still in beta release, but we expect it to be available soon.

The addition of more advanced looking technology puts a new spin on what was kind of outdated looking equipment. It also allows SimpliSafe to add something that their customers have wanted for several years.

When it comes to professional monitoring SimpliSafe has two budget friendly options. Both plans provide 24/7 monitoring services and a cellular connection. And both are available with no contract. To say this is rare would be an overstatement. Monitoring services with no contracts are kind of like the dinosaur. Although not nearly as cool.

Beyond the reasonable price, SimpliSafe also has one other big thing that makes us love their professional monitoring services and that is their cellular connection. No power, no wireless connection, no problem. Your SimpliSafe system will still work even when you lose power.

SimpliSafe has an interactive plan that provides you with a remote control, online and mobile app access and the ability to create secret alerts. No, they aren’t a place to hide all of your secrets you will still have to keep those to yourself, but you can configure the system to send an alert without setting off an alarm should someone open a safe, liquor cabinet or a desk drawer.

PROS:

• The first and best thing about SimpliSafe is that you aren’t tied down by a contract
• For a DIY system it is affordable and easy to install
• You can get professional monitoring at a very reasonable price
• They have added a camera that is currently in beta release

CONS:

• If you don’t add professional monitoring you are responsible for calling the authorities should an alarm be triggered
• You cannot connect with other Smarthome devices and cameras
• The equipment looks dated and isn’t as modern as some other providers

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In Conclusion

Living in an apartment or rental house comes with its own set of security concerns. You may not know how many people have keys to your home, and if the locks haven’t been changed it could leave you open to someone possibly accessing your home or apartment when you are not at home.

That is why putting together a home security system is important, no matter where you live or the type of home you are renting. Finding the right system for you space doesn’t have to be painful, in fact, there are more apartment friendly home security options than you probably think.

If you want someone to manage your system you can find a provider that provides professional monitoring services, which will allow you to know that your home is always protected. If you want to manage your system without a professional service, you should always have your phone with you in the event you get a notification that you need to act on while you are away.

Home security discriminates when it comes to if you own or rent, so if you don’t feel like the home you are in is safe, there are things you can do to help you feel more secure in your living space. If you cannot add wires or screw things into the wall you can always look for a purely wireless solution like SimpliSafe, they offer both a decent DIY option and professional monitoring.

The most important thing that you have a system in place that protects your home and family.

The post Best Home Security Systems For Renters appeared first on Home Security List.

source https://www.homesecuritylist.com/best-home-security-systems-renters/

Best Tools You Can Use to Keep Your Browsing History Truly Private

When the House of Representatives repealed internet privacy rules that were designed to allow you to search without worrying about your search histories being used or reviewed or worse sold, they put every internet search you make open to your ISP. On March 27th the President signed the bill which means finding ways to keep your search histories safe should be your top priority. All of your unencrypted

With everything you search for, and yes that includes your porn library, shopping history, your location and everything else you do online possibly made public. If you haven’t thought about protecting your internet searches, you need to now. Using private browsing features or Incognito will not work to keep your search history private. These features are most often offered by the very ISPs that are about to start poaching and selling your browsing histories.

So what do you need to know about the repeal?

What congress did when they overturned rules that had been put in place with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now means that your internet provider no longer needs to get permission from you before they can collect and sell your online information. This includes everything you search for online.

In reality, we have been living online with no real privacy at all. While the rules were passed they never took effect, so your Internet provider has been monitoring your network traffic and sharing your search history and even selling or sharing it with marketing companies that use it to send you targeted ads.

Then why does this matter?

It matters because the law, when it was enacted would have given us protections that now we will not have. So it’s not so much about what we don’t have today, it’s about what we lost tomorrow. It can also give your Internet providers the sense that they are now more embolden to collect and retain and sell your personal data.

It is about the protections we should have had, even if we didn’t have them yet.

How does data collection happen?

You choose an Internet service provider, and in turn, they provide you with access to the internet. Every device you use has an identifier assigned by your Internet service provider. That allows them to see when you access the Internet and what you access while you are browsing.

They are the ones that get you to the site you want to search for, so they know what websites you use.  They can store that information and then use your data for themselves or sell it to a marketing company.

What can I do to protect myself?

All is not lost. There are a few ways that you can protect your search histories from the vultures that are waiting to sell your personal search data to any and every marketing firm. So what can happen to your search history when it is placed in the hands of your ISP? It depends. ISP providers have set rules on how and to whom they sell your information. Should a provider break the rules they created the FCC could take action and sue the provider.

With most of the government offices like the FCC find themselves understaffed and losing the power to make their own decisions (which is a whole other story), it is more likely the FCC won’t be able to take action, and that means your ISP can do anything they want with your personal search data.  But that is on the unlikely side, even more, rare is the idea that an ISP would sell your data to a person. What is most likely to happen is that things will stay largely the same.

What happens today is that a marketing company like Twitter will want to target a demographic like college students between 18-24 years of age. So your ISP and Twitter will come to an agreement that allows Twitter to place ads on the pages frequented by the selected demographic. One of the reasons that you won’t see much of a change in how things work has nothing to do with the congress trying to destroy your privacy (nothing can stop that) and everything to do with your ISP. Your ISP wants you to stay a customer, and for the most part, they work to protect your privacy out of respect for you.

What is a VPN and what does it do?

If you are still concerned about your privacy, which you should be, loosened rules can often be very enticing, there are ways that you can beef up your privacy protection. One of the first things you can do is get VPN also known as a Virtual Private Network they give you the best chance of hiding your online identity and location. VPNs encrypt your Internet traffic, which will let no one from outside know that you are searching for or what pages you visit.

VPNs can have several different services that they provide, here are some of the more common features they offer:

• Access to your company network when you are traveling: VPNs are common for most businesses, and one benefit they offer is the ability to access your company network from any location. You can even access local network resources without using the internet. But if you want to check your email or calendar, you will still need to find a secure Internet connection.
• Access to your home network when you are away from home: if you have a VPN set up for personal use, you can also get access to your network through access to a Windows remote desktop, there you can access files, and work on the internet as if you were on your home LAN.
• Keep your browsing activity from your ISP and your local network: if you don’t have, or haven’t considered getting a VPN, this is why you need to look into one now. Keeping your browsing activity from being sold is preventable if you have the right VPN. Your VPN will encrypt your browsing activity, which will keep you ISP from being able to identify it, which means they can’t sell it or use it for their own purposes.
• Access geo-blocked sites while abroad: if you are traveling outside of the United States accessing some of your favorite media sites can be challenging. If you have access to a VPN and you are in a restricted region, you can use the VPN to access media through sites like Netflix and Hulu.
• Ability to download files using BitTorrent: If you have to download documents, you can do so using your VPN and connecting to BitTorrent. One downside is that your ISP may throttle BitTorrent making it move extremely slow.

How to Find the Right VPN for You

There are several different ways that you can find and setup a VPN that can help keep your personal browsing private. Most of what you choose depends on your level of confidence when it comes to setting up and using your VPN. If you want the security and protection, but you aren’t that tech savvy, no worries. We are here to help you find exactly what you need and to help you get everything setup and running quickly.

If you are new to VPNs some of the terminologies can be confusing, before we go into a deeper dive into what the do, let’s break down some of the terms you will come across in the buying process.

PPTP: Point-to-Point is a tunneling protocol that is largely considered to be obsolete. However, there are still a few VPNs from the early days that use PPTP to setup private networks. PPTP works by using a control channel over TCP and a GRE tunnel operating to encapsulate PPP (Point-to-Point protocols) packets.

L2TP: Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol

TCP: Transmission Control Protocol is one of the main protocols in TCP/IP networks. The IP protocol deals strictly with packets, TCP enables two hosts to create a connection and exchange streams of data. TCP guarantees the delivery of data and that packets will be delivered in the same order in which they were sent.

IKEv2: Internet Key Exchange (IKEv1 or IKEv2) is the protocol that sets up a security associates (SA) in the IPSec protocol suite. It is largely built on Oakley protocols and ISAKMP.

SA: An SA is a relationship between two or more entities that explains how the entities use security services to create secure communications.

IPsec: IPsec provides options for performing network encryption and authentication. Each IPSEC connection provides integrity, authenticity, encryption as independent options, or it can provide all three as one option.

Key Exchange: Symmetric key cryptology can only work for online communications when a secret key is securely shared with authorized parties that are involved in the communication and protected from being found and used by unauthorized parties.

Diffie-Hellman: Diffie-Hellman (DH) groups set the strength of the key used in the key exchange process. The higher the group number the more security, but they require more time to compute the key.

RSA Key Exchange: The Rivest-Shamir-Adleman algorithms can be found at RSA Data security and are the most used public key cryptography algorithms. Only the intended recipient can decrypt the secret key because it requires the recipient to use their private key.

OpenVPN: An OpenVPN is an open-source software application that implements VPN (virtual private network) protocols for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections.

VPN Reviews

NordVPN

Not only can a VPN help keep your browsing habits safe, they can also protect you from network level attacks. So even when you are traveling to a foreign country you can feel confident that your data is protected. Nord VPN does both, it will make sure no one knows what you are searching for, which includes you searching for your old boyfriend or girlfriend that you can’t stop thinking about, and it will make sure when you are searching for him or her it’s not on a sketchy site.

With servers that span the world, you can stream video without the worry that someone is tracking your every move. And they make it easy to use by giving you an easy to use Windows client. You want to watch Netflix or Hulu in Germany, Nord VPN will make it happen.

What does the NordVPN do?

Like most VPNs, the Nord VPN will allow your data to be funneled through an encrypted tunnel that runs between your device and the server used by Nord. By routing your web traffic through this encrypted tunnel, no one can see your data.

In addition, it will stop hackers and other nefarious internet creeps from stealing your data or using other techniques to trick you into visiting phishing sites that will steal your data, and your identity if you let them.

Nord also guards against ISP data mining, which is especially important in the wake of President Trump signing a repeal of the law that used to protect us from having our data collected and sold. Which is exactly what is about to happen.

If you are new to VPNs some of the terminologies can be confusing, before we go into a deeper dive into what the do, let’s break down some of the terms you will come across in the buying process.

Features

Linux, Windows, and MacOS are all supported by Nord VPN. In addition, they also have apps for both iPhone and Android devices. If you want to cover all of your devices you can configure some routers, that will allow the router to support Nord VPN.

Nord VPN, while still supporting older protocols like PPTP and L2TP, is more focused on adding servers that use newer advanced technologies. NordVPN also supports IKEv2 on all of their servers, so now you can manually setup your MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows to connect to this protocol. Currently, MacOS and iOS clients support IKEv2 by default, with Android to follow soon.

NordVPN is also able to implement perfect forward secrecy with 3072-bit Duffie-Hellmann keys. They also support OpenVPN and uses it by default in Windows. OpenVPN has some distinct advantages, mainly when it comes to security and that it is open-source.

NordVPN also supports up to six devices at the same time. Which is great when you are considering the cost.

Pricing

There are three pricing tiers that you can choose from with NordVPN:

• $11.95 per month
• $42.00 every six months
• $69.00 annually

You can pay using PayPal, Paysera, Webmoney, Bitcoin and of course by credit card. You do get a 30-day money back refund guarantee from NordVPN, but it is only usable if your NordVPN doesn’t work as promised. You can get a free three-day trial but activating it is a bit of pain.

With NordVPN you can choose one of the companies 733 VPN servers that are located in 58 countries. It’s a more than a decent selector, and while there are other providers with more servers, NordVPN can hold its own. They operate under the laws of Panama, where there are no requirements for data storage. This means they do not collect log data, so your browsing and online activities cannot be detected.

Which given the current state of our internet privacy in the US, makes NordVPN one of the best ways to keep your data secure.

PROS:

• NordVPN has 733 servers in 58 countries
• They also provide ultra-fast and ultra-secure servers
• You can connect up to six devices
• You can choose the location and country of the server you connect with

CONS:

• There are less expensive providers with similar services
• NordVPN doesn’t block ads

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited

One of the least expensive options is actually one of the of the better VPNs you can find. Their flexible solutions and low price are just the beginning. KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has impressive speed scores and comes wth more features than you might expect. So before you think you have to pay more to get the protection you need, you should give KeepSolid VPN Unlimited a chance.

What does KeepSolid VPN Unlimited do?

If you just want a VPN to protect you if you are traveling to a foreign country, VPN Unlimited is down with that. You can buy short periods of VPN access, so if you are going to be done for more than a week, $4.99 will give you a month of secure internet access.

They have servers in 39 countries in most of the most popular destination points. However, if you are looking for a P2 traffic and Bit Torrent downloads you can only find them in the US, Romania, Luxembourg, Canada and France.

Another nice thing about VPN Unlimited is that they have a 10-day money back guaranteed, which kind of makes up for their total lack of a trial period.

Features

When it comes to features VPN Unlimited is not lacking in that area. VPN Unlimited supports 1,273 services across a diverse landscape that includes regions that are often neglected like Africa, China, Mexico, Russian, Isle of Man and South America. And they do all this with one of the most sensible price structures around.

However, if you want to file share there are only five servers that can support file sharing, they are located in France, Luxembourg, Ontario, California and Romania. That may seem like a small amount but it is better than most of the other VPN providers, some block file sharing completely.

One of the most impressive features is the KeepSolid Wise, which will disguise VPN traffic as HTTPS traffic. Designed to be used in countries where there is no free internet access and where VPN use is blocked. VPN Unlimited uses IPsec IKEv1 for MacOS and iOS and OpenVPN protocol for Windows, Linux, and Android.

Another new recent addition to the VPN Unlimited features is something they call the Censorship Test. This will scan your internet connection to identify services and websites that could be blocked in your geographic region.

You can also use browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox that can connect you to the VPN if you don’t want to use the stand-alone client. You can just install the extension, log in and then anything you do on the browser will be secure.

The browser extensions have the same features as the client desktop, and it allows you the ability to manage some additional function. One thing you can do using the extension is turn off several WebRTC functions. Websites will use WebRTC functions to communicate with your mic or webcam and that is fine. What is not fine is that WebRTC has the potential to release your IP address without your permission.

Pricing

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has six different payment options, which allows you to choose the service that works best for you.

• Vacation: if you are just in need of a VPN while you are away, at 2.99 for seven days the vacation plan is a great way to keep your data secure.
• Economy: this plan has a very friendly price if you want monthly service at $6.99 Economy is a pretty good deal.
• Standard: at $11.99 for three months this plan is a good way to get to know VPN Unlimited without making a big investment.
• Professional: for $39.99 you can have a year of service with this plan if you want a longer plan you can also get a three-year option for $79.99

If you have fallen in love with VPN Unlimited, and you know you will be happy forever and ever, you can plop down $499.99 and live the rest of your lives together on this 100-year plan. You can even ask for an extension, so should we all become immortal, you can still enjoy the security of keeping your data safe.

If you cannot find the plan on their website, try downloading the free client you should be able to make your purchase there. It can be a bit of a pain, but you can still get the plan you want, which depending on your needs will make it worth it.

PROS:

• Provides servers access all over the world
• Inexpensive plans make it easy to get started
• Provide Chrome and Firefox browser extensions
• You can add a static IP address with VPN Unlimited

CONS:

• Doesn’t provide a free trial or a free version
• If you love Netflix, you may find yourself frustrated as it can be challenging to use

Private Internet Access VPN

Privacy, especially online, should be something that we protect. But now that we find ourselves in a time when our browsing history can be sold to the highest bidder, we have to find ways to keep our private things private. What once felt like an endless world where anything and everything was possible is now becoming something that we find ourselves needing protection from.

What does Private Internet Access do?

And the best way to protect your privacy is by using a VPN. Private Internet Access is more than just one of the best VPN services around, they also offer a wide variety of features that makes their service more than worth the $6.95 per month you will pay for it. If you are looking for a superior VPN that won’t leave you broke, Private Internet Access is a great one to choose.

While there are better-designed VPNs out there if you can learn to accept PIAs less than stellar appearance you will find yourself with an affordable VPN that gets the job done. Looks aren’t everything, and with this what you get is worth getting a little ugly.

Features

With no browser logging, or collection of meta-data they are exactly what you need in light of recent events. They also have features like their kill switch that makes sure that all of your users are always secure. You can also get a DNS leak protection feature that adds even more security.

You can use up to five devices with your subscription. You also get Private Internet Access’ VPN on the go, with apps for Android and iOS devices. So you can browse with confidence while you are away, or if you are just on the sofa with your iPhone and some Ben and Jerry’s, we don’t judge, we have been there with our Chunky Monkey we get it.

If you are looking for a provider with a lot of servers, PIA is the VPN you are looking for. With 3,263 serves over 25 countries you will be able to have protection almost anywhere you go. Which makes the Private Internet Access VPN look a lot prettier. They cover everything from Central America to India, which means you should be able to find a server to support you.

If you are concerned about ads, you needn’t be. PIA has added an ad and tracking blocker that they call MACE…I know, but if you can take a little ugly, you probably handle a little cheesy too. It will block ads and trackers which keep your searches yours and yours alone.

Another benefit of MACE (I know, it’s bad) is that it protects you from ads that are used by hackers. Ads have become the new email link. You think its just an ad, and it turns out to be a malicious attack. Having this added protection built in is a really nice feature.

One place where you won’t find PIA servers is in Russia, it removed its servers in response to new Russian laws that they felt would compromise the security of their users. While other VPNs remain in Russia, PIA felt it was in the best interest of their users to remove themselves completely.

Private Internet Access uses OpenVPN protocol with their MacOS, Linux, Windows and Android clients. You can find older protocols like PPTP and L2PT, but unless you have to use them, they are better left in the past.

The app for Apple iOS is a bit different as it uses IPsec. Apple is known for requiring additional security when it comes to using OpenVPN with their iOS client, so you will see this deviation on most of the providers that work with Apple.

Another nice feature that PIA includes is access to a private DNS server. It’s not a surprise that hackers and other malicious players work to improve their skills and abilities, so making sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your personal and business data protected is more than just important, it’s critical. Seeing more and more providers allowing access to P2P file sharing and BitTorrent is also refreshing.

Pricing

While these prices may seem low, don’t allow that to keep you from trying one of the best VPN services around. I mean who doesn’t love to get quality services that come with a low price tag. These are the current plans offered by PIA:

• Monthly Plan: $6.95
• Six Month Plan: $35.95
• Annual Plan: $39.95

My advice here is don’t buy a six-month plan unless you only need the service for six months if you want to keep it longer, the extra $4.00 for the annual plan is worth it.

PROS:

• If you want an inexpensive service that has great protection and features you can find it here
• PIA has more than 3000 servers around the world, which is pretty sweet
• P2p and BitTorrent are supported by PIA
• For the price, it is feature rich

CONS:

• The interface could be better
• If you love Netflix, you may find yourself frustrated as it can be challenging to use

TorGuard VPN

TorGuard is designed to help protect your privacy while you are torrenting. Its name is a reference to BitTorrent. So from there, it is appropriate to assume that torrenting is allowed on TorGuard, as is P2P sharing. By using an anonymous proxy service they are able to unblock geo-restricted content as well.

With a focus on safe P2P file sharing using BitTorren clients and other programs that support Shadow Socks5 proxies. If you have your BitTorrent client properly configure you can direct web traffic through anonymous connections to over 200 proxy IPs.

TorGuard is focused on services that are committed to protecting privacy and anonymity online. They have some add-on features that you can purchase a la carte, you can add an Anonymous Torrent Proxy feature, Anonymous Email, and a Privacy Bundle that include both VPN and Proxy support. The Anonymous Proxy feature only filters BitTorrent traffic, so you will still need an additional service to protect you while you are online.

You can buy routers from TorGuard if you want to skip the software, they come with TorGuard already installed. Which makes it easy for you to get everything setup and running. There are a variety of popular models you can choose from.

One of the benefits of adding a router loaded with TorGuard is that it protects everything that is connected to your Wi-Fi network. In addition to offering preloaded routers, you can also get unlocked streaming devices from TorGuard.

Pricing

TorGuard falls in line with the majority of its competitors when it comes to pricing structure by providing pricing tiers. Theirs include:

• Monthly Plan: $9.99
• Six Month Plan: $19.99
• Annual Plan: $59.99
• Two Year Plan: $119.98

Your subscription will allow you to connect up to five devices, but TorGuard makes it easy to add more devices, you can add as many as devices as you want, you will just be assessed a fee of  $1 per month for each device after you have exhausted the first five.

TorGuard also has mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices which allow you to be protected on any device almost anywhere. If you love you some BitTorrent there are a few paid features that you can add. You can purchase a static dedicated address which will run you a reasonable $7.99. Additionally,

Additionally, DDos protected IP address in Romania will only set you back $11.99 per month. And for $19.99 per month, you can buy your way into TorGuards 10Gb network. These features aren’t ones you will find with the majority of other providers, they are unique to TorGuard.

PROS:

• If you are a regular user of BitTorrent and P2P sharing this is the VPN you need
• They have a more than decent amount of servers worldwide
• Their BitTorrent add-ins are pretty sweet and not common
• They also are legit when it comes to ad blocking

CONS:

• It can be challenging to set up your account
• If you love Netflix, you may find yourself frustrated as it can be challenging to use
• The interface needs updating

IPVanish VPN

You may be skeptical of UUS-based VPNs, and given our current climate, as it relates to internet privacy laws, I don’t blame you. Even if all you do on the internet is send kitten pictures to your mom, you should still be concerned about your privacy. It’s something that everyone should be aware of, and more importantly know what they need to do to protect their browser history from being sold, or worse.

So your concern about a US based VPN service is not without merit. Pressure is a dangerous thing, and so while companies may emphatically state that your personal internet data is safe, you may still find yourself feeling uneasy choosing one. But when I tell you IPVanish, which is based in the US, is as concerned about your privacy as you are, you can believe it. Like all of us, they value privacy and security. One of the things I like about IPVanish, is that they are true to their name. They will make your real IP address disappear, which means what you do online is untraceable.

But when I tell you IPVanish, which is based in the US, is as concerned about your privacy as you are, you can believe it. Like all of us, they value privacy and security. One of the things I like about IPVanish is that they are true to their name. They will make your real IP address disappear, which means what you do online is untraceable.

They have also made some updates to their interface, they have kept the style, which is disappointing but some of the updates have made the customer experience easier. You can select the specific server in the country of your choice, but it’s much easier to let IPVanish pick the best one for you.

IPVanish has also made it easier to check the vitals of its servers, you can now see how each server is performing you can check the time connected, protocol, server, and data upload and download speeds.

Features

IPVanish plays very well with others, you can configure most of the devices you own to use IPVanish. Which means you are protected everywhere you go. When you use the free Wi-Fi at Starbucks, don’t deny it, we all do it, you are protected. When you are traveling abroad, you are safe. If someone tries to hack you, IPVanish will keep them out.

You can also connect to IPVanish to your router, they were even nice enough to give you exactly need to configure your devices. So when you are stuck because you are too stubborn to read the instructions, they won’t tell anyone.

They also have censorship filters, which allows you to experience the closest thing to a fully open and pure internet. IPVanish manages its entire network and provides over 750 company owned anonymous servers that can provide access to the majority of the globe.

Pricing

With a straightforward pricing structure, IPVanish has three options that are based on billing frequency, all of them share the same services and features:

• Monthly Plan: $11.99 per month
• Three Month Plan: $35.97 every three months
• Annual Plan: $143.88 per year

That’s really it. Nothing complicated, choose how often you want to pay, and you get every feature they have. While you may think the price is high when you take into consideration what you get from IPVanish its worth it. You don’t have to pay for addition features, which makes them a nice and easy way to protect your internet activities, whatever they may be.

PROS:

• Over 750 servers around the world
• Works well with BitTorrent
• Make your IP address undetectable
• They have simple pricing structures and all features available regardless of the plan you choose.

CONS:

• It is more expensive than some other services
• While the interface is updated it still needs some improvements

Hide My Ass

I would totally hang out with the people who created this VPN, it is a refreshing and blunt statement on what VPNs do. I had a fleeting thought about comparing VPNs to underpants, but then I realized that I need to focus on the things you need rather than the ones that make me giggle. Although while this is a serious contender with some awesome services, it makes me LOL.

Hide My Ass has a service that is great, but it is missing the opportunity to be more than great. One thing that it has nailed is the interface, it is user-friendly and thoughtfully designed. But great design does not a solid VPN make, at least when it comes to Hide My Ass. They also suffer from some bad press so they are most likely trying to hide their own ass.

While HMA (if I say ass too much I am sure my mother will somehow sense it and send me a sad face to express her disappointment) is one of the largest VPN providers they struggle in the most important metric. Privacy. And being based in the UK doesn’t help them get out of this quandary.

The UK is not known for protecting the privacy of its people when they are online. They allow the government to hack individuals and store the web history of pretty much everyone that lives and visits there. Which might make you think that a VPN is the solution to the UKs privacy problems, and it can be. But you need the right VPN provider and even though they are based in the

Which might make you think that a VPN is the solution to the UKs privacy problems, and it can be. But you need the right VPN provider and even though they are based in the UK, HMA doesn’t seem to be that provider.

I lived in Ireland for several years, and while the quality of the Internet was, for lack of a better word craptastic, you didn’t feel that your privacy was in peril. But the surveillance bill has opened up most of the UK to intrusion at will. It is important to note that the Republic of Ireland is a sovereign nation and not a part of the UK, only Northern Ireland remains under British rule.

Features

HMA offers four protocols OpenVPN, OpenVPN, PPTP and L2PT, the latter two are older protocols that are not used all that often. But what is concerning is the 128-bit Blowfish encryption they choose to use, with AES-256 being the standard, I am unsure why Blowfish encryption was their first choice in encryption.

While HMA says strongly that they do not maintain usage logs, what has happened in the past contradicts their statement. They do confirm that they keep connection logs for diagnostic reasons. But not everything about Hide My Ass is bad news, sure they have had their fair share of issues, but they do have some redeeming qualities.

The first thing we liked about HMA is the number of servers they have and the location that they are placed in. Hide My Ass provides 859 services in 190 countries, this is a plus for them as they reach areas that other providers have been reluctant to go into, which gives them an edge in places like Africa, South America, and Central America. This gives HMA an edge when it comes to coverage, while there are few VPNs with more servers, Hide My Ass covers more of the globe than they do.

When it comes to connecting devices, Hide My Ass only lets you add two devices. Which is a bit of a bummer, I mean I have four devices on my desk right now. Hopefully, they will recognize that most people have more than two devices in their house and up the number, you can add.

Pricing

HMA doesn’t give you a sneak peek, you have to make a commitment on the first date. But they do guarantee your happiness for 30 days and if you stay loyal to them they will reward you. So you can be friends with benefits.

If you aren’t sure about Hide My Ass after the first date you can choose the monthly plan at $11.52, which will allow you to see how you feel about them without a long term commitment. If you are looking for a longer relationship you can make a six-month commitment for $49.99, but if you are hearing wedding bells you can show them how much you love them with a one-year commitment for $78.66.

PROS:

• They have an awesome interface that is user-friendly
• Works with BitTorrent
• Has hundreds of servers that cover the majority of the globe.

CONS:

• You can only add two devices
• HMA doesn’t have ad blocking and it has no advanced features and no free version
• It has a higher price tag than some of their other competitors.
• Logs some user data

Pure VPN

It is easy to compare all of the features and pricing that is pretty simple really, but before you can know what you want in a VPN you need to know what you need. If you are more concerned about the number of servers than you are the encryption method, then you know what you need. And you can properly direct your search.

If you want to try PureVPN, you will be disappointed to hear they lack both a free version and a free trial. But should you try it and be bitterly disappointed, there is a 7-day money back guarantee. But before you continue your search for the perfect free trial, there are some features that Pure VPN offers that may make the lack of a free trial seem trivial.

Features

PureVPN gives you five licenses to connect with your devices. Devices you can connect to include Linux, Windows, MacOS along with Android and iOS. You can also use PureVPN’s software for routers and some streaming devices.

There are advantages when you use their software to connect to a router. Using PureVPNs software with your router means that every device connects to the router receives the benefit of the VPN. So if you don’t have a router today you should consider getting one if you have a lot of smart devices that you need to connect it will make them easy to use and even easier to protect.

With PureVPN you can use P2P file sharing and BitTorrent on more than 200 of PureVPN’s servers. They also allow you to select what traffic is passed through the VPN with a clever split tunneling feature.This allows you to better manage your data usage by only sending data you want to be protected.

Pricing

PureVPN offers three different pricing options:

• Monthly Plan: $10.95
• Six Month Plan: $53.70
• Two-Year Plan: $70.80

The nice thing is that all of the features are available on all tiers. They also let you pay with a ride range o options, from a variety of payment services like Cashu and PayPal to Bitcoin and even a Starbucks card. So if you don’t have cash in hand, there are other ways that you can pay.

PROS:

• You can access BitTorrent and P2p file sharing on over 200 of PureVPN’s servers
• Split tunneling features allows you to choose what traffic flows through the VPN
• You can add dedicated IP and Firewall features

CONS:

• Don’t have a free trial period
• Like most VPNs, Netflix is a non-starter
• Doesn’t block ads, and has no feature you can add to block them.

AnchorFree Hotspot Shield

If you are looking for a free VPN service…tada! Hotspot Shield has one, while they only allow access to servers in the US, if you can accept that you can get a pretty solid VPN for the price of on the house. They also have an Elite plan that adds some additional features.

The free version in addition to restricting you to US based servers, also have limits on bandwidth based what device you are using, if you have a PC or Mac you can use 1GB per day, and if you have an Android device you are limited to 300MB, but should you be an iPhone owner you are freed from any restriction on your bandwidth.

Features

If you are an Elite subscriber you can choose 20 servers to connect to out of the over 2000 servers that Hotspot has around the world. With servers in Europe, Central America, North America, South America and Asia there are a lot of places to choose from. You can also access servers from China, Russia, and Turkey, but your data is not as protected as the other countries. You could find your data stored or compromised as they have highly restrictive policies when it comes to internet access and use.

Hotspot Shield does more than just secure your internet traffic, they also warn you when they land on a phishing website or sites that are known to host malware. They are one of the only VPN providers that provide this kind of added protection. While it isn’t clear how they protect you from malware, you may still want to look into a more traditional malware program to keep yourself safe.

One thing that is unique to AnchorFree and Hotspot Shield is their protocol, while the majority of providers stick to standards like IKWv2 or OpenVPN, AnchorFree has decided to create their own protocol they call Catapult Hydra, it is the only protocol they use. So if you love OpenVPN and who doesn’t, you will not be able to use it with Hotpot Shield.

It is their own not uncommon for VP providers to build their own protocols, what is unusual is that ANchorFree uses theirs exclusvily, most of the other VPN services will still allow you to choose another option like IKEv2 or OpenVPN.

It is concerning that they have created and use only their protocol, but if you want to put all of you chickens in one basket, you can do it here. Just make sure that the hen house is well protected.

Pricing

You have several options when it comes to pricing, these are the current pricing tiers for Hotspot Shield Elite:

• Monthly Plan: $12.99
• Six-Month Plan: $29.99
• Annual Plan: $40.00
• Forever: $99.99

You can seal your fate with Hotspot Shield and  make them your VPN for the rest of eternity. Or you can just have a month fling, it’s really up to you to decide the level of commitment you need. If it were me, I would give it six months to show me what it can do.

PROS:

• We saw improved speeds when we connected to Hotspot
• Decent amount of pricing options, including a forever option
• P2p and BitTorrent are welcome

CONS:

• Their free version restricts access
• The price is higher than other competitors
• Lacks a number of servers compared to other services

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is in line with its competitors as they do not store your data logs, which means only you know what you are searching for. The protection of a VPN allows you the freedom of not having to worry if someone, and by someone I mean you ISP, is selling your browser history.

One of the most comforting things about Express VPN is where they are located, they reside in the British Virgin Islands, where there are no data retention laws. If someone wants your user data, they will have to go to court to get it.

ExpressVPN has also designed a network that adds additional protection. Their network cannot match a user to an IP address, which means that you and your data can feel safe with them.  While there are other providers that have more servers than Express VPN, they aren’t that far behind.

With over 1000 servers in 145 locations in 94 countries, they certainly aren’t slouching. They also keep servers in China, Russia and Turkey, which are all countries that have more control over the internet than you may be comfortable with.

The remainder of their servers are in less repressive areas, they currently cover South America, Central America, North America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Which gives you a great range when it comes to server placement.

These are the current protocols that are supported by ExpressVPN; OpenVPN (both TCP and UDP), PPTP, L2TP, SSTP and IPsec. OpenVPN is the most current protocol, which means you can expect faster speeds and more reliability than some of the older protocols like PPTP and L2TP.

While even the legacy protocols have their place, some protocols are specific to a platform. IPSec is used to secure iOS, while SSTP is only for Windows and L2TP and PPTP are used for MAC and Windows. Its good to know what works with what when you are choosing a VPN service.

Another plus for ExpressVPN is that they do not allow ads and they don’t try to earn a quick buck from your data.

Pricing

ExpressVPN has three pricing options that are based on your level of commitment:

• Monthly Plan: $12.95
• Six-Month Plan: $99.84
• Annual Plan: $99.84

While they have no trial period, ExpressVPN has a 30-day guarantee with no caveats, if you are unhappy they will refund the full amount you paid.

PROS:

• P2p and BitTorrent are welcome
• Wide variety of servers that are well placed
• User-friendly simple interface

CONS:

• Their free version restricts access
• The price is higher than other competitors
• Lacks a number of servers compared to other services

The post Best Tools You Can Use to Keep Your Browsing History Truly Private appeared first on Home Security List.

source https://www.homesecuritylist.com/best-tools-can-use-keep-browsing-history-truly-private/