Physical Access
In this section, we'll be covering how to provide some security to your devices in a physical sense. For the privacy minded people, you can skip this section if you'd like, since this section has a negative privacy impact. If you don't already have a security system, you'll need to decide if the privacy tradeoff is worth the increase in security. As long as you follow good security and privacy practices in other digital areas, the issues with security systems are minimal and they'll be covered later in this section.
One of the most important aspects of device security is to not give someone access to your devices. Not everyone knows what they're doing, and some people have bad intentions. If you let someone else use your phone or computer, they could do anything from install malware on it due to negligence, to stealing personal information, to installing a keylogger. One common example is people that deal with psychotic exes who install tracking software. There's also plenty of Reddit threads of people posting about how their computer got a virus or had their password changed after letting someone else use it.
Second, make sure all of your data is encrypted. Encryption is not going to keep you totally safe, but it plays a huge role in keeping your data private. In the case of phones, many of them such as the iPhone use encryption by default as long as it has a passcode; they also rely on the user to have a strong passcode. Desktops are more complicated, so refer to other sections of the site to see in depth how to secure your devices. If your device is encrypted and you use a strong passcode, an attacker won’t be able to see the info on it. Refer to the encryption section linked earlier for details.
Note: If you don't encrypt your data and someone ever gets physical access to your systems/drives, they could see and copy all data.
Alarm System¶
The third consideration is to have your residence monitored by a security system. These systems include many different options, like door and window sensors, motions sensors, temperature sensors, cameras, and so on. There's many providers to choose from and a lot of them are DIY systems that you can install yourself and don't have to get locked into a contract.
Before going any further, many people reading this site probably factor privacy in at some level. If you're going to use a security system, it will absolutely lower your privacy level. It's the nature of how alarm systems work. To have one that works properly, it requires being able to monitor inside and outside your home. I know some people have strong feelings about these systems, but they can be lifesavers. Ring cameras (the concept of the camera system, not just the brand) could save you from someone trying to attack you and allow police time to get there. If you have other sensors, such as for water, and a leak happens when you're not home, it could save you a lot of time and trouble in fixing the issue. When setup properly, an alarm makes for a great early warning system.
Monitoring & Alarm Permit
Self monitored alarm systems are an option where only you have the ability to see and respond to what's going on. While it's your decision what you want to do, I don't recommend using a self monitored system. If you were to miss a notification on your phone of something happening, it doesn't do you much good to even have a system in the first place. Monitoring options are cheap and effective. It's better for a monitoring center to be able to send emergency responders to your house automatically, rather than you having to constantly manage the system and pay attention for an alarm activation.
If you decide you want to install a system, you'll need to check with the government office in your area. Many governments will require you to have an alarm permit. This is so they know the name of the person(s) responsible for managing the alarm and have a way to contact them.
Don't overlook this step! If you decide to install an alarm and emergency responders show up to an activation and you didn't have a permit, you could face fines and legal action.
When you pick out a system, it's best to figure out what parts of your home you want to monitor and how you want to do it. There's numerous sensor types available. You could either choose to use all of them or just ones you think will give you the best coverage with the least amount of hassle.
When people think of alarm systems, they usually think of things like motion sensors and door/window sensors, but they might not consider smoke detectors or water/temperature sensors. If you're going to monitor doors and windows, why not also include smoke and water as well? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you install a few water sensors near areas such as plumbing rooms and sink cabinets, it could save you tens of thousands of dollars and months of headache by being able to catch a problem when something breaks instead of hours later when half the house is soaked with water.
You'll also need to figure out where you want your keypad(s). I recommend you check reviews and customer feedback from different providers. Make sure you pick a system that will still send an alarm if the keypad gets smashed, as this is something a burglar may decide to do if they break into a house. Don't expect an alarm to cause a burglar to immediately run away from your residence. Some percentage of burglars will ignore the alarm and still look for items to steal.
You'll also get something called a base station, which is basically a hub for the entire system. Make sure this gets put somewhere safe and don't tell other people about it! Some base stations will send an alarm if they are damaged but some won't. If you use a system that doesn't have smash protection, the base station needs to be well hidden (it should be hidden anyway) and the alarm should activate in a short enough time that an attacker won't be able to figure out where it's at before an alarm is sent.
If you're going to have multiple people that can turn the alarm on and off, they should each get their own PIN. This is useful for a few different reasons. First, only you should have access to make changes to the alarm system as this is usually done with a master PIN. Second, every time someone comes and goes, there'll be a notification of who it was. If something happened to the house while you were away, this can give a better indication of who was around. Third, you can easily remove someone if they violate trust, e.g. someone with a PIN who shares it with someone else.
Another essential for alarm systems is to have a camera system. Most of them have cloud backups in case you need to access the footage at a later date. The retention time varies, but about a month is standard. This is one of the most important parts of the system. Having sensors by themselves is fine, but cameras can allow you to actually see if there's a problem - e.g. burglar in your house or a burst pipe flooding the basement. Every once in a while, you may have a sensor malfunction and tell you there's a problem when there isn't, and cameras can save you from paying a bill by not having emergency responders to check on it.
System Checks
You should schedule a monthly or bi-monthly check on your alarm system for firmware updates and run tests on the sensors to make sure everything is working like it's supposed to. You'll need to replace batteries once in a while and occasionally, you might notice a sensor is starting to fail. You'll need to refer to the documentation for the alarm system provider you choose to see how to put the system in test mode. If anything isn't working like it should, you need to get the issue fixed ASAP. Procrastination on this will cause you problems later on.
As far as monitoring goes, I strongly recommend you have 24/7 monitoring enabled. It's important that you have the alarm app for your system installed on your phone so anytime you're away from the residence, you can see the system status and if there is a sensor activation. Make sure the alarm monitoring service phone number is saved on your phone.
Your Responsibilities
If you decide to use an alarm system, it is your full responsibility to make sure it stays in good working order and that you respond promptly to any alarms. If an alarm is activated and you don't answer when the monitoring company calls, they'll send emergency responders to check (they may send responders regardless). If there is a sensor that malfunctioned or there was an accidental activation, you need to let the alarm company know as soon as possible. You may also be contacted by emergency responders.
Many localities will levy civil penalties against the people responsible for the alarm system if it was a false alarm, which includes issues like a malfunctioning sensor. You are also responsible for making sure it doesn't get misused. If you or someone else decide to "test it out" to see what happens, you could be jailed and fined for misuse of emergency services.
The other reason I recommend you have a monitoring plan is because many of the providers include a cell data backup option. If your internet were to ever go out for any period of time, you would still have alarm coverage if you have cell data backup. Self monitored systems usually won't have this as an option.
Sensors¶
Here's a basic overview of the general types of sensors you can add for your system:
Cameras: The most important component. You'll need to see what's going on outside and inside your place if there's an issue. You don't want to pay a bill to responders to have them check on false alarms. 1080p cameras work well, though some providers are moving to 4K. What's important to look for is being able to customize the microphone recording settings, night vision (infrared), a wide field of view, and weather resistance for outdoor cams.
Night vision infrared will make your cameras visible, so plan accordingly. If you have enough light (e.g. patio lights), it can cause IR to be buggy and toggle on and off repeatedly. The footage might also be unusable if IR is on and there's too much light from ambient sources. In those cases, doing a manual override to turn off IR might be a better option.
Some cameras can have "zones" drawn around them by you when you configure the cameras. This will make it so they only record footage when motion is detected in certain areas. My recommendation is to record all the time so you don't miss something that might be important. You might also have the option to use "AI detection" which will automatically figure out if it's a car, person, or something else moving and can cut down on the amount of times you get a notification of movement. Note - I recommend ethernet cameras if you have the option, due to security and reliability. If you don't have the option, then wifi cameras will still work fine.
Door/Window Sensors: These come in two pieces and usually need to be placed within about 1/3 of an inch of one another to work properly. Most times, both pieces will have adhesive strips you can use to stick on. They tend to hold well, but make sure they are where you want them the first time and to not peel them off and stick them back on repeatedly, otherwise this could cause them to randomly fall off.
Before trying to stick them on, make sure they'll work for the window/door and won't be too far apart. If you have the security system app on your phone, you can see when the sensor is open and closed. Sometimes a door gap or trim can prevent placement in certain areas.
Motion Sensors: These use passive infrared (PIR) and have the ability to detect if the heat signature is large enough to be a human or if it's just a dog/cat. Proper placement is critical. If done well, you can cover a large area with just one. When you place these, made sure they aren't pointed at heaters, vents, windows, or other heat sources. PIR will detect a large heat signature and the sensor will either cause a false alarm or it may ignore the heat and allow an intruder to pass the sensor undetected.
Glass Break Sensors: These can be combined with window sensors or they could be used to replace one another depending on the scenario. If you drop some glass in your place that's large and loud enough, it might cause an alarm. Otherwise, these are straight forward.
Panic Buttons: These are one of the most important parts of an alarm system and can come as buttons you stick to the wall or a key fob. Bedrooms and common areas are good places to have them. When you do alarm system tests, verify 100% that you're in test mode and that the signals don't get sent to the alarm company. Never put these where they can be accidentally pushed and never allow someone to goof around with them. When you press this button, it's like a business activating a hold up alarm. Every cop in the area will rush to your place with rifles out and an accidental alarm will cause unnecessary trouble. This is for when you urgently need police and can't call right away or can't safely talk (reminder that text to 911 is available in some places).
Siren: These may or may not be useful depending on your scenario. A burglar is likely to steal at least a couple items whether or not you have a siren activate.
Smoke/CO2 Detectors: These are standard in many places now but you can get ones connected to your alarm system instead. Smoke and CO2 detectors should be in every room.
Water Sensors: This can be a money saver and keep you from having major headaches. Flooded apartments and houses are a massive annoyance to deal with. Even if you're not home, having one of these installed can give you enough time to get there and stop the issue or have someone else turn off the water.
Security System Configuration¶
There are several nuances to using security systems in a reasonably secure manner.
First, many of them will use wi-fi for the base station and for sensors/cameras around your house. Using proper networking practices is important. I recommend always making a separate wi-fi network for your security system. For example, if you had your tablets and phones on "Home WIFI," then you could create a second network, "Home WIFI 2" for your security system. I recommend a better name and you should never use network names that reveal anything sensitive, such as "Smith Family" or "Smith Security System Network." Be sure to follow best practices for network security, such as a strong password for your wi-fi network, change the default router password, etc. If your base station uses ethernet, you're in luck, as this is an easier process, though router hardening still applies. Your alarm system account should be protected with a strong password and 2FA as well. An alarm system compromise will be a massive privacy issue, so make sure you have strong security measures to mitigate the risk.
Second, it's important to understand the weakness of wi-fi systems. Stories like this one are becoming more common. As more people use security systems, some burglars are doing extra prep before they make their move. While I don't see an issue with most people using wi-fi cameras and systems, it would be good to consider if ethernet connections are more appropriate for your threat model. An ethernet camera is always going to have better quality and reliability than a wi-fi camera, though they take more effort to install and they tend to be more expensive.
The actual installation of sensors will go better if you take time to plan first. Figure out where you want to place each one and make sure the sensor gives the proper coverage you need. Once you have this figured out, then you can start placing the sensors. Depending on how many you're using, it may take a couple hours from the time you start until the system is fully functional. Take your time and check each sensor for proper installation and function before you move on to the next one.
I don't have any specific recommendations for a security system provider. I'm not affiliated or sponsored by any of them. As I will continue to say, you need to use due diligence and make that determination for yourself. If you are considering a system, I recommend you read unbiased reviews as well as customer feedback. Reddit tends to be a good place to go to see if users have any issues with their systems.