A popular addition to many smart homes, security cameras that connect to an app on your phone are an important part of many homeowner’s day-to-day security. These devices are relatively simple to install, quick to get online, and then easy to access whenever you need them.

The problems begin to arise when you get into using them without considering some basics first. To help you out, we’ve put together a few tips for you to consider before taking the plunge and decide if smart cameras are right for your family.

Be Aware of Local Laws

Depending on the area in which you live, you might have to fill out some additional forms, or even pay certain fees before you can install security cameras on your home.

The good news is that in most US States, recording in public areas (i.e. the street) is perfectly acceptable. It’s also worth noting that if your camera is recording sound alongside video then it could complicate things for you.

Be sure to double check your local regulations and you should be good. A quick internet search is likely all that you’ll need to perform anyway.

Discuss Plans With Your Family

If you’re going to be adding cameras to your home, be sure to talk with the other people living there. Chances are, everyone would like to know where and when these devices will be recording.

Another thing to consider is guests and others visiting your home. If you’re going to be recording mostly innocuous footage then no big deal. However, if you’re going to have them in less-conspicuous locations it may be courteous to explain to regular friends and visiting family what to expect.

Choose Smart Locations

For external cameras

Perhaps one of the most important aspect of smart cameras is their placement. If you’re using them primarily for home security and surveillance, then positioning them with a good view of all the major entrances to your property is a good idea.

Another angle of security is visibility. Sometimes you’ll want the cameras to be out in the open to deter any would-be wrongdoers. At the same time, there are cases where keeping the devices more discreet will be what you’re after.

A final use for external cameras are doorbell or front door cameras. These are most useful for package drop off and delivery, and can also stop “porch pirates” from making off with your latest Amazon order.

For internal cameras

Cameras inside your home require much more careful consideration where they are placed. Avoiding private areas should go without saying, but there are still some useful areas for the devices.

A popular use for internal cameras are in you children’s rooms such as toddlers or babies. This allows the parents to keep an eye (or ear) on their kids via an app on their phone. This can be wonderful when you want to check in on how they’re doing.

Another common area is the kitchen or living room, areas that typically command a wide view of the home. This can give you increased peace of mind while you’re away, or allow you to keep an eye on housekeepers or pets while on vacation.

Maintenance

Maintaining your cameras, could include things such as: lens cleaning, trimming tree limbs, sweeping up cobwebs, etc. Removing physical obstructions will be crucial for your camera’s functionality and lifespan. If it’s going to be exposed to the weather, make sure it’s a kind designed for heavy outdoor usage.

Storing and deleting footage

You should also keep in mind that the footage your camera collects will need to be stored somewhere. Some models will opt for on-board storage. This physical memory will either need to be downloaded or actually taken out of the camera if it’s a memory card.

If your camera connects to the cloud, then you will only need to worry about the space you’re paying for there.

In both cases, it’s often not worth your time or money to keep really old footage. Unless it’s got some evidence of a crime, or something valuable to you, you’re better off cleaning out old data regularly to ensure your camera has plenty of room to continue recording.

Know the Safety and Privacy Risks

By far the biggest concern with cameras is their proximity to sensitive data. In this case, the data is you and your family, as well as anyone else entering your home.

Regardless of whether the smart camera can record either video, audio, or both, the moment a hacker gets into your system, they could suddenly have all of this data at their fingertips. 

This is where internal cameras are especially risky as they post the greatest access to this type of data. If you’ve got smart cameras inside your home, make sure they are locked down!

Ensure you have strong network security

Wherever you have the data stored, make sure it’s safe. On top of that, if your camera is connected to your home network, make sure you’ve got a strong password, firewall, and have shorn up any access points. This will make it more difficult for a hacker to get inside.

It’s also probably worth your time to have an expert check out your system and review your network security. iDefend Advisors are trained to assist with network security threats and are an excellent resource for you in this area.