Owing to rampant crimes and thefts, the demand for residential security cameras is on the rise. Providing us with live or recorded footage, security cameras help us keep an eye on our property and its premises without having to stay up at night or employ manpower. With advancements in home security systems, security cameras are now available in many sizes, shapes, and configurations can be placed almost anywhere. They even come with features such as face recognition, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Given the money spent on these monitoring devices and its vulnerability to various threats, have you ever thought of the security of your security camera? If not, you have been disregarding the device that monitors your premises day and night. A security camera is susceptible to a number of threats, namely, harsh weather conditions and thefts.
Here are 5 tips to protect your security camera.
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Pick Wireless Cameras
The number of instances where burglars clipped the wires of security cameras are many and have been recorded since the introduction of these cameras into the market. The latest innovation in security cameras is a blow to these kinds of vandalism and an added protection to your home security system. The new wireless configuration in security cameras allows it to be placed anywhere. The advantages of preferring wireless cameras over wired are many:
- The installation process is easy.
- They are much more affordable than wired cameras.
- They are smaller than wired cameras and can fit anywhere.
Use Password Protection
Though wireless home security cameras are affordable and easy to install, hackers prey on these devices since they are infamously easy to breach. Lack of awareness about this disadvantage can lead to irrecoverable loss of privacy. If the burglar is tech-savvy, the chance of him exploiting your very own security camera for his advantage is not very slim. All he has to do is hack into your security system and voila! He gets real-time footages of your home that could be used in a number of ways for theft. Giving your device a shield of a strong password can easily help you protect your security camera. Be sure to change the default password; instead, set a strong, firm, unique password that cannot be easily guessed. Also, make sure you do not use this password for any other accounts. Some cameras allow two-step authentication which gives you double protection from hackers. In this feature, you need a one-time pass code apart from username and password to log in to your account.
Place the Camera Wisely
Where you place your security camera has a significant role in the safety of your device as well as your security. You are only paving way for intruders to easily tamper with it when you place it at a convenient or accessible height. The ideal height is 9 meters above the ground, which makes it inaccessible without aids like ladders. But a wise intruder would not risk it to the extent of using a ladder to disable the camera. The best place to fix your security camera is the front door, above the door frame, and slightly slanting towards the ground.
Add Tamper Detection
A security camera can be easily tampered with by an intruder in multiple ways, namely, spray painting on the lens, hitting the camera with a heavy object, turning off the camera, and obscuring the focus of the lens. To protect your security camera, add tamper detection, which will help you receive alerts whenever somebody tries to disable it. Any slight hindrance in its ability to record or any obstruction in its field of view will trigger an alert. This feature is extremely helpful in areas vulnerable to thefts and a great boon to homeowners to be in contact with their security system round the clock even when they are away. Once you receive the alert, you can log in to your video management system to see what has gone wrong.
Use Security Camera Covers
Since cameras are mostly placed out in the open, they are exposed to all sorts of weather conditions. Be it rain, heat, or snow, there are a number of factors that could compromise the functioning of these cameras. All you have to do is get quality security camera covers that will ensure the protection of your camera from harsh weather conditions. The most common covers being used to protect security cameras are metal cases that also help keep the device clean. This shields the camera and its lens and prevents theft of the same. Hiding your security camera from plain slight works like a charm for which you can use camouflage outdoor camera covers that are available in plenty. These covers will help your camera blend into the background or environment. Today, there are cameras that can even be mounted on a plant.
Security cameras have become a part and parcel of home security and are ubiquitously used for protecting properties, keeping track of children, preventing intrusions, and so on. It is impossible to safeguard your security if you ignore the potential threats that could hamper the normal function of your surveillance system. Use these tips to protect your security camera as well as your peace of mind.
If you are in Massachusetts and in need of expert consultation on where to place your security cameras, reach out to Protective Security Services, who has been helping people secure their homes by providing security solutions, installation services, and free consultations to customers.