Video surveillance cameras are among the most popular home automation and security devices. Wireless technology has made them easy to install and access. But as with anything else involving home automation and security, maximizing the benefits of a camera relies on using it the right way.
Believe it or not, there are best practices for installing video surveillance cameras at home. This post will discuss just a few of them. If you want more information, I recommend visiting the Vivint Home Security website. They have tons of articles discussing everything you could want to know about video cameras.
1. Consider Expectations of Privacy
Whether installing video cameras indoors or out, always be cognizant of what is known in legal circles as the ‘reasonable expectation of privacy‘. This is a legal doctrine that expresses an individual’s right to enjoy privacy without fear of uninvited intrusion. Any area in which a reasonable expectation of privacy exists is off limits for video cameras.
You have guests in your home on occasion, right? Those guests have a reasonable expectation of privacy when using the bathroom. Therefore, putting a security camera in your bathroom is a no-no. You could be charged with a crime for surveilling guests in your bathroom even though they are in your home.
2. Use Cameras for Their Intended Purposes
Next up is using cameras for their intended purposes. The best way to explain this is to say do not attempt to use interior cameras outdoors. They probably will not hold up to the weather. Interior cameras are designed for interior spaces. Likewise, an exterior camera would be overkill from monitoring the inside of your home.
In addition, don’t install an interior camera up against a window in order to surveil the outside of the house. You will not get a very good view thanks to sun glare and bad angles. If you want to surveil the outside, invest in a good exterior camera.
3. Change Usernames and Passwords
If you buy cameras that come with factory usernames and passwords, change them. Anyone can go online to discover factory defaults. Changing all usernames and passwords to make them completely unique slows down criminals.
The same goes for your wireless router. Not only should you change your router’s username and password, but you should also change the network ID. If your router has a feature to turn off broadcasting the network ID, enable it. You will wind up with a hidden network that is harder for criminals to find.
4. Start With the Most Vulnerable Locations
Assuming that you will be starting with just a few video cameras, choose their locations based on your home’s greatest vulnerabilities. Experts say that the best place to install a camera is in a position that gives you a complete and clear view of the front door. First floor doors and windows are the most likely access points for burglars, so they are first in line for video camera coverage.
5. Check Your Feeds Frequently
Whether your cameras offer live feeds or just storage you can check later, make sure you do exactly that. One of the quickest ways to know if your cameras are working as they should is to check the feeds. If you don’t check, you could wind up with a camera that doesn’t work for weeks or months.
Wireless video cameras represent one of the best things to happen to electronic home security in a long time. Follow these best practices and you will get the most out of your cameras. If you can think of anymore, implement them.
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