Home Security

Every smart camera, lock and speaker you add is also a computer on your network. Most successful attacks on smart homes do not use clever tricks; they use default passwords, old firmware and a router nobody has touched since installation. This guide lists the steps that matter most, in the order to do them. It is part of our smart home security guide . Why the router comes first Tom's Guide calls your router the gateway to all of your smart home devices and says lax router passwords are the main reason for Wi-Fi network break-ins. A guide summarised by SecurityBrief in February 2026 cited research from Broadband Genie showing that more than 86 percent of respondents had never changed their router administrator password. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) says default router credentials may be readily available on the internet and calls changing them crucial. Eight steps, in order Change the router admin password and name. CISA also advises changi...

Voice assistants can lock your door, arm your alarm and even listen for breaking glass while you are out. They can also, if set up badly, let a stranger shout through a window and open your garage. This guide explains what Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home actually do for security, which settings matter and how the Matter standard changes the compatibility picture. It is part of our smart home security guide . What Alexa Guard does Alexa Guard is a feature of Amazon Echo speakers and displays. When you set it to Away, GearBrain says it listens through the microphones for the sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and of breaking glass, and notifies your phone. The detectors do not need to be smart; Alexa simply listens for the alarm sound. SafeWise lists ADT and Ring Alarm among the security systems it works with, which can arm automatically when Guard hears something, and describes Alexa Guard Plus as a paid tier at about $4.99 a month with extra features. Treat it as an early-w...

Updated October 29, 2026. This guide replaces an earlier version that recommended Nest Secure and ADT Pulse. Neither is in the lineup below: Google has ended support for Nest Secure, and ADT replaced Pulse with newer platforms. The best smart home security system depends on three choices: whether you want to install it yourself, whether you want a company to monitor it around the clock, and how much smart-home integration you need. This roundup compares four systems that keep coming up in recent expert testing: SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, Vivint and ADT. For the bigger picture of how these devices fit together, see our guide to smart home security: devices, apps and automation . How this list was built We did not run lab tests. This is a summary of published testing and pricing from Security.org, NerdWallet and Consumer Reports, cross-checked against company plans where we could. Prices change often, and SimpliSafe has raised its Standard and Core monitoring plans, so confirm the numbe...

New to home security? Start with The Ultimate Guide to Home Security , which maps all our guides. Smart home security connects your locks, sensors, cameras, lights and alarm so they act together: the door locks when you leave, the lights come on when a sensor trips, and your phone tells you what happened. This guide explains the pieces, how they talk to each other, what can go wrong and how to build it without locking yourself into one brand. The building blocks Layer What it does Read more Hub or control panel The brain that links devices and runs routines Alarm systems Sensors Detect doors, windows, motion, smoke and water Sensors explained Smart locks Keypad, fingerprint or app entry and access logs Keyless entry Cameras and doorbells See and record what happens Cameras guide Intercoms Talk to and see visitors Video intercoms Voice assistants Hands-free control and sound detection Alexa, Google Home and HomeKit How devices talk to each other Smart home devices use diff...

A video intercom lets you see and speak to a visitor before you open the door, and in newer systems to do it from your phone. It sits between a basic doorbell and a full access-control system. This guide explains the types, the difference between analog and IP systems, what features to look for and how an intercom fits with your locks and cameras. It is part of our smart home security guide . Analog or IP? Analog intercoms use dedicated wiring between the entry panel, the indoor monitor and the door release, according to ButterflyMX. IP intercoms work over a network, so the picture and audio travel as data. The maker 2N says IP video door entry is more flexible, and its comparison table shows IP video units usually allow remote answering by app and recording, while basic analog door buzzers do not show video at all. Both are vendors, so treat the claims as their perspective. Feature Analog video IP video Wiring Dedicated cable from door station to monitor Network cable, often PoE...

Keyless entry replaces the key with a code, a fingerprint, a card or your phone. Done well it is more convenient and gives you a log of who came and went. Done badly it adds a weak lock and a dead-battery problem to your front door. This guide covers the types, what to check before buying and how to keep the lock secure. It is part of our smart home security guide . Types of keyless lock Type How you open it Watch out for Keypad deadbolt A code on a keypad Codes can be watched or shared; no remote unlock on basic models Fingerprint (biometric) A stored fingerprint, often with a keypad backup Cold or wet fingers; keep a code or key backup App or Bluetooth Your phone, nearby or over Wi-Fi Needs your phone; Bluetooth range limits and security settings matter Wi-Fi smart lock App from anywhere, plus codes Depends on your network and the maker's account security Vivint's guide puts basic battery keypad deadbolts at about $50 to $100, mid-range Wi-Fi smart locks with touchs...