5 smart gadgets you can use to protect your house, important documents

Synopsis As many of these gadgets will be linked to apps on your smartphone, ensure that your mobile phone is protected adequately too. In case you lose it, you should be able to erase all data from it. Getty Images Here is a look at the technology and smart gadgets that can secure your house and important documents from theft and other mishaps.

SMART LOCKS One of the easiest ways to bar unathourised entry is to install electromechanical or biometric locks, which can only be operated by those who know the code or whose fi ngerprints have been stored in the lock’s memory. They are also helpful if you’re somebody who forgets to lock the door as they automatically latch when the door closes. High-end locks have multiple access modes like mechanical key, NFC, passcode and fi ngerprint.

Most smart locks can also monitor access and send alerts to your connected mobile phone. PRICE Rs. 6,700-33,000 VIDEO DOORBELL These should be an essential feature if you have children or elderly people at home.

These smart doorbells have a camera that allows you to see who’s on the other side of the door. A few also let you livestream what they capture and share the information on your mobile devices , so it’s also helpful if you need to monitor packages being delivered to your house. While some of these gadgets get triggered when someone rings the doorbell, more expensive ones use motion detectors to turn on.

You can also talk and listen to visitors through the built-in speaker and microphone, or use the device’s app to respond with pre-recorded messages. PRICE Rs. 5,590-17,900 HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS An entire security system will have multiple inter-connected devices controlled by a single gadget or hub.

The hub, in turn, can be controlled via an app on your phone that lets you arm or disarm the system from anywhere. Opt for one that has an ample standby period so that it works even in case of long power cuts. The most important components of such a system are indoor and outdoor cameras, gas and smoke detectors, glassbreak sensors, sirens and panic buttons.

Ensure that your security cameras can provide live footage that can be viewed on your phone or tablet as well as recordings to peruse later. The cameras should be able to detect motion, pan 360 degrees, have a night mode, and have weatherproof casing for outdoor ones. PRICE OF SYSTEM WITH CAMERA AND DOOR SENSOR Rs.

3,500-15,000 PRICE OF GAS, SMOKE AND GLASS-BREAK DETECTOR Rs. 300-4,000 each MOTION-SENSOR LIGHTS These lights will illuminate your house when any movement is detected and can be installed outdoor and indoors. Preferably, get a strobe light for outside as that attracts more attention.

You can also use smart bulbs to create an illusion that someone is at home when they are not by controlling them through an app or setting up schedules. PRICE Rs. 700-2,500 SECURE YOUR DOCUMENTS There are two ways to protect your paperwork—electronic safes and digital lockers.

Physical safes should be fi re-resistant and waterproof, and should be bolted through the fl oor. Your safe must require multiple ways to access it, such as a digital keypad and a fingerprint reader. To ensure that you can always access it, go for a safe that allows you to charge through a USB port along with batteries.

Some tamper-proof safes automatically shut down when more than three wromg entries have been submitted and send you an alert on your smartphone. The second option is Digilocker, which is a government initiative that lets you store, share and verify documents and certifi cates like driving license, vehicle registration and academic mark sheet in digital format. So, you don’t have to carry physical copies for submission with the fear of losing them.

Digilocker also provides 1 GB storage to upload scanned copies of documents. PRICE OF ELECTRONIC SAFE Rs. 3,500-21,500 FEE FOR DIGILOCKER FREE Things to keep in mind Most gadgets require uninterrupted power supply or they tend to switch to a default mode if the power turns off, so look for a device that will retain saved settings.

Check regularly that the batteries of your devices are functioning properly. Change your passwords frequently wherever needed, preferably once in 3-4 months. If your gadget needs to be connected constantly to the wi-fi , get a UPS for your router in case of frequent power cuts.

These usually cost between Rs. 999 and Rs. 3,299.

Make sure your surveillance gadget has ample storage capacity to record footage or that you upload it frequently to the cloud or to a physical storage device. As many of these gadgets will be linked to apps on your smartphone, ensure that your mobile phone is protected adequately too. In case you lose it, you should be able to erase all data from it.

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