Security cameras work in two ways. First, they act as a deterrent to thieves. If that doesn’t work, it captures them in the act of stealing your things or breaking into your home.

Your surveillance system is only as good as what your cameras can see. Placement is critical — you don’t want a tree blocking the view of your backyard. You also don’t want cameras to send a notification whenever a squirrel runs across the lawn. Tap or click here for four mistakes you’re making with your home security system.

Many popular security camera systems rely on Wi-Fi. It’s convenient and easier to get these cameras up and running. But this isn’t as secure as you might expect. Crooks can jam the Wi-Fi signal, rendering the cameras blind. Here’s what you can do to prevent this from happening to you.

So you set up your cameras in optimal locations and configure the settings for the best coverage. You feel safe and secure. But you might literally miss the big picture if your cameras are connected to your Wi-Fi network.

WXYZ reported on a woman in Detroit whose car was stolen right in front of her house, and guess what? When she reviewed her Ring camera recordings, she found that hours of footage were missing.

Learn the tech tips and tricks only the pros know.

It turns out that crooks used a signal jammer to disrupt her Wi-Fi and stop her cameras from recording. While jamming devices can be pricey, a deauther costs $15 at most and is small enough to fit in your pocket. It works by overwhelming the Wi-Fi system when held close to a camera.

Ring is apparently aware of the issue and says it’s a rare occurrence. There’s no word on a fix at this time.

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Wi-Fi cameras are easy to install, but is it worth the security compromise? Even without criminal interference, other factors can affect the signal between your camera and Wi-Fi router.

A hardwired camera system is more reliable and secure. They are connected directly to your internet via an ethernet cable, which makes them more challenging to hack. You also don’t have to worry about spotty or weak Wi-Fi signals affecting your cameras’ performance. You’ll get clearer audio and video thanks to a consistent internet connection.

Here are some more tips to secure your home security system:

Is your Roomba spying? How to stop your robot vacuum from sharing data

Staying in a hotel, Airbnb or rental? Bring this hidden camera detector with you

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