Protect your home for free with your PC

Considering that it’s said that a home is burgled every 35 seconds in the UK (according to Halifax Home Insurance) it’s not surprising that people are more worried about their precious belongings than ever before.

Security systems are an obvious option, but due to the high degree of false alarms, they are seldom paid much attention. The best solution is to monitor your house yourself, using your computer to keep an eye on your own property. Here’s three options to consider:

Option 1: The Internet Camera

If you have a broadband connection, you can install a camera and use it for security monitoring purposes. Many of these cameras allow you to jump online and check the status of your home from anywhere in the world. You can also link more than one camera up to the system at a time.

There’s also a program that links the camera to selected 3G phones, enabling you to view stills and check the camera status. If you receive one of these alerts you can log on, view the camera remotely and decide whether you want to raise the alarm.

Option Two: Home Security Package

If you require a more complete solution, home security packages might be for you. They link motion sensors to a control box plugged into the phone line, so in the event of an alert details are sent via email, phone and SMS. Again, the status of your home can be checked online from anywhere. You can also set up a number of people to be notified of any alert, such as neighbours, relatives or friends.

Option Three: Security Software

The alternative ‘DIY’ option is to use downloadable software from the internet to turn an existing webcam into a security system, such as Surveillizcam Lite from download.com.

With minimal fuss you can configure the camera to send stills of any movement detected in your house to your email account. Another great option is WebCam Looker, which enables you to set up a monitoring system and have motion-capture still images sent to your email inbox. You can even have an SMS alert sent to your mobile.

Stills can also be viewed from the internet by setting up free hosting with FTP upload facilities. You can even set the page to save a still every second, building up a range of pictures where you can choose the best mug shot of your oblivious intruder.

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