Build your own security system? "Simpli Safe" ? Any one use it? Or know if worth it?

[CoryB]

I’ve had SimpliSafe systems in two different houses for over 8 years. I’ve only had one false alarm and it was caused by a low battery.

If you go with them, make sure to get the proper network adapter. They sent a T-Mobile in mine and there is NO reception for that network where I live. Once I had it switched to Verizon I have had no problems.

 

[coffeeman]

I bought my package thru Amazon. Here is the Ring Website.

Ring: Security Systems, Cameras, Alarms, and Smart Home Automation

Protect your home & watch over what's important from your phone with video doorbells, home security cameras, alarm systems, smart lighting & more.

ring.com

i bought the base package, and added parts and pieces as I needed.

I went ahead with the home monitoring at $100 per year. Or $10 per month. This gives you more space on their server for your camera uploads and actual monitoring. You don't have to buy monitoring if you don't want to. In other words, call the Sheriff yourself if you like with the notifications you get on your smart phones and/or computers.

 

[coffeeman]

I wonder about upload to server? Can you upload easy to remote system. My only thought if intruder came in and decided to take server knowing info is there. So camera is useless.
Of course all additions and more $$. How hard is it to hide a server? maybe have decoy server and another one working and hidden. Just rambling with ideas or thoughts

Thank you all. Have good Thanksgiving ...... STAY SAFE and BE SAFE.....Coffeeman.

 

[dlctcg]

@coffeeman... I'm in the industry... so... security systems are to make you feel safe...A criminal does not care...A security system is "in fact" after the fact, i.e. something has to already had to happened to set it in to motion. I'm not dis-condoning it's relevance; just that it already happened (not preventing it from happening). I've seen time & time again that people want un-seen cameras / hidden cameras even on multi-million dollar projects, but you actually want them known & to be seen... prevention of a crime is your best defense.... if someone passes over your property due to noticed security measures... that is a win.

 

[Aquamoose]

@coffeeman... I'm in the industry... so... security systems are to make you feel safe...A criminal does not care...A security system is "in fact" after the fact, i.e. something has to already had to happened to set it in to motion. I'm not dis-condoning it's relevance; just that it already happened (not preventing it from happening). I've seen time & time again that people want un-seen cameras / hidden cameras even on multi-million dollar projects, but you actually want them known & to be seen... prevention of a crime is your best defense.... if someone passes over your property due to noticed security measures... that is a win.

Good advice! What’s an ideal setup?

 

[dlctcg]

@Aquamoose - an ideal setup is a dog with a really mean bark (even if he / she is not mean)...

Not sure there really is one, everyone's situation is different & a system really should be designed on multiple factors; what is important to the client.... security of personal property from theft, fire, etc... the type & location of the property & budget all play a big role in a system. So an ideal setup for one client may not come close to working for a different one.

Now for our personal properties we have 4 systems for our House, Shop, cottage & FIL house & with the exception for our home, they all have pretty basic systems. All have cameras with motion detection / triggers & recording capabilities, sensors are on the doors, PIR motions (or floor motions) for interior, smokes & CO detectors, & water / temp sensors. These are the basics for us. We do have a panic / emergency button on my FIL system as he has a heart condition & he can notify us if he needs to... Our house has a fully integrated system that ties into everything... so there really is no ideal setup...

I self-monitor all these systems & do not use a monitoring company, everything comes to our smartphones... but this is not without risk too, I just choose to self-monitor for multiple reasons.

The ideal setup is to deter them from attempting a criminal act. Cameras in view help... automated lighting helps... even security system signs help (even if you don't have one)... unless they are after something in particular most robberies are smash & grabs & if you can make your property less appealing then the next... they hopefully will move on.

 

[dlctcg]

I wonder about upload to server? Can you upload easy to remote system. My only thought if intruder came in and decided to take server knowing info is there. So camera is useless.
Of course all additions and more $$. How hard is it to hide a server? maybe have decoy server and another one working and hidden. Just rambling with ideas or thoughts

@coffeeman - Many systems allow you to upload video to a remote server but like you said it is usually at higher $$.

As far as a camera being useless if they take the recording device & answer is maybe... some security cameras have built in SD memory card slots & will allow you to record to both the NVR HD & to the built-in SD card in the camera as a back-up recording. Not as convenient as retrieving it for the NVR but is a low cost back-up.

Odds are if you just don't make the recording device easily accessible they probably won't ever touch it... they really just don't care. I'm sure I can count on one hand the number of time a recording devices was taken in the many years I've been in the industry

 

[Dwellonroof]

I'm using the Blue Iris program and purchase cameras from various places but mostly Amazon
I have it at 2 locations and have 3 cameras at one and 9 cameras at another.

 

[k0ua]

I wonder about upload to server? Can you upload easy to remote system. My only thought if intruder came in and decided to take server knowing info is there. So camera is useless.
Of course all additions and more $$. How hard is it to hide a server? maybe have decoy server and another one working and hidden. Just rambling with ideas or thoughts

Thank you all. Have good Thanksgiving ...... STAY SAFE and BE SAFE.....Coffeeman.

The server is in the cloud. The bad guys are going to have a hard time finding it. It is far far away. Nothing stored on the premises.

 

[k0ua]

Again, there is NOTHING stored in any camera or any device of any kind on your premise. Everything is stored in the cloud. Monitoring and extended cloud access is $100 per YEAR. A real bargain.

 

[popsx3]

@coffeeman... I'm in the industry... so... security systems are to make you feel safe...A criminal does not care...A security system is "in fact" after the fact, i.e. something has to already had to happened to set it in to motion. I'm not dis-condoning it's relevance; just that it already happened (not preventing it from happening). I've seen time & time again that people want un-seen cameras / hidden cameras even on multi-million dollar projects, but you actually want them known & to be seen... prevention of a crime is your best defense.... if someone passes over your property due to noticed security measures... that is a win.

I agree, deterrence is good. Best is a BFD or 2.

 

[Alan W.]

Used simplisafe at the church and the fellowship hall about 2 years ago. No problems with the sensors and their distance from the monitor. Just had to change the batteries on the keypads for the first time all the other batteries are original.
We have no internet available so simplisafe was our only workable choice.
It has worked very well for us.

 

[dlctcg]

I agree, deterrence is good. Best is a BFD or 2.

We think alike... lol... my post #26... "an ideal setup is a dog with a really mean bark (even if he / she is not mean)... "

 

[dlctcg]

Again, there is NOTHING stored in any camera or any device of any kind on your premise. Everything is stored in the cloud. Monitoring and extended cloud access is $100 per YEAR. A real bargain.

There are many that are OK with their info stored in the cloud... but many who are not. The "cloud" is just someone else's server waiting to be hacked... I do not want my video feeds stored there... remember cameras are on autonomous, they record everything, you... your family... anything that moves... not just the bad people. I choose to store that locally & securely.

I'm not dis-condoning it... everyone should decide for themselves.... It just is not where I want my personal video stored. It is one of the reasons we do not promote the Amazon & Google products to our clients... (they are internet marketing companies... not security companies.... like they would have you believe... they could care less about your security). disclaimer... "just my opinion"

 

[MikeFarm]

Just do a Google search of "SimpliSafe insecure wireless":

YouTuber Reveals SimpliSafe DIY Security System Can Be Bypassed With $2 Emitter

YouTuber Reveals SimpliSafe DIY Security System Can Be Bypassed With $2 Emitter

The $2 wireless emitter fools the SimpliSafe security system by mimicking the frequency of its door and window contact sensors.

www.securitysales.com

Hack Disarms SimpliSafe’s Home Wireless Security Systems

Hack Disarms SimpliSafe’s Home Wireless Security Systems

IOActive report claims popular SimpliSafe’s wireless home security system is vulnerable to hackers who can record and reuse PIN entries to disarm alarm.

threatpost.com

“If in fact the controller and receiver hardware are incapable of any type of upgrade, there will likely be calls for a large-scale recall,”

Other computer security persons have analysed SimpliSafe and found it to be "Inherently Insecure" and easily prone to being hacked. Reports go from 2016 to last year. So they do not appear to have a secure product. Particularly astounding is that there is no proper encryption of the communications.

Correction on 28 Dec 2021: Correction to my earlier post above. Apparently SimpliSafe with its version SS3 added end to end encryption and an SSL cert. That's good.

Mike

 

[Pixguy]

Simplisafe's answer.

"The video is misleading, and it doesn’t apply to how security systems work in real life.

As the video demonstrates, SimpliSafe systems are engineered to detect this kind of interference.

In this video, the videomaker finds a precise frequency, signal strength, and orientation of system components in which they can thread the needle of blocking system communication without triggering an alert.

In real life, this is unlikely. Because signal strength degrades unpredictably depending on distance and landscape, it would be very difficult for anyone to hit on the “right” strength without triggering an alert.

In addition, the setup the videomaker demonstrates (in which the sensors, base, keypad and “jammer” are all close together) does not resemble the setup of an actual home. In other words, prior knowledge of the layout of the motion sensors, door sensors and base station in the customers home and a rehearsal of how to move about the home would be necessary to confidently select a strength that will both jam and not be detected. In order for a real bad actor to effectively interfere with the system in this way, they would likely have to already be inside the home and have had ample practice.

We take very seriously anything that might interfere with our mission of keeping every home secure. We have the ability to tune the detection parameters and regularly release security and usability updates, making it increasingly difficult for anyone to use this type of attack."

 

[Oaktree]

I'm not dis-condoning it... everyone should decide for themselves.... It just is not where I want my personal video stored. It is one of the reasons we do not promote the Amazon & Google products to our clients... (they are internet marketing companies... not security companies.... like they would have you believe... they could care less about your security). disclaimer... "just my opinion"

Yeah, I'm not a big believer in "cloud" storage either. While you know Apple, Google, Amazon, etc. are monetizing any bit of information they can gather on you, at least you can be pretty sure they'll still be there 10 years from now. Other sites (including manufacturers' own cloud servers), maybe maybe not. I am a believer in having important stuff backed up off-site, in the event of a disaster even if it's just a USB drive in an outbuilding on your property. Wouldn't help in an area-wide event (wildfire, hurricane, tornado), but it's better than nothing.
As far as security, I'm gonna bet theirs is way better than anything I could ever come up with.

 

[MikeFarm]

Correction to my earlier post. Apparently SimpliSafe with its version SS3 added end to end encryption and an SSL cert. That's good.