STAY SAFE IN WINTER

Kane Oughton, product manager for Hive (hivehome.com), shares his top security tips

Smart lights

Smart lights are a great way to get started. They can be scheduled to switch on and off even when you’re not there, making it look like someone’s home when the house is empty. You can also link them to motion sensors, so that they come on when movement is detected.

Indoor and outdoor cameras

For serious surveillance, motionactivated smart cameras, complete with night vision, start recording as soon as they detect people, movement or sound. They can send notifications straight away, too, prompting you to check the live stream immediately and take action if needed.

Window and door sensors

If you’re always worrying that you’ve not locked up properly after leaving the house, then window and door sensors linked to a smart phone or tablet are your saviour. You can check everything is shut with a quick tap on the app, and you’ll get a notification if anything opens unexpectedly.

Security lights and sirens

Bright lights and alarms are a great deterrent for intruders. Something like the Hive Siren has a built-in security light and is as loud as a police car. You can connect it to sensors and cameras so the siren gets triggered when activity is detected – and you can turn it off with a keypad or a quick tap of the Hive app.

A smart alarm system

A smart alarm system – like

Hive Homeshield – lets you protect your home from your phone. You simply connect all your security devices though an app, and you’ll get smart security reports and intelligent alerts for you and your trusted contacts.