Self-monitoring on the down low
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
By Tess Nacelewicz
Updated Wed September 19, 2012
I just saw an item that takes self-monitoring of a home security alarm system to new heights … or should I say to new lows?
It also falls under the category of: “Dude, wouldn't it be easier (not to mention safer) to have your alarm system professionally monitored?”
What I saw was on a site called Hack A Day. The site is devoted to news about hacking, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised about the item, which describes how a hacker who wanted to cancel his monitoring contract decided to rig up a system in which he could monitor his security system himself.
Security Systems News has already written about the drawbacks of legitimate self-monitored systems like Lowe's Iris home management system. Check out what my colleague Rich Miller wrote on that topic about how most homeowners really don't want to function as their own central station, trying to decide when to call 911 or not.
In the case of this hacker … yeah, so after what looks like a lot of work he reportedly can now monitor his home security system himself. But to provide the service a central station does, he has to be keeping tabs on his home 24/7 and know how to respond appropriately to each emergency when it occurs. Those kinds of benefits can't just be hacked into.
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