Welcome to your one-stop resource for keeping your family safe, your home smart, and your life fun! At Safe Smart Living® our industry experts bring you the resources and know-how to help you feel safer and live smarter, whether you're at home or on the road. Learn more about us and our team.
Kangaroo is unique in that it doesn’t require a hub to use the system. This means you can purchase one piece of equipment, download the app and be all set to monitor the device’s activity. But can it monitor an entire home and give you peace of mind?…
Want to know who’s on your front porch when you’re out of the house or snatching your packages (porch pirates!)? Whether you live in a high-traffic neighborhood or a remote location, it’s important to keep your home safe from intruders. We review the top doorbell cameras on the market with pros, cons, pricing, and user feedback…
Having your home well-lit at night can deter criminals from lurking around your property. But if you’re only leaving them on while you’re on vacation, it may send the opposite signal – that you’re not home. Also, leaving the porch light on all night isn’t the most energy-efficient or cost-saving solution. Smart security lights that can come on when necessary can not only give your home a “lived-in” appearance, they can reduce your energy bill, make your light at home easier (motion lights don’t require a switch), and you won’t have to swap bulbs as frequently. Our experts comb through the best lights from top providers…
Unfortunately the news is consistently full of headlines about security and data breaches. Major retailers, credit card companies and other organizations have all fallen victim to hackers, putting millions of consumers at risk. Trying to keep up with all the latest hacks and who’s affected can be overwhelming. So we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you stay on top of what’s happening in the world of data breaches…
Security cameras are an integral part of security systems, but there’s a fine line between monitoring your home or business for safety and invading someone’s privacy. In fact, there have been many situations where these lines got blurred, and personal privacy suffered. If you have cameras, you need to make sure you’re not violating others and protecting yourself from privacy invasion…
There are two types of home security systems prevalent on today’s market: those with professional monitoring and those that are self-monitored (by you and your network of contacts). The former typically includes a monthly fee ($20-$70) to cover the cost of the monitoring station, while with the latter you typically only pay for the equipment. Self-monitored systems put you in control, and with many providers you still have access to cutting-edge “smart” technology that you can control from your smartphone. Our experts review the top providers with features, pricing, pros, cons, real user feedback and more…
Do you need help finding a home security system but are overwhelmed with your options? Our team of experts has over 65 years of combined experience researching, testing, and using home security systems. We’ve reviewed 14 professionally monitored security companies. Our strict review protocol ensures our research is unbiased. We take into account customer service, equipment, technology, ease of use, and value to come up with a score for each company…
Not happy with your local bank’s options for a savings account? The good news is that you don’t have to go with a brick-and-mortar bank these days. Many online-only banks offer high-interest savings accounts and added benefits like no monthly fees, low (or no) minimum balances, easy account transfers and much more…
Frontpoint and Ring Alarm offer no-contract professionally monitored home security systems. You can install both systems yourself, and they even use the same monitoring service. But can one protect your home better than the other?…
Guardian Protection has been around for 40+ years and is one of the old-guard security companies that require professional installation and long-term contracts. However, they have a sleek, modern system for today’s smart home and a good customer service reputation. With so many different home security options, is Guardian the best company to watch over your home and loved ones?
