Home security & networking

Most smart home devices are made in China, including Amazon and Google’s — the real question is who runs the cloud. Here’s how to check if yours is safe.

Smart home devices collect usage patterns, audio snippets, and location data — here’s where it goes, who can see it, and how to limit what you share.

Only you and people you invite can normally see smart home camera footage — but company staff and police can access it under specific, logged conditions.

No — smart speakers only start recording once they detect a wake word locally; here’s exactly how that works and how to check your own device in 2026.

Smart home devices can be hacked, usually via default passwords or old firmware. Here’s how attackers get in and the steps that stop them in 2026.

Smart home devices go offline mostly due to weak signal, network congestion, or router settings — here is how to diagnose and fix dropouts for good in 2026.

Vivint and ADT cost $30–$70 a month for monitoring. Here’s when that fee is worth it, when DIY saves more, and what each really costs in 2026.

ADT smart home automation pairs professional monitoring with cameras, sensors, and smart locks — here’s what’s included, how it works, and 2026 pricing.

Vivint smart home systems typically cost $600–$4,000 upfront (or financed) plus $30–$70 a month. See what it includes, contract terms, and alternatives.