The joy of flying out for a dream vacation is always saddled with nervous thoughts of whether your property will stay secure when you are away. Thankfully, with the advent of smartphones and mobile applications, it is now easier than ever to keep a tab on your house regardless of which part of the world you are in. Here are some really useful mobile apps that you should consider installing when leaving on a long vacation.
AtHome Camera – Home Security
This is one of the best home security apps available for Android. To begin with, you will need to install the AtHome Camera software on your home computer. Once this is done and you are registered on the system with an ID, you will be able to stream live video from home on to your Android phone any time of the day. The app also has a motion detector that will alert you using a push notification or an email whenever the software detects a motion at home. Worried if the intruders may take your computer away? You can also record the live streaming from home on to a server. Here is a short video from the manufacturers that will give you a snapshot of how the app works.
Simplisafe Home Security
Sometimes burglars are not the only worry for home owners. If you live in an area that is flood prone or if you simply want to ensure there are no accidental fires at home while you are away, the Simplisafe Home Security app is a valuable tool. While this app itself is free, you may need to additionally purchase and install the sensors at home (the cost is under $250 for a starter edition). Simplisafe is equipped with flood and thermal sensors that alert you in case of water leakage, pipe burst or accidental fires. If you have your kids or pet sitters visiting your house while you are away, the app keeps a track of their entry on an ‘entry log’ that also gives you information on whether any of these visitors have accessed sensitive areas of your house like your bedroom closet or gun safe.
BHN Home Security
This service is very similar to the one offered by Simplisafe with some minor differences. Firstly, if you feel more comfortable paying a subscription fee every month, then you will be happy to take up the home security system offered by BHN that comes at only $32 per month. The Android app to let you monitor the activity at home is free to download though. In terms of services offered, one additional feature that you can make use of in this app is the ability to switch the lights in various rooms on or off right from the comfort of your phone. This feature serves two purposes – Firstly, to check the live stream in better lighting conditions if you suspect an intruder. Secondly, keeping the lights on and off at various times of the day might give a potential intruder an impression that someone’s at home which could keep them at bay.
Have you tried a home security app on your Android? Which app was your favorite? Do write to us in the comments section below.
Anand writes for SafeSoundFamily.com, a premier publishing resource focused on home security. The guide on mobile alarm system from SafeSoundFamily.com gives you a great deal of information on the benefits of owning a mobile security system.
23 Comments
Leave a Reply
Cancel reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Naser
July 29, 2013 at 8:50 am
Hi Anand,
Never tried any of these apps. In fact I didn’t even thought at least once about using a digital way to save guard the house on vacation.
Anand Srinivasan
July 29, 2013 at 9:17 am
You should really use at least the free ones like AtHome Naser. The others of course include installation charges outside the cost of the app
Naser
July 30, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Yeah, but these things are necessary for people who have something to hide from thieves and burglars. Not for a boy who has a simple rack of books for his graduation 😀
Rahul singh
July 29, 2013 at 11:05 am
Before reading this post i was unaware of these android apps which can keep your house secure. i will surely give it try. Thanks for the great post.
Rohit
July 29, 2013 at 1:33 pm
nice article Anand, thanks for introducing me with these important applications.., but I would rely on my watchman rather than these android apps, but its nice to get introduced with them.. 🙂
Anand Srinivasan
July 30, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Thanks Rohit. You should try them though. They stay awake more often than the night watchmen 😉
myles
July 29, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Wekk this is really a helping list. Thanks, the Android industry is really grwing up at a pace. 🙂
mohan
July 29, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Before reading this post i was unaware of these android apps which can keep your house secure. i will surely give it try. Thanks for the great post.
Ruhul
July 29, 2013 at 6:12 pm
I never thought about this type of apps. If the apps works and protect house that would be a great one.
Todd
July 30, 2013 at 9:57 am
Hi Anand,
You have done a really nice job. I got very useful information about home security apps from your informative article. I had never thought there could be applications for home security. I really appreciate your research work and great efforts in presenting this article.
harshi
July 30, 2013 at 7:04 pm
BHN home security is the best application out there in the market ! !
harshi
July 30, 2013 at 7:05 pm
DHM is the best applicaton !i persnallyuse it and has a ver nice interface !
Mathew White
August 6, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Keeping home safe during vacations is really important. And apps like these has made it real easy to do so. I must say that technology is making everything in our lives very easy and putting everything in your hands.
Dan
August 9, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Your vacation should not be interrupted with nervous thoughts on the security of your home.
Ayoola Stephen
August 11, 2013 at 2:12 am
I am so glad to read about this Android Apps to make my home secure when am not at home, I also want to make useful Android Apps like those listed in the post above, I am a Technology Blogger… Can you help me with that ? Thanks
Kulwant
August 12, 2013 at 9:39 am
Superb work Anand. (Y)
Great list with awesome applications.
Keep writing such helpful article to spread more knowledge about smartphones.
Anand
August 12, 2013 at 9:43 am
Thanks Kulwant for reading 🙂
Martin
August 14, 2013 at 11:37 am
Hi Anand. It is not only an authentic content but also very informative and helpful for Android users. Everybody should read this post and also apply the same. Keep sharing like this. You know sharing is caring 😉 🙂
Harshit
August 15, 2013 at 10:58 am
Home camera app is really nice..
gr8
Joe Cramer
August 22, 2013 at 2:55 pm
whenever vacation rental business and one of the big concerns is I live out of town what do I do?.
Article you covered exactly what you can do and should do. Hope this helps and I would highly suggest using the video cameras.
Peter
August 24, 2013 at 12:45 pm
I am using Simplisafe but for some time I am unable to use it at full scale as it\’s the free version and the paid one doesn\’t come cheap. Didn\’t heard of BHN Home Security before, I will pay $32 per month, but do you think it\’s worth it more than Simplisafe? Can I try for a trial period?
alan
September 16, 2013 at 4:54 pm
superb list anand. Though I hadn’t heard of them before I came to go through this post but they all seems to be great. Thank you for introducing me with all of it.
Larry Jones
August 13, 2017 at 2:08 pm
Though I hadn’t heard of them before I came to go through this post but they all seems to be great. Thank you for introducing me with all of it.