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CNET
15 hours ago
- CNET
11 Tricks and Technologies to Keep Your Home Safe From Intruders
From summer vacations to evenings of play, you'll want to make sure your home is safe when you're away. And that certainly includes your yard and front porch, where CNET surveys have found that 1 in 6 adults have been victims of porch theft. But the right home security has a say about that, too. The right smart devices, tips and home practices can keep all intruders at bay and stop break-ins before they happen -- prevention, after all, is the best strategy. Here's what I suggest to stay one step ahead with your home security and keep trespassers from causing any harm. 1. Set motion detection lights to stun Floodlights can watch over backyards, driveways and similar spots. Blink Look for a security camera that's equipped with a spotlight or floodlights. You can set these lights to trigger via motion detection, and thanks to recent advantages, camera sensors are now smart enough to ignore cars and focus on people, among other useful tricks. The lights will let determined trespassers know that there's a security system, and even indicate that a camera is currently recording them. That's a powerful reason to get away if intruders have ill intent! Remember, apps from popular smart home brands like Arlo, Ring, Blink and many others allow you to set zones and control motion sensitivity so your security lights only turn on when a person gets close, instead of lighting up a dozen times a night. Read more: I Thought I'd Hate AI in Home Security. I Couldn't Have Been More Wrong 2. Put up a security system yard sign Security yard signs discourage many thieves. Kangaroo You may have already suspected it, but studies do confirm that burglars -- around 83% surveyed -- are scared off by signs that an alarm system is present, and one of the most straightforward is a literal sign or window sticker. We suggest avoiding cheap, fake signs, which are usually easy to recognize by someone already thinking about a break-in. Fortunately, real signs come included even with common DIY security systems like those offered by SimpliSafe. And if you're worried about a burglar using a sign to learn too much about your home security system, these sorts of hacking tales hardly ever actually happen. 3. Install a video doorbell for front door protection Kasa's very affordable doorbell can keep an eye on all kinds of front door events. Kasa It's hard to miss a video doorbell when approaching a front door or porch. From Google Nest to Arlo, Ring and Aqara, these doorbell cameras make it obvious that someone's watching. They come equipped with two-way audio and quick replies that can hold brief conversations, and if visitors recognize a video doorbell, they probably know it's already sent alerts to the owner about front door activity. Those qualities make doorbells an excellent method to deter porch pirates and other troublemakers. We also recommend planning for video storage so you have a way to save and download or share video clips when necessary. 4. Use alerts to call an audible Two-way audio features also let you call out trespassers. Ring/Amazon All the top home security cams now come with two-way audio features, which are one of the most effective deterrents if you notice something is wrong. Nothing can scare away a trespasser quite like the owner flipping on the speaker and calling out, "HEY! What are you doing?!" Plus, if it's just a very lost postman, you can always apologize afterward without getting the police involved. Two-way audio works well with timely camera alerts on your phone and object recognition so the alerts specify that a human was detected. 5. Set up sirens on home security devices Arming a system with a siren is a great way to scare off trespassers if they get too close. Kangaroo They aren't quite as ubiquitous as two-way audio, but many cameras and most home security kits also include sirens. On today's smart devices you have the option to turn on sirens with the app, or set the siren to sound off when certain kinds of motion are detected and the system is armed. It's a quick addition you can activate during setup, even for the smallest cams like the Blink Mini 2. 6. Position access sensors on windows and backdoors A full security system can watch over multiple access points at once. Abode/Amazon Access sensors enable a bunch of the tips we listed above if someone actually enters your home. They send alerts that allow you to immediately look through live views from cameras, use two-way audio in a shouty way or sound off a siren/flip on a floodlight. If you're worried about burglars breaching points like these (especially if you've had it happen before), the top home security system kits include sensors for exactly these reasons. 7. Set vacation modes with smart lights and more Smart lights and vacation modes make your house seem occupied even when you're not around. Ry Crist/CNET Smart security systems and home cams have an additional feature to help make vacations easier: They have vacation modes and customizable away modes. You can pair these modes with smart lights and set an activity schedule that makes it look like people are still home when you're away. Vacation modes like these will turn lights on and off to mimic people getting home in the evening, waking up in the morning and other everyday activities. They can discourage thieves looking for empty homes that make easy targets, and give you extra peace of mind on long vacations. These modes also pair very well with cams that let you take a peek as long as you have a reliable internet connection and access sensors that tell you when something went wrong. 8. Keep your garage closed and locked Smart garage doors come in many forms, including retrofits, but they're an excellent way to keep garage doors closed and uninviting to prowling thieves. Chris Monroe/CNET Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and one opportunity that can easily attract thieves (and racoons) is a garage door that's been left open. Consider equipping your garage door with a smart door system that can automatically close the door for you, secure it and remind you if the door is left open for any reason. These smart garage doors are frequently backward-compatible with existing garages, especially newer models, but you should always check how they work before you buy a new system. 9. Equip your door with a smart lock Smart locks ensure you never forget to lock the front door. Lockly Forgetting to lock the front door isn't quite as noticeable as leaving the garage open, but it can still attract thieves, who won't be shy about rattling doorknobs to see if entry is easy. A smart lock is a simple, incredibly effective way to monitor your main entry and make sure it's always locked at the right times. Today's smart locks can auto-lock after a period of inactivity, or send you reminders that they're open, so you can make a judgment call yourself. They also come with ways to give friends and family temporary passes to use the lock with their own phones, and options to review your access history. 10. Use an active professional home-monitoring service Professional home monitoring gives you extra eyes on developing situations. SimpliSafe Consider adding professional home monitoring to your security system for the most complete protection. Professional monitoring allows agents to view their alerts and contact emergency responders if necessary, so you don't have to rely on your own notifications. These monitoring plans don't have to be exorbitantly expensive: Arlo's Secure Premium plan offers full family monitoring services for $25 per month. Take a look at SimpliSafe's Fast Protect plan, which offers guides that look at cam live views and use audio to ask questions, for around $30 per month. Monitoring plans can take your home security to the next level if you don't mind the extra expense. 11. Add a delivery lock box to your porch Package lock boxes are a very old solution to a very modern problem. Felikuk A package lock box is a very simple, very effective addition to your home that shuts down porch piracy entirely. It works a lot like public package drop-offs, with one area where delivery people can drop in a package, and a holding area only accessible to the owner via key or keypad. Thieves can't get inside at all. Advanced models like Loxx Boxx also give you app control, remote access and alerts about when you get a delivery. This could be the perfect deterrent if you have porch-pirate problems in your neighborhood and get packages frequently. What about guard dogs as a security bonus? Many sources suggest getting a guard dog as a home theft deterrent. We do not recommend getting a dog specifically for security purposes, even if they're effective. It's not very fun for the dog, and it's difficult to train one to be wary of the wrong kind of strangers (and not, say, cousin Jimmy who's never been to your home before). Also, dog attacks regularly lead to trespassers suing homeowners for their injuries, and some states have liability laws that can encourage such lawsuits. Since staying safe is already on your mind, you can check out our recommendations for the top DIY home security systems, as well as ways to save money like turning an old phone into a security cam. And if you live with roommates, you'll want to peruse our guide on the best tech to keep your own room safe.
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The 7 most disturbing Doctor Who episodes of all time
For six decades now, Doctor Who has disturbed and delighted audiences around the world with terrifying tales of evil aliens and malicious monsters. From devious Daleks to sinister Cybermen, the Whoniverse is crawling (sometimes literally) with horrors beyond most people's imagining. Yet the question is, what are the most disturbing Doctor Who episodes? Well, there are plenty of chilling tales from the Tardis that have forced audiences to hide behind the sofa. There are stories like The Satan Pit, The Ark in Space, and who could forget Blink? Honestly, I could spend days curating this list, so to make things easier, I've done things a little differently I've limited myself to the revived era (starting in 2005) and chosen one story (some of these are two-parters) from each Doctor's run. That means there's one entry for every Doctor from the Ninth to the Fifteenth, so you get as comprehensive a list as possible. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. So what are you waiting for? Here are the seven most disturbing Doctor Who episodes! The first truly scary episode of the revival era, this two-part story sees the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose (Billie Piper) track a mysterious ship through time to London during The Blitz. While there, however, the pair learn there are things far more dangerous than German bombs awaiting them as a strange gas mask-wearing child prowls the ruins of the city, desperately searching for his mummy. There's a long history of body horror in the Whoniverse, but this was the first episode to marry those old ideas with modern effects. This leads to arguably the most chilling scene in all of Christopher Eccleston's run, where Doctor Constantine (Richard Wilson) painfully vomits up a gas mask as he loses his mind and body to the Empty Child's strange curse. Combine that with a genuinely creepy atmosphere, a razor-sharp script from Steven Moffat and some superb acting, and you've a recipe for a truly sinister story. Is it any wonder these two episodes won a 2006 Hugo Award? Only the Tenth Doctor (or any of the Doctor's incarnations, actually) could go on the sci-fi equivalent of a coach trip and end up in a life-or-death situation. Yes, it might sound ridiculous, but this terrifying tale sees the Last of the Time Lords go on a solo adventure where he comes face to face with an impossible creature that slowly turns a coach-load of tourists against the Doctor (David Tennant). People may be surprised to see I've listed Midnight here and not Blink, but honestly, I think this is the scarier story. Why? Well, Midnight is a story where the Doctor's most powerful weapons, his wit, words and wonderful brain are all turned against him. As the mysterious creature grows in power, it takes more and more of him, leaving him an empty husk. It's only through sheer dumb luck that he manages to save the day, and it's a story that demonstrates in a universe full of Daleks, Cybermen, and Weeping Angels, there's no creature more dangerous than a frightened human. An underrated gem, The Girl Who Waited begins with the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) landing on the resort world of Apalapucia. What should be a relaxing break becomes a nightmare, though, when Amy is trapped in a faster time stream and the Doctor and Rory are forced to watch Amy grow older and older with no way to help her. What makes The Girl Who Waited such a disturbing episode isn't its villain or the monster. It's that it uses time travel to tell a really effective story about Amy's fears and anxieties while exploring a moral dilemma that even the Doctor can't talk his way out of. Indeed, the final moments of the episode, where our hero betrays and kills Amy (although not the one we know… it's all a bit timey wimey), is one of the darkest moments in the series' history. When the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi), Master (Michelle Gomez) and Bill (Pearl Mackie) investigate a distress call in deep space, they discover a ship trapped in the event horizon of a black hole. That might sound dangerous enough, but things take an even darker turn when the crew gun down Bill, and she's taken away by mysterious patients who claim they heal Bill… more than that, they can make her better than new, whether she likes it or not. I'll be honest, I never found the new Cybermen that scary. They looked too much like robots, so it was easy to think of them as cybernetic automata. This two-parter, however, exposes the sheer horror of Cyber conversion by letting you see the human under the steel, a powerful and terrifying reminder that Cybermen are people who have had their humanity ripped away from them. This, coupled with the revelation that the Cybermen are and always have been the Mondasians (and potentially humanity's) ultimate destiny, is such a horrifying reveal that it gives me chills just thinking about it. The Power of the Doctor is the Thirteenth Doctor's (Jodie Whittaker) final story and sees The Daleks, The Cybermen and Rasputin (yes, really) team up to defeat the Doctor once and for all. Okay, I thought long and hard about which of Jodie's episodes to include, and it really came down to two episodes: this and Village of the Angels. Ultimately, though, I decided that there' something far more disturbing about this story for one specific reason. You see, so often the Doctor's enemies just want the Time Lord dead… or as dead as an immortal alien can be. Here, though, the plan is to change the Doctor permanently by forcing her to regenerate into The Master, effectively trapping them in their own body for all eternity. That's such a horrifying thought to have – not to mention the subtext of a man taking a woman's body without her permission – that I thought it had to be included on this list even if it's not as 'scary' as the other stories I chose to include here. After Donna (Catherine Tate) spills coffee on the Tardis controls, she and the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant… again) are flung to the edge of the universe, where they encounter an abandoned ship. As the duo explore the mysterious vessel, however, they quickly learn the ship might not be as abandoned as they thought. Wild Blue Yonder is a deliberately weird episode that makes brilliant use of the uncanny to unsettle viewers and leave them reaching for a sofa cushion to hide behind. Arguably, though, what makes this episode so effective is that we learn almost nothing about the 'Not-Things' that haunt the ship, with even the normally borderline omniscient Doctor baffled by where they came from and what they wanted. After all, what's scarier than the unknown? When the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) accidentally steps inside a fairy circle, he mysteriously disappears, leaving his companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) all alone. Well, not quite all alone. More Trending Everywhere Ruby goes, she's followed by a strange woman who's always 73 yards away and seems to terrify anyone who talks to her. The Fifteenth Doctor's era leaned into the supernatural and mystical more than other seasons of New Who. It's fitting then that its scariest episode is effectively an old-fashioned ghost story that relies more on an unsettling atmosphere and haunting visuals than big, bombastic scares to frighten you. Doctor Who is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Major stars and Hollywood icons who've appeared in Casualty from Tom Hiddleston to Kate Winslet MORE: Doctor Who legend takes swipe at 'grumpy old fans' of BBC series MORE: Ncuti Gatwa reveals real reason why he was replaced at Eurovision 2025
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How To Make Your First Two Seconds Count
Speaker at Business Conference with Public Presentations. Audience at the conference hall. ... More Entrepreneurship club. Malcolm Gladwell spent 288 pages of his international bestseller Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking discussing what he calls 'those first two seconds' of how people make snap judgments based on first impressions—validating the maxim, 'First impressions last.' Unfortunately, what most presenters do in those first two seconds creates a negative impression. Presenters, like all human beings under stress, experience a jolt of adrenaline. Those first two seconds are stressful to even the most experienced presenters, including yours truly, even after a decades-long career as a coach. This adrenaline rush is also known as 'The Fight or Flight Reaction,' a series of innate involuntary physical responses that enable an organism to manage stress. One of those responses is for the eyes to scan the immediate area for signs of danger. In prehistoric terms, the eyes are driven to become hyperalert to a potential attack by saber-toothed tiger. In a presentation, that scan is perceived by any audience as shifty-eyed. Would you or anyone do business with someone you perceive as shifty-eyed? This prejudicial judgement is imprinted in all human beings at birth. A team of British and Italian scientists conducted a study of newborns that concluded, 'human infants prefer to look at faces that engage them in mutual gaze and that, from an early age, healthy babies show enhanced neural processing of direct gaze. The exceptionally early sensitivity to mutual gaze demonstrated in these studies is arguably the major foundation for the later development of social skills.' The conventional solution is to make eye contact. An additional convention is to make eye contact with everyone in the audience, all of which results in rapid scanning. However, scanning is the opposite of eye contact. But those first two seconds are also known as the 'throat clearing moment,' and most presenters use that moment to start with an amenable welcoming statement. 'Good afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to…' and then go on to cite the event. You can use this moment to let your eyes do what your adrenaline is driving them to do, scan the room. No one can possibly view that behavior as shifty-eyed because as William Shakespeare had Hamlet say, you will have 'Suit(ed) the action to the words, the word to the action.' That sweeping action accompanying your gracious words will appear appropriate and courteous to your audience. By making that involuntary scan purposeful, you will no longer appear furtive. Once you've scanned the room, your Fight or Flight system will be satisfied that you are aware of the escape routes and will diminish the need to scan. That's when you can begin to make eye contact, but now you can do so with one person at a time. Analogously, the U.S. Army understands the natural inclination of the eyes to scan an environment. In a manual on night firing, a challenge for vision, they recommend that, before focusing on a target, a soldier should scan 'from right to left or from left to right using a slow, regular scanning movement' because it 'enables soldiers to overcome many of the physiological limitations of their eyes and reduce the visual illusions that so often confuse them.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
If you want promotion, show us…: Amazon has a new rule for employees in its smart home department
employees working in the company's smart-home division must now demonstrate how they use artificial intelligence tools to qualify for promotions, according to a new policy announced by Ring founder Jamie Siminoff. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The requirement affects workers at Amazon's RBKS organization , which includes Ring security cameras, Blink devices, Key delivery service, and Sidewalk wireless network. The policy, effective in the third quarter of 2025, mandates that promotion applicants detail their AI usage and provide examples of projects with measurable outcomes. Managers must additionally prove they've accomplished "more with less" using AI technology while reducing or maintaining current headcount levels. Ring CEO asks the department embrace AI-driven performance metrics Siminoff's directive aligns with broader industry trends as major technology companies integrate AI proficiency into employee evaluations. Shopify announced in April that managers must demonstrate AI cannot perform a role before making new hires, while Microsoft has begun evaluating some employees based on their use of internal AI tools, Business Insider reported. The policy comes two months after Siminoff returned to Amazon following a two-year absence, replacing former RBKS division leader Liz Hamren. His return coincides with CEO Andy Jassy's push to restore Amazon's startup culture and embrace efficiency-driven practices. In an email to staff obtained by Business Insider, Siminoff emphasized the policy aims to reward "innovative thinking" and reinforce speed and efficiency—core elements of Jassy's current vision for the company. "We are reimagining Ring from the ground up with AI first," Siminoff wrote, describing the initiative as having "the same energy and potential to revolutionize how we do neighborhood safety." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amazon pushes workforce efficiency through AI adoption The new promotion requirements represent part of Siminoff's broader push for AI integration within RBKS operations. Since June, he has encouraged employees to use AI tools at least once daily to boost productivity levels. Amazon CEO Jassy previously indicated that AI implementation would reduce the company's workforce due to improved operational efficiency. The RBKS policy specifically requires employees to describe how they've used generative AI or other AI technologies to enhance customer experience or increase operational efficiency when applying for advancement opportunities. A Ring spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider the promotion initiative applies exclusively to RBKS employees and does not extend company-wide.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Need a promotion at Amazon? Show your AI skills first
An internal email stated that employees are also required to attach or cite specific AI projects they have worked on, along with measurable outcomes. Managers must also report how AI tools were leveraged at work to boost productivity at scale, which could potentially reduce the company's headcount. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Amazon has reportedly made it a requirement for employees in several units, including smart home security brands Ring and Blink, to demonstrate their use of artificial intelligence (AI) when applying for promotions.A Business Insider report on Thursday revealed that Jamie Siminoff , the founder of Ring, announced that promotion applications within the organisation must include data on employees' AI usage at internal email stated that employees are also required to attach or cite specific AI projects they have worked on, along with measurable must also report how AI tools were leveraged at work to boost productivity at scale, which could potentially reduce the company's headcount.A Ring spokesperson clarified in the report that these changes currently apply only to Amazon's RBKS employees (Ring, Blink, Key, and Services), not to the rest of the rejoined Amazon in April after a two-year hiatus, with a mission to promote 'innovative thinking' and enhance speed and efficiency in the his return, Siminoff hinted at plans to leverage AI and innovation. 'The AI transformation happening right now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I think we're super well positioned with helpful and practical AI features like Smart Video Search. It's just the start here—we're just scratching the surface of what we can do with AI—and I look forward to digging into this with the team even more,' he also shared his vision after his return to the company. 'Invention is my true passion—I love looking at what we can invent for our neighbors, which is what I've always called our customers.''I tend not think in terms of, 'in X years, we're going to build this.' Instead, I try to think about finite truths,' he founded fourteen years ago by Siminoff, is best known for inventing the video doorbell—a device that lets homeowners see, hear, and speak to visitors remotely using live video and two-way audio via a also oversees other Amazon units such as Blink, the in-home and in-garage delivery service Amazon Key, and the Sidewalk team, which extends the range and connectivity of smart devices like AI becomes deeply integrated across industries, some tech leaders are pushing the boundaries. Last month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees that AI would gradually reduce the corporate workforce as more AI tools and agents are deployed throughout note did not outline which teams or roles would be affected. Amazon employs over 1.56 million people globally. Earlier this year, the ecommerce major said it plans to cut 14,000 managerial positions globally by early 2025 as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and improve operational the last two years, large technology players have been acquiring AI startups for their technology teams. Microsoft paid $650 million in a licensing deal to Inflection AI, whose cofounder Mustafa Suleyman is now heading Microsoft AI. In a similar licensing deal, Amazon hired AI startup Adept cofounder David Luan and others who joined Amazon's AGI May, ET reported that Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Zoom's Eric Yuan are among the first to experiment with AI versions of themselves for public-facing Klarna, an AI-powered avatar of Siemiatkowski handled most of the fintech firm's recent earnings call — with only subtle giveaways, such as a slightly out-of-sync voice, hinting that it wasn't the real CEO.
