Latest news with #smartDevices
Digital Trends
a day ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
This wild-looking Wyze security camera is powered by your light fixtures
Wyze has just launched one of the most bizarre-looking smart home devices I've ever seen. The Wyze Bulb Cam is a combination smart light bulb and smart security camera, and it's every bit as wild as you'd expect. However, it also packs in some really cool functionality, as it's entirely powered by your light fixture. Jokingly referred to as a 'cambulbera' by Wyze, the Bulb Cam is an outdoor security camera that doubles as a smart light. Featuring a fairly standard bulb format that screws into most fixtures, an adjustable camera is attached to the bulb that can manually extend, rotate, and tilt to help you find the best view for your property. A 160-degree field-of-view gives you impressive coverage, while the dimmable 800 lumen LED bulb lights up your property. Recommended Videos Toss in a microSD card slot, two-way audio, a 2K resolution, and support for the Wyze app, and you've got a well-rounded product for just $50. Of course, the big selling point is the elimination of both batteries and wires, as the device is built to run entirely off the power provided by your light fixture. Along with the unique Wyze Bulb Cam, you'll find the Wyze Accessory Bulbs up for grabs. These bulbs can be paired exclusively with the Wyze Bulb Cam to create a motion-activated network of lights across your property. They're reasonably affordable at $16.98 each, though you can find bundles that knock the price down even further. While the Wyze Bulb Cam might look a bit awkward, there's no denying its versatility. Since you won't have to constantly check battery life or deal with a clunky wired installation process, the Bulb Cam should appeal to just about everyone seeking a streamlined solution for their home security needs. It's available now for $50. For more options, be sure to consider our roundup of the best home security cameras for alternatives from Arlo, Nest, and Ring.
Geeky Gadgets
3 days ago
- General
- Geeky Gadgets
Audio Surveillance Exposed: The Hidden Threats Lurking in Your Home and Beyond
Imagine sitting in the privacy of your own home, discussing sensitive matters with a trusted friend. Unbeknownst to you, a tiny device hidden in the room or even the microphone of your smartphone is capturing every word. This isn't the plot of a spy thriller—it's the unsettling reality of modern acoustic surveillance. As technology advances, so do the methods used to exploit it, turning everyday sounds into a goldmine of information. From laser microphones that eavesdrop through windows to malware that hijacks your smart devices, the tools of acoustic spying are becoming more sophisticated and invasive, raising urgent questions about privacy in an increasingly connected world. In this exploration, Benn Jordan uncovers the seven most concerning levels of acoustic spying techniques and the risks they pose to individuals, businesses, and governments alike. You'll learn how seemingly innocuous devices like smart assistants and laptops can become gateways for surveillance, and why advancements in artificial intelligence and miniaturization are making these threats harder to detect. But it's not all doom and gloom—understanding these techniques is the first step toward protecting yourself. By the end, you may find yourself rethinking how secure your conversations really are. Understanding Audio Spying Everyday Devices: A Gateway for Spying Modern devices, including smartphones, laptops, and smart home systems, are particularly vulnerable to acoustic spying. Many of these devices are equipped with microphones that can be remotely accessed by malicious actors. Common vulnerabilities include: Malware: Cybercriminals can deploy malware to activate a device's microphone without the user's knowledge, allowing them to eavesdrop on conversations and gather sensitive information. Cybercriminals can deploy malware to activate a device's microphone without the user's knowledge, allowing them to eavesdrop on conversations and gather sensitive information. Smart Assistants: Devices like virtual assistants, designed for convenience, can be exploited if their security settings are weak or improperly configured. This can turn a helpful tool into a potential surveillance device. These risks highlight the importance of securing your devices and being cautious about granting microphone access to apps and services. By understanding these vulnerabilities, you can take steps to protect your privacy and reduce the likelihood of unauthorized surveillance. 7 Concerning Levels Of Acoustic Spying Techniques Watch this video on YouTube. Learn more about digital surveillance by reading previous articles we have written. Privacy and Security Risks The risks associated with acoustic surveillance extend far beyond the invasion of personal privacy. For businesses and organizations, the stakes are even higher. Sensitive discussions, trade secrets, and strategic plans can be intercepted through sound capture, leading to financial losses, competitive disadvantages, or even reputational damage. On a personal level, acoustic spying can result in identity theft, blackmail, or other forms of exploitation. The omnipresence of sound in daily life makes it a particularly challenging medium to secure. Conversations, ambient noise, and other audio signals are often unavoidable, creating opportunities for surveillance. This underscores the need for robust security measures to protect both individuals and organizations from the far-reaching consequences of acoustic spying. Technological Advancements in Surveillance The rapid pace of technological advancement has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of acoustic spying techniques, making them more precise and harder to detect. Key developments include: Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-powered algorithms can process vast amounts of audio data, identifying patterns, keywords, or even specific voices with remarkable accuracy. This capability allows for targeted surveillance on an unprecedented scale. AI-powered algorithms can process vast amounts of audio data, identifying patterns, keywords, or even specific voices with remarkable accuracy. This capability allows for targeted surveillance on an unprecedented scale. Miniaturization: Advances in miniaturization have resulted in recording devices that are smaller and more discreet than ever before, allowing high-quality audio capture in virtually any setting. Advances in miniaturization have resulted in recording devices that are smaller and more discreet than ever before, allowing high-quality audio capture in virtually any setting. Enhanced Sound Capture: Improved hardware and software technologies can pick up audio even in noisy or challenging environments, further expanding the reach of acoustic surveillance. These advancements illustrate the growing sophistication of surveillance technologies and their potential to compromise privacy on a global scale. As these tools become more accessible, the risks associated with their misuse continue to rise. Ethical and Legal Challenges Acoustic surveillance presents complex ethical and legal challenges. While it can be justified in certain contexts, such as law enforcement or national security, the potential for misuse is significant. Surveillance conducted without proper oversight or consent often crosses ethical boundaries, raising questions about the balance between security and individual rights. Legal frameworks governing acoustic spying vary widely across jurisdictions, and the rapid evolution of technology often outpaces the development of relevant laws. This creates a gray area where ethical considerations must guide responsible use. Striking a balance between using surveillance for legitimate purposes and protecting privacy remains a critical challenge for policymakers and society as a whole. How to Protect Yourself from Acoustic Spying Safeguarding yourself and your organization from acoustic surveillance requires a proactive approach. Effective measures include: Secure Your Devices: Use strong, unique passwords and keep your software updated to address potential vulnerabilities. Use strong, unique passwords and keep your software updated to address potential vulnerabilities. Use Physical Barriers: Employ microphone blockers or covers to prevent unauthorized sound capture by your devices. Employ microphone blockers or covers to prevent unauthorized sound capture by your devices. Limit Microphone Access: Be selective about granting apps and services access to your device's microphone, and regularly review your privacy settings. Be selective about granting apps and services access to your device's microphone, and regularly review your privacy settings. Encrypt Communications: Use encryption tools for sensitive conversations to ensure they remain private and secure. By adopting these practices, you can reduce the risks associated with acoustic spying and better protect your privacy and security in an increasingly connected world. Media Credit: Benn Jordan Filed Under: Gadgets News, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
CNET
24-05-2025
- CNET
How to Extend Your Wi-Fi Outdoors This Summer
For most of us, the Wi-Fi signal usually ends at the back door. If that includes you, your laptop, projector or big-screen TV might be unable to connect to the internet for a big game or a movie night. You can move your router as close to your yard or front porch as your Ethernet cable will take you, but that won't always solve the problem. CNET With the increasing number of outdoor smart devices -- including lights, security cameras and garage door openers -- you need to be able to extend your Wi-Fi outside and beyond your home's exterior walls. That can be tricky, but with the right hardware, it'll be no time before you're streaming video while enjoying your garden, or posting pics to social media from your front yard. (For more Wi-Fi tips, check out why your router may be in the wrong spot and take a look at our home internet cheat sheet.) If you want to extend your Wi-Fi range outside, try a weather-resistant device Most options our CNET writers have explored over the years don't require drilling holes or running new wiring outdoors. Still, getting reliable, fast Wi-Fi outdoors may take an initial investment. Setting it up the right way may cost more initially but it will require little maintenance and give you great coverage in the long run. Using a Wi-Fi device meant to be left outside may be your best bet. There aren't many cheap options so you'll have to decide which setup will work best for your home. An outdoor Wi-Fi extender -- sometimes called a wireless access point or wireless repeater -- is the most straightforward option because it's the only solution that involves installing hardware outside. Many of these devices are enterprise-grade but some manufacturers have consumer-grade outdoor extenders, too. These devices are made to be exposed to the elements year-round and have hardware capable of communicating with your router wirelessly to give you great Wi-Fi coverage outside your home. Locating local internet providers The first step is to find an extender that's compatible with your current router, or you can buy a new router and extender to upgrade your entire network. There aren't a ton of wireless extenders designed for the outdoors, but a few notable manufacturers are Netgear, Ubiquiti, EnGenius and Hawking. Next, check the packaging's ingress protection rating and the temperature range the device can withstand. The IP rating defines the device's weather-resistance, mainly against dust and water. The highest rating is IP69, which means it's totally protected against dust and can withstand long periods of immersion underwater. This indoor/outdoor access point is barely larger than a soda can -- and certainly less conspicuous. Ubiquiti Another option that's a little more of a complicated outdoor access point -- like the Access Point U6 Mesh from Ubiquiti -- allows you to set separate modes for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. The setup is slightly more advanced, but you don't have to drill holes or run new cables. You set your 5GHz band to wireless bridge mode and the 2.4GHz band to access point mode. This makes your 5GHz band a dedicated backhaul link to the router and allows your outdoor devices to connect via 2.4GHz. This setup limits your speed a bit but you should still be able to take full advantage of your 2.4GHz bandwidth and the additional range that comes with it. A brand-new option, released in May, is the Omada EAP772-Outdoor, a Wi-Fi 7 outdoor access point made by TP-Link. It's geared toward businesses -- as evidenced by its $250 price -- but you could effectively use it for your home's outdoor patio or front porch. It has an IP68-rated weatherproof enclosure, so it should be durable for outside service, and it's also future proof, with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology. (Note that TP-Link is currently under investigation by the US government for ties to Chinese cyberattacks and could potentially be banned this year.) Indoor mesh Wi-Fi systems are easier, but more expensive Another option is to take advantage of an indoor mesh Wi-Fi system. These usually come with one router and one or two satellite units and can cover up to 5,000 square feet. The most recent data from the US Census Bureau shows that 50% of American homes are between 1,800 and 2,999 square feet, and an additional 27% are 1,799 square feet and less. The bottom line is that most of us don't have homes as big as 5,000 square feet so with the right placement you will get decent coverage outdoors with a mesh system. You may sacrifice a little speed or coverage indoors by moving the satellite units but most of the best mesh systems are expandable and can add additional units. Each satellite unit needs only an electrical outlet to plug in the power adapter. No Ethernet cable is required. To extend your Wi-Fi outside, place the mesh router central in your home and put the satellite unit, or units, as close to the exterior as possible. There is a limit to how far apart you can place the units. For example, Asus support recommends placing each one within 10 to 15 meters (approximately 33 to 50 feet) of the other units. Linksys advised one of our writers that its indoor, three-piece Velop mesh system can help with outdoor coverage. Each unit can cover about 2,000 square feet so if you place one of the units 5 to 10 feet from an exterior concrete wall, your outdoor coverage can improve. Everyone's home environment is different so your results may vary. Your best bet is to place the satellite unit near a window or door. The Linksys Velop mesh system can cover up to 6,000 square feet, including extending Wi-Fi outside, depending on placement and your environment. Linksys There are more potential problems with this setup, though. Generally, most mesh satellites link directly back to the router, not to the closest satellite and then back to the router. This means you won't be able to wirelessly daisy chain them in sequence to stretch your signal in one direction. This is part of the reason it is best to place your router central in your home. Also, your exterior walls still will interfere with and weaken your signal, especially on 5GHz. You may have to play around with the location to figure out which spot will work best for outdoor coverage in your environment. If you aren't familiar with Wi-Fi signals, they are measured in decibel-milliwatts. The signal reading will be negative, so closer to zero is better. You want a signal between -60dBm and -30dBm (which is best). That's your sweet spot. Your signal is near nonexistent if you see something around -80dBm or -90dBm or lower. Eero 6 Plus is an affordable mesh option to help extend Wi-Fi range outside. Ry Crist/CNET The price of mesh systems has begun to decline but they can still be quite expensive. Still, you shouldn't need to spend more than a few hundred dollars for a decent, up-to-date system. For instance, Amazon's Eero 6 Plus performed well in our tests and the three-piece system can cover up to 4,500 square feet for about $225. You might be tempted to leave an indoor router or satellite unit in a covered area outside or a weatherproofed enclosure. This may work in the short term but the risk factors are high. The device could overheat or freeze. Humidity is also a factor, as well as foreign objects like dust and insects, which can clog up the device's vents. Not to mention that leaving an indoor device outside will void your warranty. Indoor range extenders -- cheaper but less reliable for extending Wi-Fi outside You can replicate the mesh setup mentioned above with a regular router combined with indoor Wi-Fi range extenders or repeaters. This option is a little more affordable, with the extenders taking the place of the mesh satellite units. This approach's setup is slightly more complicated but you shouldn't have much trouble following the quick start guide included with the extender. Many newer devices, such as the well-tested D-Link EaglePro AI, are designed to work with different routers. D-Link's EaglePro AI is compatible with most routers. Chris Monroe/CNET Remember, most wireless extenders will cut your Wi-Fi in half because they receive the wireless signal and then rebroadcast it using the same radio on the same channel. Expect your speeds to be slower when connected to an extender instead of the router. One way around this is to use a tri-band extender with an extra 5GHz network that can act as a dedicated link to your router. This will help you get the maximum bandwidth out of the extender. Remember that many routers also work as extenders so another option is to buy a new router and use your old one as a wired or wireless extender. Check your current router to see if it can function as a wireless access point or extender. A new router will most likely give you better coverage, including outdoors, so using the old router as an extender could give you the extra boost in Wi-Fi coverage that you need. Between the two setups, the mesh system's big advantage over the router plus extenders is that the mesh devices create a single network so you don't have to reconnect to Wi-Fi when you move from room to room or outdoors. In general, mesh systems are designed so that your phone or laptop will automatically connect to the closest mesh unit without issue. When you have an extender, you have two networks, one for the router and one for the extender, which you may need to switch between when you move around. Plus, having two networks could cause interference with each other, especially on 2.4GHz. Your last resort for extending Wi-Fi outside? Powerline adapters One inexpensive option is using powerline adapters, which use your existing in-wall electrical wiring to extend your signal. You can plug some into an outdoor electrical socket but you'll be hard-pressed to find an affordable one that's weather-resistant. An indoor powerline adapter can also overheat if you plug it into a covered outlet outdoors. A temporary solution would be to use an indoor Wi-Fi powerline adapter, such as the Zyxel Powerline series, which you plug into an indoor outlet near where you need better coverage. Your range outdoors won't be great, but it should improve your current setup. What's the bottom line? The simplest option to extend Wi-Fi outside is with a mesh system and additional satellite units. This should give you a few hundred square feet of coverage outside your home. Mesh systems can be expensive, but the setup is usually easy for novice users. Theoretically, the best option would be to use an outdoor extender, but only a few consumer-rated products are available. TP-Link also offers two outdoor units -- the Deco X50-Outdoor, which is certified water- and dust-proof, and the Omada EAP772-Outdoor. We haven't had a chance to test these units, but we will update this post as soon as we do.
CNET
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Grab Yourself These New Ecobee Smart Home Devices With Up to 38% Off in the Memorial Day Sale
We're mere days away from Memorial Day, and that means there are deals all over the place on just about everything. This is a good chance to get into starting your own smart home system, if you've not done so already. They can offer a lot of extra comfort if you do it right, so are worth diving into. If you've been hoping to get some devices yourself, then you'll definitely want to check out the Ecobee smart home sale currently going on at Amazon. The sale knocks 38% off a few different smart home options from Ecobee, making it really easy to add a bit more functionality to your house. There are a few different options on sale here, but there are a couple of standouts. The first is the Ecobee Smart Video Doorbell, which is 38% off at just $100. This thing has motion sensors, night vision and lets you talk to the people at your door too. Then there's the Ecobee Smart Thermostat premium with $30 off, which comes with an air quality monitor and helps you track your energy usage and reduce it as well. The thermostat can be great for helping to fine-tune your usage of AC in the Summer and heating in the Winter. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. These are some of the best smart home deals going on right now, so if you like the look of them, make sure you don't miss out. These deals are on until May 28, so don't wait around too long if you decide you want to get one. Why this deal matters Smart home devices can help in a plethora of different ways, and being able to save money on a few different kinds all at once just makes things simpler. These can help you stay safer, have a little more convenience and even keep that energy bill down too.
Gizmodo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Amazon Drops the Newest Echo Pop to Its First and Lowest Price Yet, Practically Free for a Limited Time
If you've been thinking about dipping your toes into the smart home world, one good place to start is with an Amazon Echo device. It's easy to use, and you can put it just about anywhere in your house. It's a solid speaker and a smart home hub, and it's pretty unobtrusive, too. And if you want to go ahead and lock one in for yourself, Amazon is selling one at a great price right now. You won't want to miss out on this one, especially since it's available for only $25. In fact, you can get the newest version of the Echo Pop for just $25, down from its usual price of $40. That's $15 off and a discount of 38%. See at Amazon The smarter speaker that you can place anywhere The 4th Gen Echo is a smaller, sphere-shaped device that you can put just about anywhere and it won't look or feel too out of place. It's an effective speaker with a 3-inch woofer and dual front-firing tweeters, which means it actually offers sound that can fill a room if you want that type of music. And it can push out clear, crisp voice calls if you use it to communicate. But it's much more than that. In fact, you can use it to set up and keep track of all your smart home devices. That includes cameras, bridges, and more. You can use the Echo to bring them all together in a central location, which should make it a lot easier to set routines, get updates, control lights, and more. Alexa can help with a lot of that too, like weather updates, voice-controlled routines, news briefings, shopping lists, alarms, and more. There's even a built-in temperature sensor and motion detection, which you can use to trigger automations based on whether someone's in the room. And if you're worried about privacy, there's a physical button that cuts power to the microphones. You're in control of when it's listening. For just $25, this is a device that punches above its weight class in a big way. You'd probably find yourself spending a lot more on similarly functioning tech elsewhere, but Echo speakers are cheaper for a reason. And this one is affordable in a way right now that means you can get a couple and place them around your house, or give them as gifts. Whatever the case may be, don't miss out on this deal and head to Amazon to scoop one up. See at Amazon
