would you trust the new smart alarm system or better with traditional alarm?

The old alarm system has been disabled and half taken down when I had the house renovated, been thinking of getting a new alarm system and got a few quotes already, mostly Texecom system. 80% of the rooms already have wires in place so just replacing with new panel, PIR, alarm and adding a few wireless sensors etc.

I'm using the Ring Pro video doorbell and quite like it, was looking at the Nest doorbell and noticed that Nest is going to introduce their new alarm system, all wireless and looks quite cool. So I'm also tempted to try out this system as it looks like quite an easy DIY job and smart too, just wondering what's people's view on the new smart alarm systems being introduced recent time.

I'm in a fairly safe area and gated development of three houses, and there is no fences in between the front gardens of the three houses so neighbours will alsl be able to notice any strangers. I have motion detection on the doorbell at drive way gate and will be adding another 2 camera front and back with motion detection. I think the alarm system is more for the peace of mind but still, it has to work when needed.

Integration is a way of increasing revenue and alarms with home automation are not essential.

From an 'old hand', I would not have a wireless system if you paid for it, especially a gimmicky one that will not stand up to any alarm standards or insurance requiremets

I am not an alarm specialist and guys like SecureIAm most definitely are, but I do have an IT background. Any smart wireless system is more vulnerable that hard wired. Hackers manage to get into military systems. Obviously decision should always be based on risk vs practicality. Eg. I would NEVER have wireless camera system videoing inside my home.

secureiam said:

Integration is a way of increasing revenue and alarms with home automation are not essential.

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Integration makes life easier The alarm system for me does not have to be integrated, was just interested in the new smart things, think it would be quite convient to be able to arm/unarm the system on the phone and get notifications when it's triggered or maybe even videos of the scene.

I was looking for integrated video doorbell and gate automation system, I'm using Ring Pro doorbell (interim) and have automated driveway gate, would love to be able to control the gate via phone so when delivery comes while I'm out, I can open the gate and let them leave the package at front door - instead of throwing over the driverway gate, I had a priner "delivered" that way

Europlex said:

From an 'old hand', I would not have a wireless system if you paid for it, especially a gimmicky one that will not stand up to any alarm standards or insurance requiremets

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I'd stay with all wired if I had the wires there, the previous owner had the system install for most room but none for the hall way, kitchen, garage and 2 bedrooms upstaris. Didnt notice it until my renovation completed so now I'll have to go for 'hybrid', so I thought may as well try the all wireless alarm system.

skyhawker said:

I am not an alarm specialist and guys like SecureIAm most definitely are, but I do have an IT background. Any smart wireless system is more vulnerable that hard wired. Hackers manage to get into military systems. Obviously decision should always be based on risk vs practicality. Eg. I would NEVER have wireless camera system videoing inside my home.

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Yep I think practical is the key, the alarm is not prevent intruders to get in, just to make it aware by people and maybe scare them off, so as long as it's stable and not causing a lot of false alarms, or too ealisy hacked, it should be fine. And I think the smart system when fully integrated provides a useful feature, to be able to live view the scene and maybe record as well.

europlex's point alarm standards is an interesting one as the need to enforce standards is controlled by the insurance, however as soon as you tell the insurance you have an alarm system you will not be covered if the alarm was not set.

just because an alarm system is not setup to the standards it doesn't mean its anymore secure either, as the standards believe it or not, or not wholly designed around making the home secure.

There are features with graded alarms (installed to standards) that make it more secure that is for certain.

With wireless specifically my advice in its simplest terms is to get an alarm where the panel is at least capable of meeting the standards for the country its being fitted in and that all devices add to the system are also capable if installed to the standard.

as for cameras and access to cameras, this debate has been aired several times, every possible security measure can be circumvented and it comes down to why its been circumvented.

cameras, it isn't necessarily about the images from the cameras and holding you to ransom as you came down the stairs naked, but gaining access to your system to exploit your pc's processing power and to look at online financial transactions.

You can protect your system with routers that lock down your system, have vpns so when you access your system remotely the connection to the net you are using doesn't see your data.

VPN's running a VPN is great, but there so many different types and the security of these do vary, its never a good idea to send data in plain text over an external connection as its likely to be picked up.

Given that most people rarely changed passwords from manufacturers default values, many of the ways into your network are unbelievably simple but hackers use known vulnerabilities to hack systems, hence why you see update after update for security holes that have been found on various things.

The chances are there are people using these forums that have already been hacked and don't even know it.

So many people open dodgy emails and download things from the net, without knowing if its truly safe.

Wired every day but that comes from my IT background, and talking specifically about WiFi, I wouldn't trust it for anything secure nor allow anything I wasn't 100% sure of, onto my network. I've seen WiFi breached during University labs demos on numerous occasions, seen incredible techniques with parallel processing graphics cards, which you can research if you are that way inclined. You might say a burglar will not know these things highly technical things, but in years to come they will have access to dodgy apps which can provide such facilities - it's always a game of catch-up.

Whilst nothing is totally secure, WiFi IMO is the easiest and most vulnerable because it's literally broadcasting all the time. The recent KRACK issue (https://www.krackattacks.com) shows just how vulnerable "secure" Wi-Fi WP2 has turned out to be, and with home owners now adding multiple dumb/insecure IoT (internet of things) devices, including alarms, it'll get worse. Many of these, including "smart" TVs will never be patched for security issues such as KRACK, so anyone with the knowledge could potentially hop onto your network - you only need one insecure device and that'll give a possible entry point. If you look at the WiFi of Texecom, flaws were shown years ago with the communications protocol sending data in plain text over WiFi, info here: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/12/31/iot_alarm_crypto/

I'm sure some of the wireless additions to alarms like Texecom (Ricochet) are no doubt good, and can certainly add sensors to where it may be impossible to run cables. Depends what protocols they are using, and how secure it has been independently verified to be. That's different to hopping onto your WiFi network obviously.

If you aim is a deterrent, then something is always better than nothing of course, be it wireless or wired!

I have stickers covering the cameras on all my computer's. I certainly wouldn't have a camera up in the corner of every room taking stills with a weak alarm panel firmware between it and the outside world. Someone hacking in and causing havoc with your system is recoverable. Someone taking images is a different story.

Sup9 said:

Integration makes life easier The alarm system for me does not have to be integrated, was just interested in the new smart things, think it would be quite convient to be able to arm/unarm the system on the phone and get notifications when it's triggered or maybe even videos of the scene.

I was looking for integrated video doorbell and gate automation system, I'm using Ring Pro doorbell (interim) and have automated driveway gate, would love to be able to control the gate via phone so when delivery comes while I'm out, I can open the gate and let them leave the package at front door - instead of throwing over the driverway gate, I had a priner "delivered" that way

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Integration doesn’t have to mean wireless or a ‘fashionable’ system. You can go wired and use the alarm outputs via a GSM dialler to automate what you like. A decent, knowledgeable engineer is the key and not just an alarm fitter.

Twenty Four said:

A decent, knowledgeable engineer is the key and not just an alarm fitter.

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Well said