The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices connected to the internet and sharing data. These can range from everyday items to complex industrial tools.
Many organizations are leveraging IoT technologies across a range of industries to increase efficiency and optimize operations. They can be employed for increased productivity, automation of processes, and improved real-world outcomes monitoring.
1. Philips Hue
Philips Hue is one of the leading smart lighting systems available. It provides a vast selection of light bulbs and fixtures that can be controlled remotely via smartphone, Amazon Echo, Siri, or Google Assistant voice commands. Furthermore, Philips Hue also has an assortment of home accessories like motion sensors and outdoor lights to complete your smart home experience.
These light bulbs can be dimmed or colored-changed to suit any decor, and they’re even activated by motion, doorbell or smart speaker such as Apple HomeKit. Plus, you can program them to turn on and off automatically based on time of day or to simulate your presence in the home when arriving and leaving.
Each Hue light bulb connects with a device called the Hue Bridge, which looks like an Internet modem plugged into your router. This bridge links all your Hue devices together in the cloud so you can manage them remotely via phone or voice commands.
The Bridge acts as a translator for Zigbee, an open wireless communication protocol that enables your lights to communicate with each other and the Hue app like two kids playing with walkie-talkies. All bulbs in a Hue system can utilize Zigbee, as can all lights in the same room.
Since March 2018, Dutch company Signify has improved their Philips Hue app to enhance both performance and ease of use. The upgraded version aims to help users automate their lights, create personalized lighting scenes, and boasts a redesigned user interface that makes controlling your smart bulbs even simpler than before.
Furthermore, this app is now compatible with Apple HomeKit, so you can control your lights from an iPhone or iPad without relying on a computer or hub. Furthermore, other connected home devices such as locks and alarms will work seamlessly with this new version of the app.
Philips Hue is an ideal solution for anyone looking to build a smart home. The system is user-friendly and compatible with numerous products, allowing you to customize your lighting setup exactly the way you desire.
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2. Netgear Armor
NETGEAR Armor is the company’s new security service that safeguards devices connected to your network. It replaces traditional endpoint antivirus products with an in-built system that monitors activity going to and from your internet connection.
Features of this solution include sensitive data protection, anomaly detection and brute force protection. Anomaly detection works by learning your devices’ typical behaviour – if something seems out of place, it will be blocked before reaching your devices.
What is Netgear Armor?
Netgear Armor is a security solution available for a range of WiFi routers and mesh systems, powered by Bitdefender. This helps keep your home network protected against cyber attacks.
Netgear Armor stands out from traditional antivirus software because it is embedded into the hardware of your router, continuously monitoring traffic for suspicious activity.
The software can protect your smart devices, such as your TV, security camera and other home automation items from cyber threats. It also sends notifications when a new device joins your network so you have the option to block or accept them.
Sensitive Data Protection
Netgear Armor is a new cyber protection system available as a firmware upgrade for its Wifi 6, Orbi and Nighthawk range of routers. It promises to shield an unlimited number of devices on those networks from attacks, malware and other online hazards.
Armor uses a machine learning algorithm to learn the behavior of your connected devices and block any unusual activity. It also blocks attempts to send sensitive data such as login details, SSNs or more over non-encrypted connections.
With more and more smart home devices connected to home networks, hackers continue to target them with ransomware and other malicious software. Armor actively protects your network against Trojans, ransomware, zero-day exploits, rootkits and spyware. Furthermore, it blocks fraudulent websites trying to steal financial information like passwords or credit card numbers.
Anomaly Detection
NETGEAR Armor, which is built into many routers like Orbi and Nighthawk, now comes with new threat detection tools. One such algorithm utilizes machine learning techniques that monitor how devices connected to your network typically act.
It then blocks any activity that appears unusual, including malicious software and phishing attacks that could exploit unsecured connections.
Brute Force Protection
Netgear Armor now provides brute force protection to stop connected smart devices from being attacked by bots that attempt to compromise your passwords with unlimited tries. It also prevents denial-of-service attacks and shields your network against exploits by blocking them before they cause any harm.
Most Orbi and Nighthawk routers come equipped with the system, which can monitor activity going in and out of your home network. It filters out malicious sites and alerts you if it detects a threat.
DDoS Protection
Netgear Armor shields connected devices from a variety of online threats, such as hacking attempts, password thieves, ransomware and brute force attempts.
Additionally, it provides DDoS protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which are typically initiated by cybercriminals flooding your network with connections from multiple sources simultaneously.
Armor can detect and block connections that appear to be part of a DDoS attack, providing real-time notifications to keep you informed and alerts when new threats appear.
Exploit Prevention/IDS
Netgear Armor stands out among router-based security options because it is integrated into the router itself to monitor and filter traffic entering and leaving your home network. This eliminates the need for purchasing multiple security subscriptions or software packages at additional expense, saving you both time and money.
It also provides a range of exploit prevention/IDS features to shield your data and devices from malicious intrusions. These include:
Armor uses machine learning to learn the typical behavior of devices in your home network and block any activity that appears out-of-place. It then notifies you immediately when any suspicious activity is spotted.
Discover the best devices compatible with Netgear Armor, click here.
3. August Smart Lock
The August Smart Lock is the ideal way to give your front door a modern, remote control. You can unlock it remotely with your smartphone, grant temporary access to guests, and have it auto-lock when you enter or depart.
The Smart Lock’s success depends on its Bluetooth connection to your phone. When in range, your phone turns into a virtual key that unlocks the lock automatically.
It makes it simpler to enter and exit your home without fiddling with keys, making it a great alternative to regular deadbolts when you have kids or dogs that require frequent, hands-free access to your property.
Once paired with your phone, you can use the app to set smart rules like “door left open.” You have control over when to alert you if someone arrives at the door for an extended period or if it has been left unlocked for too long. Plus, with auto relock after a set amount of time, this lock can relock itself automatically after some delay.
Another excellent feature of the Smart Lock is its ability to send notifications directly to your phone when you lock or unlock it. You can even set a “door is left ajar” rule which will trigger a notification if the sensor detects that your door remains ajar for an extended period.
If you’re serious about protecting your home, the August Smart Lock Pro is an ideal option. Its compatibility with Z-Wave means it can easily integrate into your home’s smart system, while its HomeKit compatibility lets you unlock the door with voice command via Alexa or Google Assistant.
The August Smart Lock also features a DoorSense sensor to detect when your door is left ajar – this helps decide whether you need to call someone for assistance. And as expected with any smart lock, its battery life is impressively long, lasting around six months before needing replacement.
The August Smart Lock is an excellent value for your money and provides peace of mind that your home is secure at all times. It’s a great way to modernize your doors, but if you require more advanced features then consider investing in a more expensive model.
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4. Blink Outdoor and Indoor 3rd Gen Security Camera
The Blink Outdoor and Indoor 3rd Gen is a wireless security camera that lets you monitor your home at any time. Setup is effortless since there’s no wiring required, plus the device boasts up to two years of battery life!
The Blink app links your camera to your phone via QR code, allowing you to watch live video streaming. It’s free and requires no contract.
What is the Blink Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) camera?
The Blink Outdoor and Indoor 3rd Gen is an impressive wireless home security camera, designed to keep your house secure from burglaries or break-ins. It boasts a variety of motion sensors, customizable alerts, as well as voice controls for added convenience.
This battery-operated camera can record 1080p video during the day and infrared night vision after dark. Installation is effortless as there are no wires needed – simply plug it in!
Furthermore, it can be controlled by Alexa-enabled devices like the Amazon Echo Show. Plus, it supports motion alerts and livestreams to your phone or tablet for added convenience.
The camera also includes a small, square receiver called the Sync Module that plugs into an outlet and acts as the brains of your system. This device connects to Wi-Fi network and accepts USB flash drives for local video storage.
What are the main features of the Blink Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) camera?
If you need to keep an eye on your backyard or just check in on your pets when away, the Blink Outdoor and Indoor 3rd Gen is an affordable solution that will keep you connected.
These cameras are easy to set up, requiring no cables or power sources. Plus, their design ensures they will last up to two years on two AA batteries!
This camera offers an optional battery extender to help double your battery life and it also has features like motion detection and night vision.
You can customize your activity zones in the app to your exact requirements. These zones can be adjusted by inches, making them invaluable for quickly spotting movement around the house.
This camera also allows you to set custom temperature alerts, which come in handy if your yard gets too hot or cold for one small camera to handle. Plus, with its two-way audio feature, you can communicate with anyone in the yard.
What are the main drawbacks of the Blink Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) camera?
Blink Indoor and Outdoor 3rd Gen are both wireless cameras that connect to your home WiFi network, allowing them to be placed virtually anywhere without the need for near an outlet. This way, you can monitor both outside your front yard as well as inside of your house with ease.
These cameras both record in 1080p HD video during the day and high-definition infrared night vision at night. Their motion sensors allow you to customize which zones they monitor and how often, plus they offer 24/7 alerts.
However, if you have multiple cameras, you may start getting an abundance of false or unwanted alerts which can be distracting and irritating. To reduce this, adjust the sensitivity slider within Blink app.
If you’re in search of an easy-to-install wireless security camera, the Blink Indoor and Outdoor are worth considering. At their price point, these cameras offer all the features necessary to keep your home secure.
What are the main advantages of the Blink Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) camera?
The Blink Outdoor and Indoor (3rd Gen) cameras offer several key benefits, including their low price point, ease of installation, and superior video quality. Furthermore, these discreet cameras make them perfect for people who want to monitor their property remotely.
Their lithium AA batteries should provide power for two years before needing replacement – ideal!
They come with the Blink Sync Module 2, allowing users to record clips directly onto a USB flash drive instead of paying for cloud storage. This is great if you don’t want to pay for an annual cloud subscription or just want to store footage locally on their own device.
In addition to their low price, the Blink Indoor and Outdoor are known for their ease of use, durability, and super discreet design. Plus, these devices don’t require a lot of energy consumption when operating either one.
Discover the best deals for Blink Cameras, click here.
Visit this article in the next days, to discover more devices. Meanwhile, check out all the best Smart Home topics in IoT Worlds.
