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What is the best wireless security system that is connected to the Internet?

I am specifically looking for security systems for my home, not my computer. Thanks

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  1. If you google wireless router comparisons you will find lots and lots to wade through. For my own ideas: Unless you have need of a longer-range router, don't get one of the newer ones with longer range. (The longer the range, the greater the opportunity for others to find and use it.) You want to be able to do/use the following: -deliver hardware firewall (NAT), which will not respond to port-focused pings or inquiries from outside your network (operates in stealth mode) -turn off the broadcast of the ID (each one comes with a factory installed default, e.g., linksys for Linksys routers) -change that name, to name the now-not-broadcast ID to something meaningful to you -MAC filtered (allow access only to those machines for which you have entered the MAC ID) -WPA-level encryption Sniffers (think police scanners for wireless frequencies) can detect and intercept the radio traffic between computers and routers. In principle, they can be used to identify the network name and forge a MAC to allow access. That is why encryption is essential, and for security, WPA is the tops available (I think). WEP encryption can be broken in a matter of seconds-to-minutes. I have a Linksys, lower end router in my home that does all these things. Good luck.
  2. At risk of sounding like a broken record, I've said it before and I'll say it again wireless security systems are flawed by design. The technology is far from perfect and in most cases will cause you nothing but problems. Sure there are a few cases where the conditions are perfect and a wireless system will work at an acceptable level, however, with the continual increase of wireless devices flooding the airwaves problems are inevitable. Wireless is a nice concept but should be kept to non-mission-critical devices and definately away from things that can irritate your neighbours and result in fines from the police when they malfunction. (Note I said When not If) Now if you are looking for a security alarm which can connect to the internet, this would depend on what type of connection you are talking about. If you want to send signals to the monitoring station via TCP/IP then there are several manufacturors with modules available which will work on almost any alarm panel. If you are looking for remote access into the system, the pickings are slimmer. Paradox has just come out with a module which enables remote access into the control panel and I believe DSC as well as Ademco have something similar. Although I believe DSC is primarily for back-up reporting purposes. Ademco and Napco as well as a few other systems do have the ability to integrate with a PC which you could then connect to remotely via PC-anywhere or something equally as cheasy. Napco also has a developer kit available for those code monkey's who really want to play around. Thing is, for ease and features I would suggest the Paradox EVO line. The IP module is still somewhat under development but it is available and I will actually be testing one out this week sometime. If you want some more information on security system technology as well as the flaws inherent in wireless security systems, I have written a number of articles on various security related topics. These can be found on my website at http://www.keepsafesystems.ca.