What Is A Smart Doorbell, And Which Should You Buy?

Imagine you’re watching TV or browsing the web and an unexpected visitor knocks on your door. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could see who it is just by looking at your phone? Or imagine you’re at work and a delivery man comes with a sensitive package. Wouldn’t it be great if you could speak directly to them and give instructions over the phone? What if your doorbell could log all the times someone came to visit?

If these features seem like the perfect mix of practical and futuristic, perhaps you should consider installing a smart doorbell in your home.

What Is a Smart Doorbell?

When we talk about electronic devices, a “smart” device is any device that can connect to the internet that normally wouldn’t be able to. For example, a “smartphone” is an internet-capable phone and a “smart TV” is an internet-capable TV.

A smart doorbell is the exact same thing: an internet-capable doorbell. Most smart doorbells are easy and quick to install, and come with built-in cameras, speakers, and microphones.

There’s no learning curve for your visitors. All they have to do is press a button the same way they would any other doorbell. When they do, you receive an alert on your phone. You can then see who it is (using the camera) and even communicate with them (using the speakers and microphone).

The main benefit is convenience. Being able to answer the door from anywhere is huge! Not to mention the peace of mind that it brings. In the case of a suspicious visitor, you can see who they are without going near the door and can maybe even record their identity.

And when combined with a smart door lock, you can grant entry to visitors who stop by while you aren’t home.

Top Smart Doorbells on the Market

The market for smart doorbells is still relatively young — it’s only been around for a few years. In other words, while you can expect these products to work well enough, just be aware that manufacturers are still working out some kinks and evolving their functionality.

1. Ring

https://youtu.be/vl8sZI5AH4g

The Ring Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is  the most popular smart doorbell currently on the market, and for good reason. It’s a bit on the expensive side at $170, but it offers all the important features: visitor alerts, motion sensors, night vision, live HD video, and two-way communication.

The 180-degree camera has a 720p resolution. The motion sensor is extremely useful for notification of shady visitors who might be scoping out your house. And the night vision quality is surprisingly good. One more thing to note: it’s robust and weather resistant.

As of this writing, a newer version called the Ring Wi-Fi Video Doorbell 2 is available with 1080p video and a rechargeable battery pack. But it costs a bit more at $200, and is currently out of stock for at least a few months. Something to consider if you’re willing to wait.

Alternatively, you might want to save up a bit more and get the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $250. It’s expensive, but has the ability to automatically record footage when the motion sensor is triggered. Furthermore, the 1080p camera has a wider angle for greater coverage.

2. SkyBell HD

https://youtu.be/oFNENHGF5uk

The SkyBell HD Video Doorbell is the second most popular option. It offers a ton of excellent features, including a 1080p camera with a considerable amount of zoom, and only costs $160 (unless you opt for the bronze variety at $250).

This doorbell has sharp night vision, two-way communication, motion sensors, and on-demand viewing so you can tune in to the camera whenever you want, even when nobody has rung the doorbell.

But perhaps most important? It looks unremarkable, like any regular doorbell, and thus doesn’t draw undue attention to itself. The only downside is that the video can be a bit blurry at times, especially at night, and the motion sensor can be too sensitive to movement.

3. VueBell

The VueBell Video Doorbell is the least-known option in this article, partly because it’s new and partly because the company is based out of Asia. Despite how new it is on the market, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better-quality smart doorbell at this price.

For just $110, you get a 720p camera with a 185-degree field of view, which counts as a wide angle. It has two-way communication, passable night vision, motion sensors, and the ability to take a snapshot whenever the motion sensor is triggered or somebody rings the doorbell.

While the aesthetics are sleek, it does look a bit futuristic and thus sticks out like a sore thumb. It may not complement your home’s appearance.

4. August Doorbell Cam

https://youtu.be/aiv8tLCix9U

August is best known for its smart door lock, so it makes sense to offer a smart doorbell alongside it. Unfortunately, the reception for August’s door lock has been polarized, and much more so for the love-it-or-hate-it August Doorbell Cam.

Not that the smart doorbell is bad. The device is fine in terms of features: two-way communication, HD camera with a resolution slightly bigger than 720p, motion sensors and alerts, and recording of missed visitors. The performance of these features is also good.

Unfortunately, the software can be somewhat buggy at times, and you may experience lag depending on the age and specs of your smartphone. The doorbell’s square shape is also a point of contention for users. But overall, it’s a strong choice that you’ll most likely be satisfied with.

5. Zmodo Greet

https://youtu.be/Lbmcf9iAFLs

The Zmodo Greet Video Doorbell is the absolute cheapest you’ll want to go as far as smart doorbells are concerned. Its $80 price tag might still be a bit much, but go any lower and you’ll have to sacrifice build quality, reliability, available features, or image and sound quality.

In addition to a 720p camera, night vision, and two-way communication, the Zmodo model has motion sensors that can send alerts and record footage when triggered. If you aren’t at home and don’t want to communicate directly, it can play a personalized voice message for visitors.

Which Smart Doorbell Is Right for You?

If money is no concern, go with one of the Ring models. If money is your greatest concern, go with the Zmodo. But if you’re willing to take a risk and you want the best bang for your buck, go with the VueBell.

The very concept of a smart doorbell is silly to some, but the convenience factor is off the charts. Once you can answer your door from halfway across the world, you’ll never want to go back. It’s one of several smart home features worth the cost.

How to Protect Windows From Meltdown and Spectre Security Threats

So much for a new year meaning a fresh start. 2017 brought us security vulnerabilities such as WannaCry ransomware and the Equifax hack, but things haven’t got much better at the beginning of 2018. We had only just finished welcoming in the new year when the next security bombshell hit the headlines. And it wasn’t only one flaw, but two. Nicknamed Meltdown and Spectre, the vulnerabilities originate from computer microprocessors. In terms of severity and number of people potentially affected, experts have likened them to 2014’s Heartbleed bug.

The bugs can attack all desktop operating systems, but in this article, we’re only going to focus on Windows. Let’s take a closer look at how the vulnerabilities work and how you can tell whether they have affected you.

Meltdown and Spectre: A Closer Look

Before we explain how to detect the two bugs on your own system, let’s take a moment to fully understand what the two vulnerabilities are and how they work.

The same group of security researchers were responsible for finding both the problems. At an elementary level, they are flaws in processor architecture (i.e. the transistors, logic units, and other tiny components that work together to make a processor function).

The flaw allows a would-be hacker to expose almost any data that a computer processes. That includes passwords, encrypted messages, personal information, and anything else you can think of.

Meltdown only affects Intel processors. Worryingly, the bug has been present since 2011. It uses part of the out-of-order execution (OOOE) process to change the cache state of a CPU. It can then dump the contents of the memory when it usually would be inaccessible.

Spectre can attack Intel, AMD, and ARM processors, and can thus also affect phones, tablets, and smart devices. It uses a processor’s speculative execution and branch prediction in conjunction with cache attacks to trick apps into revealing information that should be hidden within the protected memory area.

Spectre attacks need to be customized on a machine-by-machine basis, meaning they are harder to execute. However, because it’s based on an established practice in the industry, it’s also harder to fix.

Is Your Windows 10 PC Affected by Meltdown?

Thankfully, Microsoft has published a handy PowerShell script that you can run on your system. Follow the steps below and you can install and activate an additional module on your system. The results will indicate whether you need to take further steps.

First, run PowerShell as an administrator: press Windows key + Q or open the Start Menu, type PowerShell, right-click the first result (Windows PowerShell, desktop app) and select Run as administrator.

After PowerShell has loaded, follow these steps to find out whether your PC is affected by Meltdown. Note that you can copy-and-paste commands into PowerShell.

• Enter Install-Module SpeculationControl and press Enter to run the command.
• Confirm the NuGet provider prompt by entering a Y for Yes and hitting Enter.
• Do the same for the Untrusted repository prompt.
• Next, type Set-ExecutionPolicy $SaveExecutionPolicy -Scope Currentuser and press Enter
• When the installation has completed, type Import-Module SpeculationControl and press Enter.
• Finally, type Get-SpeculationControlSettings and hit Enter.

After you have run these commands, check the output result for the results — it will be either True or False.

If you see only True messages, congratulations, you are protected and don’t need to take any further action. If a False pops up, your system is vulnerable, and you need to take further action. Be sure to note the suggested actions shown in the results. As shown in the screenshot above, our test computer requires a BIOS/firmware update and yet has to install a patch provided through Windows Update.

How Can You Protect Yourself Against Meltdown?

To the company’s credit, Microsoft originally moved quickly to issue a patch for Meltdown. You can find it through the Windows Update tool (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check of updates). You need to download and install patch KB4056892 for Windows build 16299.

Troublingly, the patch is incompatible with some antivirus suites. It only works if your security software’s ISV has updated the ALLOW REGKEY in the Windows registry.

You should also update your browser. Google has patched Meltdown in Chrome 64 and Mozilla has updated Firefox in version 57 (Quantum). Microsoft has even patched the latest version of Edge. Check with your browser’s developer if you use a non-mainstream app.

Lastly, you need to update your system’s BIOS and firmware. Some computer manufacturers include an app within Windows so you can quickly check for such updates. If your PC manufacturer didn’t supply one, or if you deleted it, you should be able to find updates on the company’s website.

How Can You Protect Yourself Against Spectre?

Meltdown is the more immediate threat and is the easier of the two bugs for hackers to exploit. However, Spectre is harder to remedy.

Because of the way Spectre works, fixing it will require companies to completely redesign the way they build processors. That process could take years, and it could be decades until the current iteration of processors is entirely out of circulation.

But that doesn’t mean Intel hasn’t tried to offer its customers ways to protect themselves. Unfortunately, the response has been a shambles.

In mid-January, Intel released a Spectre patch. Immediately, Windows users started complaining that the patch was buggy; it was forcing their computers to randomly reboot at unexpected times. Intel’s response was to release a second patch. It didn’t fix the issue; the reboot problems continued.

At this point, millions of users have installed the patch. Intel told customers not to download either patch until it could fix the issue. But there was a problem for Windows users. The Intel patch was being delivered through the Windows Update app. Users continued to unwittingly install it; after all, we all know how opaque the current Windows update process is.

While random reboots are certainly annoying, the most worrying part of the buggy patch was the potential for data loss. In Intel’s own words, “It caused higher than expected reboots and other unpredictable system behavior […] which may result in data loss or corruption.”

Fast-forward to the end of January, and Microsoft was forced to step in. The company took a highly unusual step. It issued an out-of-band emergency security update for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 that completely disables Intel’s patch.

How to Install the Microsoft Fix

Unfortunately, the new patch will not be available through the Windows Update app. You will have to install it manually.

To begin, head to the Microsoft Update Catalog. You need to find Update for Windows (KB4078130). When you’re ready, click on Download.

Next, click on the [string of text].EXE file.

The file is tiny and will only take a couple of seconds to download. When the download has finished, double-click on the EXE file and follow the on-screen instructions.

So, what about the future? If you’ve been following along, you’ll have realized that affected users are back to where they started: exposed and unprotected.

Hopefully, Intel will release a more successful patch in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you’ll have to sit tight.

Do Meltdown and Spectre Worry You?

It’s understandable to feel worried. After all, our computers quite literally hold the keys to our lives.

But it’s also important to take solace from the facts. You are highly unlikely to be the victim of a Spectre attack. The time and effort a hacker needs to put in for an unspecified return make you an unattractive proposition.

And the big tech companies have known about the two issues since the middle of 2017. They’ve had plenty of time to prepare patches and respond in the best way they are able.

The Five Best Free Desktop Mail Clients

Web-based email services have come a long way over the past decade, and many of them are feature-rich enough to be on par with desktop-based alternatives. But there are several valid reasons to keep using desktop email software. Postbox and Outlook are the two main options, but they’re expensive. If you only need an email client to handle one or two personal accounts, then a free email client will likely serve you just fine — just be aware that you may run into feature restrictions as a free user.

1. Thunderbird

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux.

Though Thunderbird development was discontinued in 2012, it still receives maintenance updates so don’t write it off as dead just yet. In fact, a stable version update was released earlier this year. The client won’t be getting any new features going forward, but it’s absolutely still usable.

And, as sad as it is to say, Thunderbird is the only free and open source desktop email client that’s actually worth using. Other open source clients exist, but they’re riddled with issues like clunky interfaces, glitchy performance, and lack of advanced features.

If you’re adamant about never spending a penny and never switching to a web-based client, then Thunderbird is your best bet. It can do pretty much anything you need, including setting up message filters and autoresponding to emails, among other nifty tips and tweaks.

Download: Thunderbird (Free)

2. Mailspring

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux.

 Back in 2016, Nylas Mail hit the scene and looked as if it’d be the desktop email client to put all other desktop email clients to shame. But then in August 2017, the team announced that they’d no longer be working on Nylas Mail and opened up the source to the public.

One of the original authors then forked the project and relaunched Nylas Mail as Mailspring. In addition to keeping the project alive, he optimized and improved many of the internal components, resulting in quicker syncing, less RAM usage, faster launch times, and more.

Thunderbird may be the client of choice for those who want reliability and time-tested staying power, but Mailspring is the client to use if you want something fresh, new, exciting, and full of future potential. It’s free to use indefinitely with some advanced features locked behind a subscription.

 Notable Free Version Features

• Syncs with Gmail, Office 365, Yahoo, iCloud, FastMail, and IMAP.
• Unlimited email accounts and unified inbox.
• Undo sent emails within a given period of time.
• Support for pre-built themes, layouts, and emojis.

Notable Pro Version Features

• Powerful template support for productivity.
• Track whether emails are opened and links are clicked.
• Schedule emails to be sent at a future time.
• Snooze emails and create follow-up reminders.
• Share email threads with others using a web link.

Download: Mailspring (Free, $8/mo for Pro)

3. Sylpheed

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux.

Sylpheed is an email client that’s been around since 2001. While it does feel dated when compared to modern email clients, it’s not bad by any stretch. In fact, its old-school interface and approach to email management may actually prove helpful if your email habits are causing undue stress.

The best thing about Sylpheed is that it knows what it is: an email client. It doesn’t concern itself with tons of extraneous features that do nothing but bloat the installation and clutter the interface. Sylpheed is simple, lightweight, and full-featured.

Notable features include fast launch and overall performance, advanced email search and filters, effective junk mail control, encryption, and extensibility through plugins.

Download: Sylpheed (Free)

4. Mailbird

Available for Windows.

If you’ve never used desktop email before, then you’ll probably love Mailbird. If you’re migrating from another client, it will be hit or miss — some parts will feel familiar, other bits will impress you, but you’ll undoubtedly find aspects that you hate as well.

All we can recommend is giving it a try. It’s definitely slick and modern, and there’s a lot to like about it. Note that it’s a freemium app so the free version is restricted in some ways.

Notable Free Version Features

• Beautifully sleek and minimal interface.
• Syncs with any IMAP or POP email service.
• Lightning fast search and indexing.
• Integration with Dropbox, Evernote, Google Docs, and more.
• Supports up to 3 email accounts.

Notable Pro Version Features

• Unlimited email accounts and unified inbox.
• Snooze emails and set up reminders.
• Speed reader for emails.
• Quick preview for email attachments.

Download: Mailbird (Free, $18/yr or $59 one-time for Pro)

5. eM Client

Available for Windows.

eM Client aims to be an all-in-one solution for dealing with office tasks and communications. It’s primarily designed for email, but also has nifty calendar integration, task management, contacts organization, and even chat support — and the free version only has one (albeit major) limitation, as you can see below.

Notable Free Version Features

• Slick Modern UI interface that fits well with Microsoft apps.
• Syncs with Gmail, Exchange, iCloud, Office 365, and Outlook.com.
• Conversational view for email threads.
• Integration with all common chat services, including Jabber.
• Supports up to 2 email accounts.

Notable Pro Version Features

• Supports an unlimited number of email accounts.
• Can be used for commercial purposes (e.g. business office use).
• VIP support and troubleshooting.

Download: eM Client (Free, $50 one-time purchase)

Protect Your Business Against Ransomware

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to help small businesses across America protect against ransomware, and the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) has issued this message: NCCIC has received multiple reports of WannaCry ransomware infections worldwide. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that infects and restricts access to a computer until a ransom is paid. Although there are other methods of delivery, ransomware is frequently delivered through phishing emails and exploits unpatched vulnerabilities in software.

Phishing emails are crafted to appear as though they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual. These emails often entice users to click on a link or open an attachment containing malicious code. After the code is run, your computer may become infected with malware.

A commitment to cyber hygiene and best practices is critical to protecting organizations and users from cyber threats, including malware.

In advice specific to the recent WannaCry ransomware threat, users should:

• Be careful when clicking directly on links in emails, even if the sender appears to be known; attempt to verify web addresses independently (e.g., contact your organization's helpdesk or search the Internet for the main website of the organization or topic mentioned in the email).
• Exercise caution when opening email attachments. Be particularly wary of compressed or ZIP file attachments.
• Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or email messages from individuals asking about employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.
• Avoid providing personal information or information about your organization, including its structure or networks, unless you are certain of a person's authority to have the information.
• Avoid revealing personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. This includes following links sent in email.
• Be cautious about sending sensitive information over the Internet before checking a website's security.

If you are unsure whether an email request is legitimate, try to verify it by contacting the company directly. Do not use contact information provided on a website connected to the request; instead, check previous statements for contact information. Information about known phishing attacks is also available online from anti-phishing groups such as the APWG.

Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips For Small Businesses

Hackers have breached half of the 28 million small businesses in the United States, according to the 2016 State of SMB Cybersecurity Report. Contact our security experts to ensure your business is safe!

1. Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malicious code Make sure each of your business’s computers are equipped with antivirus software and antispyware and update regularly. Such software is readily available online from a variety of vendors. All software vendors regularly provide patches and updates to their products to correct security problems and improve functionality. Configure all software to install updates automatically.
2. Secure your networks Safeguard your Internet connection by using a firewall and encrypting information.  If you have a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is secure and hidden. To hide your Wi-Fi network, set up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). Password protect access to the router.
3. Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information Establish policies on how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.  Clearly outline the consequences of violating your business’s cybersecurity policies.
4. Educate employees about cyberthreats and hold them accountable  Educate your employees about online threats and how to protect your business’s data, including safe use of social networking sites.  Depending on the nature of your business, employees might be introducing competitors to sensitive details about your firm’s internal business. Employees should be informed about how to post online in a way that does not reveal any trade secrets to the public or competing businesses.  Hold employees accountable to the business’s Internet security policies and procedures.
5. Require employees to use strong passwords and to change them often  Consider implementing multifactor authentication that requires additional information beyond a password to gain entry. Check with your vendors that handle sensitive data, especially financial institutions, to see if they offer multifactor authentication for your account.
6. Employ best practices on payment cards  Work with your banks or card processors to ensure the most trusted and validated tools and anti-fraud services are being used. You may also have additional security obligations related to agreements with your bank or processor. Isolate payment systems from other, less secure programs and do not use the same computer to process payments and surf the Internet.

   Are you ready for the shift from magnetic-strip payment cards to safer, more secure chip card technology, also known as “EMV”? October 1st is the deadline set by major U.S. credit card issuers to be in compliance. Visit SBA.gov/EMV for more information and resources.

7. Make backup copies of important business data and information Regularly backup the data on all computers. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files, and accounts receivable/payable files. Backup data automatically if possible, or at least weekly, and store the copies either offsite or on the cloud.
8. Control physical access to computers and network components Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft or can be lost, so lock them up when unattended. Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and require strong passwords. Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel.
9. Create a mobile device action plan Mobile devices can create significant security and management challenges, especially if they hold confidential information or can access the corporate network.. Require users to password protect their devices, encrypt their data, and install security apps to prevent criminals from stealing information while the phone is on public networks. Be sure to set reporting procedures for lost or stolen equipment.
10. Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages