Fifteen years ago, home security meant a deadbolt and a loud alarm. Today, it means proactive intelligence. Modern systems offer:

Yet, as the late privacy scholar Alan Westin noted, privacy is the voluntary and temporary withdrawal of oneself from society. A security camera, by its nature, denies that withdrawal. And when that camera is connected to the internet, the withdrawal becomes permanent.

Sophisticated hackers can exploit weak passwords or outdated firmware to watch live feeds, sometimes using them for blackmail or "swatting" attacks.

Here is how to navigate the intersection of home security and privacy. 1. Secure Your Data: DIY vs. Professional Systems

A camera is only as secure as the Wi-Fi network it sits on.

Systems that use local NVR/DVR storage or SD cards rather than the cloud give you more direct control over who can view your footage.