Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Chapter 13, Build a Security System

Intrusion Detection

You can’t protect every inch of your home, but fortunately, intruders are

pretty predictable in the methods they use to gain access. They don’t like to

make a lot of noise, so they probably won’t cut through one of your walls.

Instead, they’ll try to enter through a door or window.

Figure 13-1. The components of a security system.

Intrusion Detection

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Part III: Home Security

So we’ve narrowed down the possible points of entry, but most homes have

several doors and windows. Protecting all of them could get expensive,

so it’s important to prioritize these potential entrances. First, focus your

energy on doors and ground-floor windows that are concealed from the

street. For me, I’m most concerned about the door at the back of my house

that is completely concealed below a deck and a bulkhead. It’s the door an

intruder would most likely attempt to gain entry through, so it’s the first

one I need to protect.

You’ll also want to protect the front door. Even if it’s visible from the street,

an intruder may boldly approach it and be able to quickly bypass your

locks without looking suspicious. If he can pick or break your lock quickly,

nobody may ...