Getting more from broadband 3: Home security

You may have got your broadband connection and your firewall installed, but what about your PC's physical security?

Alarm bells
The idea of being able to use your PC as a burglar alarm has been touted for a while, but it's only since always-on broadband has become widely available that it's become really possible. It's not easy to set up, but it could provide invaluable peace of mind.

A burglar alarm is little more than a collection of dumb electronic switches, so if a door circuit is broken, for example, the alarm rings. The police estimate that as many as 65 per cent of alarm calls are false and in some areas they refuse to investigate further unless there's reasonable suspicion that someone is breaking and entering.

How much more efficient would it be then to use your PC to augment an existing system and so be able to tell the police how many people are breaking in and what they look like.

At the simplest level, a PC can act as a replacement or substitute for an alarm system. Backson sells PC Patrol, a product that includes wireless motion sensors and a receiver connected to your system.

In the event of an alarm, the system will call or page you on a preset number (your mobile). In addition to this, you can add in wireless PC cameras, magnetic sensors and a microphone for additional functionality.

Unfortunately, this product stores images as Audio Video Interleave files on your PC, which isn't particularly helpful - if the burglar steals your PC, then you've lost all of the images.

The price for this software ranges from £127.30 to £210.47 (ex. VAT), depending on optional extras. The software can also be linked into and control lighting systems to give the impression that someone's at home all the time.

There's a growing number of software suites that allow you to remotely control various functions within your home. Bill Gates has spent millions on a highly advanced system for his $97m mansion in Medina, Seattle, but you can get some of the same functionality for a fraction of the cost.

Home DirectorIBM created the Home Director software suite to do the same job. Networking infrastructures, called the Network Connection Centre, distribute voice, video and data services into every room.

Residential gateways, including next-generation digital set-top boxes, provide an added layer of computing software intelligence. You can get a variety of options depending on how much control you want and how many functions you need. Costs range from £950 to £2,750 (ex. VAT).

The product should be available in the UK by the end of the year. For the home or office user with a smaller budget, Gotcha offers software that allows you to set up a webcam as a remote viewer.

Rather than store the images on your PC, these are sent to a web page, so you can view and store them wherever you're based at the time. You can also buy cameras from Gotcha, but it's better to buy the software alone if you're on a budget.

The software can be configured to take snapshot images whenever there's movement in front of the camera or, for notebook PC users, if it detects motion. You can be alerted to the fact that an image has been taken via email or audio alert. Otherwise, you can choose to monitor only at preset times.

Other useful functions are also built in. For example, if you're playing a game and the camera detects movement behind you, the program can automatically shut down that window and open another. Costs range from £62.87 (ex. VAT) for the single-camera option to £240.69 (ex. VAT).

A similar product from Inetcam called iVista is available as a download from the website for £63.01 (ex. VAT). This works particularly well with wireless technology and so is perfect for the wireless cameras currently being pushed by x10.

Security, be it in the office or at home, is coming into its own thanks to broadband. If you choose a high-tech solution, you should stay one step ahead of the criminal fraternity.

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