Browse All Articles > SecureHome Turns Your Mac into a Security Alarm
If you other experts are anything like me you are always looking into and testing out new features. While I was doing some research one day I ran across an app that I installed on my Mac and used as a security system. Mac OS X: SecureHome uses your Mac's built-in microphone to listen to potential intruders and sound an alarm if any noise reaches a user-defined threshold.
If an intruder is heard, the app can sound an alarm to try and scare them off and email an alert to your smartphone. Some of the features of this app are as follows: Automatic Threshold Detector (ATD): To set a threshold automatically, select the ATD and slam a door at the other end of your home. SecureHome will tailor the default threshold for your home. Alarm sound: Select whether or not you want SecureHome to sound an alarm (in addition to sending out an email) when it detects a sound exceeding the threshold, and choose the duration of the alarm. Reports: SecureHome will document each alarm trigger and corresponding sound level so you can refine the threshold to minimize false alarms. Email on trigger: When SecureHome detects a sound that exceeds the threshold, it will send an email to the account of your choice. This gives you the option of calling the police or disarming the alarm if you accidentally trigger the alarm yourself!
All you have to do to set it up is open the app, set the alarm threshold, and enter your email address if you want to get notified via email. The big downside of the email function is that it uses Apple Mail—regardless of your default desktop client—to send the message, but if you have a simple account set up to send mail that's not that big of a deal. You'll also want to have your computer hooked up to speakers to make the alarm reasonably intimidating. It sounded pretty wimpy on my MacBook's speakers. I have taken the liberty to include the link for this app to simplify finding it within ITUNES. The link is http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/securehome/id450200473?mt=12.
While SecureHome isn't going to replace a complex security system, it is a good way to implement a simple alarm inexpensively. If you do decide to implement this program into your app I would appreciate any feedback from you to see what you actually think.
If an intruder is heard, the app can sound an alarm to try and scare them off and email an alert to your smartphone. Some of the features of this app are as follows: Automatic Threshold Detector (ATD): To set a threshold automatically, select the ATD and slam a door at the other end of your home. SecureHome will tailor the default threshold for your home. Alarm sound: Select whether or not you want SecureHome to sound an alarm (in addition to sending out an email) when it detects a sound exceeding the threshold, and choose the duration of the alarm. Reports: SecureHome will document each alarm trigger and corresponding sound level so you can refine the threshold to minimize false alarms. Email on trigger: When SecureHome detects a sound that exceeds the threshold, it will send an email to the account of your choice. This gives you the option of calling the police or disarming the alarm if you accidentally trigger the alarm yourself!
All you have to do to set it up is open the app, set the alarm threshold, and enter your email address if you want to get notified via email. The big downside of the email function is that it uses Apple Mail—regardless of your default desktop client—to send the message, but if you have a simple account set up to send mail that's not that big of a deal. You'll also want to have your computer hooked up to speakers to make the alarm reasonably intimidating. It sounded pretty wimpy on my MacBook's speakers. I have taken the liberty to include the link for this app to simplify finding it within ITUNES. The link is http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/securehome/id450200473?mt=12.
While SecureHome isn't going to replace a complex security system, it is a good way to implement a simple alarm inexpensively. If you do decide to implement this program into your app I would appreciate any feedback from you to see what you actually think.
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