Does anyone have this installed and are you happy with it? How exactly is a signal transmitted to their offices?
We recently did a lot of research on this. We were told to stay away from ADT mainly because if you want to switch to another company, it is harder with an ADT system being compatible with other companies service.
We kept our old equipment so that if we need to switch out of ADT it is a simple reconnect. Frankly speaking old equipment = non-cellular, and cellular monitoring is the way to go.
Nowadays they usually put a little cell receiver/transmitter somewhere in your attic. It used to be an add on just in case a burgler cut your landline, but nowadays so many people don't have a landline that they just use it as the primary source of communication.
Hmmm. We have an ADT system that was installed some time ago. Since we're the second owner's of our home, we had ADT here and they reinstalled a newer keypad, etc. However, they did not mention the opportunity of using a cell for their service. If this is available, that upsets me. We are holding onto two VOIP over the internet lines from Verizon that we thought about discontinuing, but we're told we needed a land line for the security system.
I should also ad we never use it, and only had it upgraded since it's provided by our HOA.
Anything that connects to the internet can be hacked. I wouldn't use any service that works through the internet. If someone wants to take control of your system badly enough, they will be able to.
I found an article, but it is talking about how easy it is to jam the radio frequency on wireless alarm systems. This particular article is about ones not connected to the internet
Be sure to check out simply safe. They are highly rated. I have a friend who just switched to them and is very happy. Its a lot less costly than others. I think monthly service starts at $15 per month and you buy the equipment. Equipment runs about $300-$400 depending on what you get....
Anything that connects to the internet can be hacked. I wouldn't use any service that works through the internet. If someone wants to take control of your system badly enough, they will be able to.
Last year at the big hacker convention there was going to be a speaker presenting how easy it was for him to takeover home security systems run by the 3 biggest companies, ADT was one of them. I went to the presentation and sadly found it was canceled because the presenter made the mistake of publicly talking about it before the convention and was threatened with a bunch of lawsuits from ADT and the other companies. Even though I didn't get to hear the ins and outs, I was fully convinced to never use a company that uses the internet.
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So what are you saying? You can't trust systems that connect over the Internet/VOIP because they can be hacked and you can't trust systems that use cellular to connect because they can be jammed.
Just like you would not do internet banking or online shop, huh!?
Clemson, you bring up an interesting point. When I was recently a victim of a cyber crime, my whole family needed to give our cell #s to the local authorities because they believed our Vonage would get jammed and I wouldn't be able to call them or them be able to call me in an emergency. You also mentioned social media, which was something else they mentioned. I was specifically told that if I had a facebook, an instragram, or anything other social media, they wouldn't have helped me at all. It's a very weird world we are currently living in.
Are you saying if you had a FB account your local authorities wouldn't help you if you're a victim of a cyber crime?
A friend of mine got back from a cruise to find his house was robbed of all the cash, jewels, watches....nothing big in size. The police came and told him the first place they look is your bedrooms...and that's where he had it all. His insurance company was very good about it...came to about $30,000 as he had it all appraised a few years ago. The police told him to hide such valuables in some remote location...like next to the furnace when you go away or are not using it.