Village Living Magazine - MIDTOWN - February 2019

LIVING
WHAT THE TECH!?!?
Hi-tech Home
Bodyguards
BY JON COHEN
TECH COLUMNIST
This month, we look at the physical
and digital things we can do
to improve security at home.
Recently, Ring, highly acclaimed for
the original Video Doorbell, released
the Ring Security System. Meant to
revolutionise your home security as
the Ring Video Doorbell did a few years
back, the Ring Security System can be
purchased online at www.ring.com.
Featuring a base station, keypad, and
a mix of sensors and motion detectors,
the nicest part is that this set-up is
made easy enough that you can install
it yourself. With no drilling or running
wires needed, the Ring Security System
is a great alternative to more costly,
traditional security systems, such
as ADT.
The Ring Alarm also offers customers
a mobile app to arm, disarm and
monitor the status of the alarm system.
Using this app, you can be alerted to
anyone entering or exiting
your home. If you want to go one
step further, Ring offers the option
of contract-free professional monitoring
which allows the alarm to be linked
up to a local security company, as well
as to the police. Lastly, options, such
as outdoor lights and the Ring Video
Doorbell, provide your home with an
additional ‘Ring of Security.’
Switching gears to the digital side of
security, I want to share, with you, a
Toronto-based company that has made
the ever-difficult world of passwords
more ‘bearable.’ Meet RememBear
(www.remembear.com), a fun, friendly,
easy-to-use password manager which
works on phone, tablet, and computer.
Like many other password managers on
the market, this freemium model is a
fully functioning password manager. At
a low cost of $3 US per month, you can
sync all your devices, and there is no
obligation to go to the premium service;
the free tier will work great.
As you might know, just recently,
Starwood hotel chain had a huge breach
in security, which allowed bad guys
access to millions of points of data,
such as emails, addresses, names, and
maybe even, credit card info. Sadly,
most of us were affected. It’s time to
change your password, and with the
cuteness offered by RememBear’s
secure and safe password manager, you
can start the new year off on the right
foot by changing passwords to improve
your personal digital security.
Lastly, take the power into your own
hands! Don’t use the same password
everywhere, don’t click on links, which
might cause your devices to
get infected, and check to see if you
have been compromised by inputting
your email address on this site:
www.haveibeenpwned.com. I truly
hope you have not been pwned
(a term meaning: someone completely
got the better of you)!
JON COHEN is the owner of All About Tech and a certified Apple Mac & iOS Technician; just your local, friendly tech superhero!
allabouttech.ca
12 VILLAGE LIVING MIDTOWN