Founded in 2005, Myfox benefits from years of consumer insight that newer smart home security startups lack. Studying user feedback from across Europe, the French company found 30 percent of users were unplugging their cameras when home to protect themselves from hackers' prying eyes.

Dropcam cameras with motion detectors are installed throughout the property. Willson also uses them to manage beer and wine fermentation remotely.

Canary cameras detect motion and send Willson alerts with a video clip of the activity. From the app, he can summon law enforcement if desired.

Dojo is available for pre-order via Amazon for $99 with 12 months of service (the usual suggested retail price is $199 for the same service). It will begin shipping early 2016.

Sick of asking someone at the coffee shop to watch your laptop every time you need to step away? John Cochran's Scroll Top Lock Box security system addresses that common annoyance by safely locking your electronics.

Once installed, Dojo's software adds all the devices—cellphones, printers, tablets, security cameras, etc.—that use your home's wireless network. It then begins to track with whom they communicate: for instance, if one device begins sending data to an unusual server abroad, it raises a red flag. Dojo itself comes with two pieces of hardware: a palm-sized pebble and its dock. The latter connects directly to your router. The former, which glows red when there's unexpected or alarming network activity, is mobile and can be placed in easily-accessed or visible parts of your home.

The term “Internet of Things” was first documented by British visionary Kevin Ashton in 1999. The first Internet appliance was a Coke machine at Carnegie Melon University in the early 1980s. The programmers could connect to the machine over the Internet, check the status of the machine and determine whether or not there would be a cold drink awaiting them, should they decide to make the trip down to the machine.

Home security system by Canary, $249 at canary.is This all-in-one security system "learns" the rhythms of your home and monitors activity and noise levels, air quality and temperature, notifying you by text (with an accompanying high-definition video) when anything seems out of sorts.

The Myfox Security Camera responds to these concerns with an ingenious solution: a motorized shutter. Using a smartphone app, homeowners can open and close the camera's aperture as needed. Thus, it is as effective at safeguarding your property as it is your privacy.

Piper nv by Piper, $279 at store.getpiper.com Unlike other wireless home security systems, the Piper nv requires no fees for service. That means you can use its connected camera to monitor your home remotely, or program push notifications to alert you about alarming activity, all for the price on the package.

Smart Security Cameras–Your smartphone camera is great for capturing all kinds of fun events and activities. And now, with the aid of smart security cameras, your phone can give you a birds-eye view of all that’s happening in and around your home any time of day while you’re away. Activated by motion, smart cameras record clips of detected movement for added security. They also come in handy for looking in on the nanny, kids, pets, or elderly parents in your absence.

The lightweight camera, which provides a 1080P video sensor with CVR capabilities and 4x zoom, retails at $199.

Of course, Dojo also comes with an app that allows you to remotely monitor activities and tackle threats. The software will automatically resolve issues, signalling you only when you need to take action.

“Dropcam, now owned by Nest, is a video monitoring and security camera system. It can send alerts and records to the cloud, allowing you to view footage remotely."

With new technology comes new issues, like safety and privacy, which we explore in the first of three features on home security penned by Geoff Manaugh.

While many home-fortification projects are designed primarily with burglary in mind, Al and Lana Corbi of SAFE recommend thinking about much broader risks—including the possibility of widespread social unrest, earthquakes, and even extreme weather events.

With a recently fulfilled crowd-funding campaign, the Notion system will be made, but is not shipping until July 2015. It might be worth waiting as the connected home evolves. But, given this brand’s impressive origins—the company is a product of Techstars, an startup accelerator whose graduates have an high rate of success—we expect it to be among the best options available.

Where alarms and bulletproof glass fail, steel-reinforced doors disguised as custom woodwork use brute strength to stop even the most determined burglar. Add high-security locks and drill-resistant concrete, and you have a high bar of protection. Roofs are particularly vulnerable, as they are often the least-fortified part of a residential structure. Gaffco Ballistics will install saw- and bullet-resistant Kevlar plates to thwart potential attackers.

Vigilant Floral wallpaper by Flavor Paper, Jesse Hlebo, and Carlos Benaim "Carlos created a new scent that was [meant to embody] the 'scent of 100 makers’ creativity,'" Yuzna says. "It builds up layers as you walk up the stairwells of the museum. [Artist] Jesse then used these layers as inspiration to recognize the creative communities that make NYC so special."

The main hub has integrated battery and cellular backup as well, so if you monitor a vacation home and want to keep the Wi-Fi off, it can send text alerts when something goes awry. Each sensor’s batteries are rated to last about two years.

Notion’s other selling point is integration with existing analog home devices. If a smoke alarm goes off, it can read the sound and alert you, or if a room gets cold, you can be notified and tell your Nest thermostat to turn up the temperature. It has also been accepted into Apple’s HomeKit system.

Alarm by Scout, from $130 Start with a Scout wi-fi base station and add motion sensors, disarming panels, and open-close sensors, as needed. Set the software to respond to, say, the front door opening, with a text to you or a call to the police. The hardware and software can integrate with third-party lock and video devices, too.

The United Nations Security Council Chamber, designed by the Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg and originally a gift of the Norwegian government, was painstakingly restored as part of a larger $2.1 billion overhaul of the U.N.'s New York campus.

The Damask wallpaper, originally designed by the Norwegian textile artist Else Poulsson, was beyond repair, so it was carefully reproduced on Norway's west coast and shipped to New York.

The trailer is stored about an hour from his home, so security was a top concern. Wink—via a Nest Protect device, seen here—alerts Pendl when there's smoke or carbon monoxide. Sensors on the trailer's propane tanks, which keep the unit warm in winter, also send an alert when fuel is low. GoControl sensors tell him when doors or windows have been opened.

A small central hub, about the size of a bar of soap, connects to your home Wi-Fi network and is controlled with an app. Then, the slightly smaller sensors can be distributed throughout the house or apartment.