DL Editor-in-Chief
CPP (Certified Protection Professional), 15 years law enforcement, ASIS International member
Derek spent 15 years in law enforcement including 8 years as a detective specializing in residential burglary, which means he knows exactly how break-ins actually happen — and it's not like the movies. He tests every security system in a custom home lab using simulated intrusion scenarios based on real case files: the smash-and-grab that takes 90 seconds, the lock-pick entry through the back door, and the 'package thief who escalates' pattern that's become depressingly common since 2020. His monitoring response time tests involve actually triggering the alarm and timing how long it takes for the call center to reach him, which has produced some embarrassing results for companies claiming '30-second response times.' He got his CPP (Certified Protection Professional) certification from ASIS International because he wanted the security industry to take his reviews seriously, and they do — three major alarm companies have changed their marketing after his testing contradicted their claims.
10 years of experience in home security.
Tested 6 RV security systems over 8 weeks of real camping. Compare cellular alarms, solar cameras, and GPS trackers — from $29 to $479.
Compare Ring vs. Nest Doorbell 2026: 4K video quality, night vision tested at 30ft, AI detection free vs. paywalled, and real subscription costs.
Test 7 ONVIF cameras with Blue Iris 2026 — ranked by stream stability, CPU load, false alarm rates, and night vision at 30ft. No subscriptions required.
Compare the top home security systems under $300 for 2026. SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, and Wyze rated on cellular backup, false alarms, and monitoring costs.
Prime Day 2026 home security deals ranked by real savings and total cost. Arlo, Ring, SimpliSafe, Reolink — who's worth buying and who's overhyped.
Compare the 7 best HomeKit Secure Video cameras, doorbells, and alarm systems for 2026 — real specs, privacy scores, and no-subscription picks tested.
We tested 6 top 4K security cameras for 2026 — Reolink, Arlo, Eufy, and Lorex — ranked by false alarm rates, night vision distance, and true subscription costs.
6 smart smoke detectors tested after Nest Protect's discontinuation. Kidde+Ring, First Alert SC5, and more ranked by false alarm rates, app speed, and UL certification.
Set up rock-solid vacation home security in 2026 — 6 systems tested for cellular backup, remote monitoring, and keyless guest access management.
3 of 7 sensors false-alarmed from TV audio in our lab tests. The top-ranked acoustic sensor had zero false alarms at 25-foot range with full smart home compatibility.
Blink Outdoor 2K+ ran 6 months on AA batteries in our test — but false-alarmed 11 times from shadows. Honest subscription cost breakdown and head-to-head vs Eufy.
Hubitat and Ring Alarm Z-Wave hubs tested for range, compatibility, and reliability — no subscription needed. Locks, sensors, and hubs ranked by real installation data.
Level Lock hides inside your door; August fits over your existing deadbolt in 10 minutes. We tested both on installation, app reliability, and keyless security — one wins clearly.
August WiFi Smart Lock auto-unlocked in 1.2 seconds vs 4+ seconds for competitors in our 90-day test. All 10 locks ranked by reliability, battery life, and app experience.
SimpliSafe wins for no-contract flexibility — professional monitoring costs $20/mo vs $50+ for ADT with similar response times. All 7 systems ranked by reliability and value.