July, 2020 | SecurityUnveiled

Wireless Video Doorbell System – SimCam Ango Video Doorbell

July 30, 2020August 16, 2020 admin 16 Comments

Some might say:

“the appearance of a wireless video doorbell system can deter most people that would come to your door with ill intent….”

And they would be right. These devices are not meant to be disguised or inconspicuous, but to both inform those with nefarious intentions that they have been tracked, and to do the actual tracking via video/photo!

The benefits of having a video doorbell system go beyond security…..

It can be convenient from time to time to know exactly who is at your door, and when- especially while you’re not home.

There is a range of different video doorbell systems out there, and they’ve existed for years. The old systems behaved more like an intercom that could ring a doorbell and take shotty videos.

The Systems available today are far more superior in their effectiveness, features, and video quality than ever before. The use of AI and the ability to record clear video in daytime or night conditions have made it more difficult for criminals to sneak up on anyone.

The SimCam Ango Doorbell is such a device assisted with AI technology and is what we’re going to be focusing on in this post.

The SimCam Ango Video Doorbell System

This particular device from SimCam has a large range of features to go through. However, there are particular selling points that users have pointed out.

Easy to Install

The first thing would be the ease of installation. After going through several reviews, the first thing mentioned is how easy of a time users had installing this on their door.

And notice that I said that the users installed the system. This unit is 100% do-it-yourself friendly— no need for any expensive professionals to show up and install.

Picture Quality

The second most common thing that is mentioned in reviews is how good the video looks. Most are very impressed with the FHD 1080p video and images either day or night.

A lot of people who took the time to write a review were replacing other brands of a similar product. They wrote how pleasantly surprised they were with the difference in picture quality with the SimCam over the replaced brand.

Answering the Door when You’re Not Home

This is a feature that a lot of people bring up. If someone comes to your door while you’re away, the app alerts you on your smartphone. The alert not only allows you to see who it is in real-time, but you can also conduct a conversation with whoever is at the door.

One person brought up a door to door salesman and letting them know that he wasn’t interested while he was miles away from home. You can also inform someone with ill intent that they’ve been recorded and the police are on their way. That can prevent the person or people from taking further action.

Without too much imagination, you can come up with several other reasons why this would be a handy feature.

Features of the SimCam Ango Video Doorbell

Price: Get the current price here!

Here is a list of features that you get with your doorbell cam.

FHD 1080p Video Quality
140 Degree Field of View
Night Vision with 6 Infra-Red LEDs
Two-Way Talk
Local Storage up to 128 GB
Cloud Storage Support up to 28 Days (Optional with Subscription)
Person Detection – The AI will determine whether it’s a person at the door or other things like moving branches or traffic. False notifications are reduced through this feature.
100 Foot Wi-Fi Range
Motion Activation
Tamper Alarm- Prevents someone from tampering with or stealing the doorbell.
Pre-Recorded Door Answering Message Option

Another thing that is worth mentioning is that this device can be powered by the rechargeable batteries and mounted to your door. Or, you can replace your existing doorbell, and use its wiring to hardwire the device beside your door.

The SimCam website boasts that the battery life is about 180 days, but I don’t think that is a realistic number. The reason is, there are so many variables that come into play to determine how long a battery will last.

Ultimately- how often is it going to get out of sleep mode and use up battery life? If you’re a business of some kind with customers coming and going, the battery would need to be swapped out for fully charged ones much sooner than a home with less traffic.

I bring this up because as nice as it is when the unit is fixed and centered on your door to get the best facial picture, it might not be the most practical for some situations. Hardwiring removes that from being an issue, but the easiest way to do that is to replace the existing doorbell. You’ll still get a shot of folks at the door, but not a dead-on headshot.

Conclusion – Wireless Video Doorbell System Peace of Mind

At the end of the day, peace of mind is the largest benefit of the SimCam Ango Video Doorbell. It is a layer of security that wards off the most forward approach of burglary, it is an affordable item, it is easy to install, and comes with some impressive features for the money.

Some of you have experience with this product or even other doorbell cameras. We’d love to hear from you. Shoot us a comment below and we will respond promptly.

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Outdoor Security Camera System – SimCam Alloy 1S

July 27, 2020August 16, 2020 admin 14 Comments

Wouldn’t you like to know who’s coming up your driveway or entering your yard? An outdoor security camera system does this more efficiently than ever.

AI is populating just about every device out there, from complex tech down to a simple light bulb. Since AI is making a clean sweep, it’s time to check out a device where AI makes an incredible difference, and that’s in the arena of home outdoor security cameras. SimCam is taking the new technology seriously with its new SimCam Alloy 1S Outdoor Security Camera with AI.

Outdoor Security Camera System and AI

So, how is AI incorporated into a security camera system? Security Camreras With AI

AI (Artificial Intelligence), regarding a security system or camera, is a term used to quickly explain that it’s a system that can learn or be told to know what it’s looking at. It will know who’s at the door or walking up the driveway.

It also uses that distinction to determine whether it’s a stranger, and reason to sound the alarm, which is the important part about this technology being at use in security. Less false alarms and more legitimate threat detection is a plus.

SimCam Alloy 1S AI Outdoor Security Camera

The Alloy 1s is such a camera, that has a variety of abilities through the use of AI technology that a traditional security camera will never have. This system will alert you directly the moment it detects a threat, not after a threat has taken its liberty.

The alert mentioned above is done either via an app on your mobile device or through its 100-decibel siren. Let’s check out some of the features that are available with this security camera by SimCam, and see what else it has to offer.

Alloy 1S Features

Cost: $99.00 US

Facial Recognition Software– The recognition feature can recognize up to three recognizable faces at the same time, and stores up to 200 different people’s faces.
Ambarella CV25 with 2T Computing Power- The camera itself stores the recordings and handles the AI commands.
1080P 30 FPS Video Resolution
120 Degree Field of View
Night Vision “Starlight Night Vision” – Infrared LEDs and an IR cut filter.
4x Digital Zoom
Person Detection Distance- 60ft
Facial Recognition Distance- 18ft
Car Detection Distance- 20ft
Pet Detection Distance- 10ft
Weather Resistant Outer Shell IP65
Two Way Talking- Communicate with would-be intruders before they have a chance to break in, tell the kids to come in, or communicate with someone at the door. To do this, an 8OM 1W Speaker and a Sims mic are built into the unit.
100 Decibel Siren
Dual Wi-Fi
Chord Powered for 24/7 Video
Daily Report and Event Tags
Can Work in Conjunction with Alexa and Google Assistant Products

How it Works

Before installing the camera outdoors, install the SimCam mobile app to your mobile device, and follow instructions to sync the app with the camera.

(Don’t forget to install the SIM card.)

There isn’t a lot to set up and operation of this camera. Find a place outdoors that is within the Wi-Fi range of your server after you’ve synchronized the app.

This camera is AC powered, so keep that into consideration when picking a spot. You may want to install it in a place where you can run it through the wall or even through a window, and still be able to reach an outlet.

That’s all there is to it.

Facial Recognition Software

The software goes beyond just facial recognition. Through the app, you can load pictures of your pets as well, and recognizes your vehicles (it’ll also tell you whether your parked car has moved).

You can store up to 200 different recognition profiles by uploading four pics of each person you want to store. If someone you know decides to stop by, and you’ve previously had a profile done on them, you’ll be notified who’s been identified by your camera by name.

The same goes for pets, or your neighbor’s pets. This part of the feature is good to let you know if a stray or wild animal is entering the area or to inform you of who keeps leaving a mess in your front yard.

There is one thing that I’d like to add concerning the facial recognition side of this camera. It would be wise to mount the camera within one story’s worth of height. Any higher up than that and the camera will have a hard time seeing faces, and will instead see tops of heads and hats.

Conclusion

There are many more features that this little outdoor camera is equipped with. Not the least of which is the fact that there are no subscription fees or cumbersome power stations to have to worry about.

The reviews for the camera rate it in good standing, and for the price, you really can’t go wrong. Just shy of $100.00 makes this outdoor camera an affordable and easy to use security measure for any home.

In-Home Security Cameras – Indoor AI Protection

July 24, 2020August 16, 2020 admin 20 Comments

If a perpetrator notices your outdoor security camera, they’ll find a different way to intrude into your home through a different route. In enters the need for in-home security cameras.

In almost every respect, indoor home security cameras are equally as important as outdoor protection. It’s much easier for someone to find an outdoor camera than it is to figure out where an indoor camera might be positioned.

Home Intruder

If someone does wind up breaching your outdoor security system, there is little to deter them from breaking in and taking whatever they’re looking for. Whether its property, one’s life, or both.

A well-placed indoor security camera can send someone off running and regretting their actions. Knowing that not only have they been caught, but their physical profile has been recorded. This makes it easy work for the Police to investigate and catch the individual.

The following is going to be a quick rundown of an affordable and easy-to-use indoor security camera, that relies heavily on cutting edge AI technology.

SimCam 1S AI Indoor Home Security Camera

SimCam 1S is an indoor security camera that only needs to be placed in a strategic location and plugged into an outlet. You download the SimCam app into your mobile device, sync it up, and you’re good to go.

You don’t need anything more than a Wi-Fi connection and the SimCam camera. All of the AI technology and video recording are managed within the camera itself, not needing a hub of some sort for data storage and feature management.

No Monthly Subscription

For a lot of people, this is a big deal- with good reason. Many companies that provide customers with an AI security camera require you to subscribe via monthly payments. Through this subscription, you can use your camera to its full potential, and with all of the features.

A subscription also includes video data storage in whatever cloud system they’re using. None of this is so with SimCam.

All of the features are opened up and available to adjust through the mobile app. And more importantly, all data is stored locally within the camera itself on an SD card. However, if you prefer a cloud-based storage system check out our review called What Is The Best Indoor Security Camera For DIY? There are several other top options for security cameras with varying features and most offer cloud storage.

The way it works is tuned in such a way, that as soon as the camera detects someone and begins recording, you’re immediately notified. With the notification is whatever was recorded up to that point.

So, even if a person notices the camera and takes the time to smash it up and even remove and destroy the sim card, the evidence is stored in the message sent to your phone- a well-thought-out system in that regard.

SimCam 1S AI Indoor Home Security Camera Features

Best Price: Check Here!

Person Detection
Facial Recognition
Car Detection
Pet Detection
AI Home Automation
4x Digital Zoom
Local AI Processing
1080 HD Recording
360 Degree Panning
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Night Vision (or otherwise called Starlight night vision)
Secure P2P Livestream
Activity Zone Modification
2 Way Audio (Speaker and Microphone)
Geo-Fencing (Disable alerts as soon as you get home)
Sub Accounts can be enabled
100 Decibel Siren

All of these features are wide open without any form of subscription service. For the money, there’s a lot of camera there, and peace of mind to be had.

In-Home Security Cameras Assisted with AI

Traditional security cameras might have the ability to pan around or even zoom in and out. Today’s AI security cameras blow the old ones out of the water. Day or night vision, people and pet recognition, and all of the extras that separate your family and friends from intruders make these items more than worthwhile.

SimCam facial Recognition

No Cloud Storage Necessary

For some people, having sensitive data being recorded and stored on a cloud is more of a threat than what the cameras are built to detect. This is why the SimCam localized system is revered.

There’s no fear of any undesirables getting their hands on your sensitive in-home data through cloud-based hacks and backdoors, when you can rely on localized storage.

Less False Alarms

With the assistance of the multi-leveled recognition software, coupled with the ability to establish different zone sizes to monitor, false alarms are greatly reduced. What this means is that you wind up with far fewer false alarms being sent to your phone.

Conclusion

SimCam has taken a great set of good ideas and incorporated them into their product line, not the least of which is the 1S Indoor Security Camera. But one of the most genius parts of their camera systems is the engineering involved behind making this as user-friendly as possible. We review a lot of security gear, but I can’t imagine a more well-rounded set of features for an in-home camera that meets so many of the current demands. Thanks for dropping in to learn more about these cameras. Shoot us a comment below with any questions, insights, or advice you may have. We’d love to hear from you. Meanwhile, click here to learn more about the SimCam Indoor 1S AI Security Camera.

SimpliSafe – August 2020 Private Sale!

July 20, 2020August 26, 2020 Darrin 12 Comments

SimpliSafe is having a Private Sale. AGAIN! It ends next Tuesday….

Ends September 1st, 2020!

20% OFF of your entire order AND a FREE SimpliCam (the coveted camera these days)

===>Click Here to go to SimpliSafe’s special site!<===

A Company On A Mission

This sale is SimpliSafe’s MO! Except for their Christmas sale in 2019, 20% off is pretty good, and they’ve added a free SimpliCam, their state-of-the-art indoor home camera. It’s a deal for those looking for a steal. Yep, they are giving away one of their famous $99 SimpliCam cameras with every security system purchased during this sale. The size of the package doesn’t matter. Once in awhile, there will be a security company that will offer a discount on products, but not like this.

But there is one thing that disappoints me with SimpliCam, one thing I just can’t understand More on that below…..

Why does SimpliSafe Do This?

But first, why did SimpliSafe crank up in the first place? Why are they giving deals that are unbeatable within the DIY Home Security arena?

Who Are These Masked Men? (Masked due to Covid-19 mandates of course!)

SimpliSafe was started by a couple of Harvard Business School students in 2006 as an answer to a need. Several friends of Chad and Eleanor Laurans had experienced break-ins and were unable to find a security company that was a fit for renters. This motivated Mr. Laurans to create a solution since there was none.

Harvard University As an electrical engineer who had graduated from Yale in 2000, Mr. Laurens had a jumpstart with the necessary skillset to start developing a line of DIY (Do-it-yourself) home security products that would cater to renters. From 2006-2008 Chad and Eleanor worked on the SimpliSafe concept in their home. The products were tested out at friends’ residences as the appearance and functionality were perfected for an official launch in 2009.

There was an initial investor who believed in the company, and two more consecutive funding companies who saw the quick growth and potential of SimpliSafe. The most recent investor took a controlling interest in the company and they have continued to grow. Grow? They’ve done that! That leads me to the one issue I have with SimpliSafe, but first, one last thing. Then onto my disappointment.

Why Offer Such Deals?

SimpliSafe was determined to make a difference in the world of home security. This venture wasn’t to be a quick fix, and the founders were not wanting to provide products that would take extreme sales tactics for them to remain in business. Their goal was to change the industry by creating and developing products that were in step with the times.

There are other home security companies that brag that they have been around since the 1800s. Well, some of them seem like they are still operating with that day’s technology in mind. Okay, being fair, they may have kept up for a while as the world changed, but they got locked into a mindset a few decades ago that wasn’t anticipating the needs and wants of a generation of homeowners who are all holding mobile phones and laptops.

So, being one of the pioneers of this new, DIY home security concept, SimpliSafe has been determined to continue to reinvest back into a new customer base as they prove themselves to be the innovators that they are. They want to win loyalty through honesty, great products and services, and reasonable prices. As they do so, they will be offering more and more products, filling the needs of customers as they become aware of them. Now I will share with you how they are letting me down……

Where Are the Cameras?

The one thing that disappoints me about SimpliSafe is its limited camera options. In fact, they only offer the SimpliCam for indoors, and the Video Doorbell Pro for outdoors. Video doorbells are not the same as other outdoor cameras. It’s impractical to put a doorbell camera in most places where one would want them. They are designed for that one spot, right by your door. Check out our reviews on home security cameras.

And don’t get me wrong, both of these cameras are exceptional and receive rave reviews for quality, durability, appearance, and great price. all of their products are great! But SimpliSafe would do well to add a couple of outdoor cameras and at least one more indoor option. Perhaps wired and battery operated. A floodlight camera for outdoors would be awesome too! This link will take you to one of our reviews on some outdoor security lights and smart lights.

The good news, if I’m understanding it right, is that they will be rolling out more camera options soon. I hope this is correct because most people want to have all of their components working together from the same manufacturer. It’s also good news to know that any cameras SimpliSafe puts out will be quality products just like everything else they’ve ever offered.

So, How Do I Get 20% off and a free SimpliCam?

Using this link, go to SimpliSafe. You will automatically receive the discount. The discount is for anything you buy with the package. For instance, even if you get their least expensive package, you get the discount and free SimpliCam. If you decide to add a Video Doorbell Pro or Smart Lock, the discount is applied to those products as well.

SimpliSafe Foundation Package

<===== This package is called The Foundation. It’s the basic starter package and is insanely affordable! It doesn’t cost much more than the free SimpliCam if it were to be purchased. But you get the SimpliCam security camera for free and 35% off of your entire order, EVEN WITH THIS FOUNDATION PACKAGE! I don’t know how they do it.

Before You Go Shop At SimpliSafe……

To clear up any confusion based on a number of questions I’ve received, although the Video Doorbell Pro isn’t part of the pre-set packages, it is eligible for the 20% discount. You would just need to add it to whichever package you choose. The same goes for the Smart Lock.

To check out one of our reviews on SimpliSafe, CLICK ON THIS LINK.

To check out some of our other product reviews, simply go to our HOME page and take a look around. Since we are not part of any of the companies we review or highlight, our research, insights, and professional opinions are objective as we try to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information on every product or service discussed within our articles. With that in mind, feel free to look around at some of our other product reviews. And you should know, according to our research and tons of customer input, SimpliSafe ranks high at SecurityUnveiled.com with almost every aspect or category within the home security arena.

We would love to hear from you! If you have questions, ideas, opinions, or expertise to share, please leave us a comment below. We will respond in short order.

Thanks for stopping by!

What is Encrypted Email?

July 13, 2020August 16, 2020 Darrin 8 Comments

On this site, we’ve done many reviews and conducted a good amount of discussion about encryption, and the role it plays to provide internet security. So, what is encrypted email, and how is it any different from using a VPN service?

People may know, generally, what encryption accomplishes, but I’m asked quite often, “What’s an encrypted email?” People are becoming more interested in how it works so they can make more informed decisions when doing research.

A VPN

Well, the difference is that a VPN service will protect your identity and internet connections, causing your activities to remain untraceable (provided you’re using a reputable VPN). All of your information is protected from the moment you are online. It is shielded through various levels of encryption, and other processes that keep you safe from prying eyes and hackers.

For more information on VPN’s, check out our “Best VPN Buy of 2020” page, or the review page we’ve done answering the question as to whether ProtonVPN is safe.

Encrypted Email

If you’re using a VPN, your online activity is kept safe private, and secure, unless you are exchanging information through an unprotected email service. By
unprotected, we mean not having the levels of encryption to keep your messages safe from being intercepted or broken into by undesirables.

Think of yourself as someone who is protected within the confines of an armored car. The armored car is the VPN in this example. You’re perfectly safe from intrusion, and nothing will penetrate the walls of the car.

But then, you need to open a window to pass a message to someone that’s waiting outside of your car. You stick your arm through the window to deliver the message, and someone runs by and snatches it. Yes, you’re still safe, but how safe are your messages to others? Not only that but are they receiving exactly what you sent them?

So, what’s an encrypted email? How does it work? Email encryption makes sure that whatever email you send is exactly what you intended, being received by exactly who you intend to receive it. It is a security measure that benefits you when you step outside of the confines of a VPN and keeps your information untouchable from intruders.

There’s a lot to it, but this at least gives you an idea of what encrypted email is about. It’s an extra layer of security against cyberattacks.

Now that we’ve got a better understanding of what encrypted email is let’s check out one of the most reliable brands in the market today.

ProtonMail Email Encryption Service

Encrypted Email

ProtonMail is the largest secure email service in the world and is based out of Geneva, Switzerland. They were founded back in 2014, by a group of CERN scientists who shared the common passion for making people’s time spent online more secure than it’s ever been. (CERN is one of the most sophisticated science research organizations in the world, for those who didn’t already know)

Is ProtonMail Safe?

Yes, it is. They use top-of-the-line encryption software, and being based in Switzerland, they are subject to some of the most strict privacy laws in the world.

Here is a list of what ProtonMail has to offer concerning security measures. The information in this list will help to answer why ProtonMail is safe to use and is more credible than others out there.

ProtonMail Features

End-to-End Type Encryption
Zero Access– Meaning that nobody will know the encryption keyword or the message in the encrypted email, other than the recipient and yourself. Even ProtonMail won’t be able to view your encrypted message.
AES Encryption– A symmetric block cipher that is commonly used by the U.S. Government to encrypt sensitive information.
RSA– A public-key cryptosystem that is used for the transmission of data.
OpenPGP– Delivers cryptographic secrecy and confirmation for data messages.
Open Source Cryptography– This is to prevent creating a system that could harbor “backdoors.”
Data Through Servers– Your information is never stored or passed through a cloud. This helps to ensure that there are no third parties involved with your information.
No Tracking or Logging– ProtonMail does not store or save any form of tracking information or metadata.
Self-Destruct Feature– There is an option to set a time before an email expires.
SSL Secured Connections– This is another measure to ensure that your connection is not being tampered with by a third party.

Every feature listed above are layers of security measures used to encrypt your messages to others. ProtonMail has four different plans to choose from. However, all of the layers of protection stay the same. So, just because you’re using the free account doesn’t mean that you’ll enjoy any less protection.

Their interface is designed to be simple to use, and similar to what people are used to as it relates to email provider software. Familiarity means less of a learning curve for the new user.

There is one more thing worth noting about a ProtonEmail account. Though it’s easier to correspond via email when both users have a ProtonMail account, ProtonMail has found a way to effectively send encrypted messages to people who are using popular email providers such as Google, AOL, Yahoo, and others.

Differences Between “Free” and “Plus” Accounts

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to see what they have to offer for free, and will also talk about their “Plus” plan, which is the first step up from free.

Free Basic Account

1 User
500 Megabits of Storage
150 Messages per Day
Limited Support
One @protonmail.com Address
3 Folders / Labels

Plus Account with Advanced Features

Price: $4.53 US Per Month

1 User
5 Gigabytes of Storage
1,000 Messages Per Day
200 Folders / Labels
Priority Customer Support
Email Filters
Autoresponder
1 Custom Domain
Ability to send encrypted messages to external recipients
Up to Five Email Aliases

As we can see, for just under $5.00 per month, there’s a lot more room to breathe if you’re someone who does a lot of correspondence through emails. But not everyone requires all of the fun stuff that comes with the “Plus” program.

Two more purchase options are not covered here. One is for a business that hosts several accounts under one business name, and the other is a special account for people who monetarily support the company.

You don’t want this guy intercepting your email!!

Email Hacker

Get protected with ProtonMail today!

Conclusion

Millions of people worldwide are now using ProtonMail, and have remained satisfied in doing so for years. One of the best things about this is that there aren’t any risks to give it a shot. If you’d like to stick with the free system, there’s no trial period to have to worry about, and the service remains free forever.

If your needs change with time, you can upgrade. The bottom line is, your messages will remain secure, encrypted, and away from cybercriminals.

So, to sum it all up, what is encrypted email? It’s peace of mind and an additional layer of security that is becoming more and more necessary. ProtonEmail’s track record will serve you well. Ready to get started with your free email account? Get started right here!

Please feel free to leave us a comment or any input regarding VPNs or if you have further clarity to give on “what’s an encrypted email?” We’d love to hear from you. 🙂

Is Proton VPN Safe?

July 6, 2020August 16, 2020 Darrin 26 Comments

There are VPN’s out there that will cost you monthly that have solid systems and good reputations. There are some free VPN’s out there that aren’t so reputable. As far as a free VPN goes, is Proton VPN safe? Or in general, are free VPNs safe? We’ll be talking about that in this article.

Free VPN’s don’t have a track record of being very reputable due to inevitably selling your information to third parties for the sake of making money. After all, companies don’t create this software as a hobby and need to make money somewhere, right?

The Trouble with Free VPN’s

If the software isn’t the product that makes a company money, it’ll be the data generated via the product. Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, they’re all free to use but charge you your information to be sold to the highest bidder for the sake of advertising revenue.

Most people are cognitive of these info grabs by the platforms listed above and expect it from these types of services. But not from a VPN. It stands to reason that if you’re using a VPN, one of the ideas is to avoid third parties from catching or viewing your information and removing that potential breach in security. Hence the sour grapes of using a free VPN.

Having said all of that, ProtonVPN is a different story- or at least they claim to be, but in a way that makes sense.

How is ProtonVPN Safe while Remaining Free?

How are VPNs free?

You may be saying, “I don’t know how they do it!”

There are two major reasons that ProtonVPN can offer their VPN service for free.

Additional Features

As we’ve seen work with other businesses that offer software or services, there is a free account with the option to open up a broader range of features through monthly payments. The idea is for someone to use their free service and get to know and trust the service enough to expand into a paid service when the need arises.

We can see this a lot online when it comes to software or other types of online services. There’s a good reason for that- it works. Here’s the difference in what ProtonVPN has to offer between their free service, their basic service, and premium service.

Pricing is converted over from euros and is for their one-year plan rather than their monthly pricing.

Free

1 VPN connection

Servers in 3 countries

Medium speed

No logs/No ads

No time limits or trial period. It’s a free forever service.

Basic – $54.01 US per year

2 VPN connections

Servers in 50 countries

High speed

No logs/No ads

P2P filesharing/BitTorrent support

Plus – $108.01 US per year

5 VPN connections

Servers in 50 countries

Highest speed (10Gbps)

No logs/No ads

P2P filesharing/BitTorrent support

Secure Core VPN

Tor over VPN

Access blocked content

As you can see, there is a big difference in service between Free and Plus. However, not everyone is looking to get blocked content or torrent files. Some people are perfectly happy with 1 VPN connection. It comes down to preference. But in our opinion, ProtonVPN is the best free VPN.

ProtonMail

ProtonMail is the second reason Proton VPN’s free service can stay free, and still not abuse your trust through selling your information to third parties. ProtonMail is their crowning product that assists in covering the costs of their VPN service.

So, between these two reasons (paid services for added features and ProtonMail), ProtonVPN does not need to sell your information to anyone else. In fact, they vow never to do so. Being based in Switzerland, they are constrained by their word and face suffering major penalties by breaching their terms of service. Switzerland has some of the strictest laws concerning this type of thing, which is why some of the most popular VPN brands are based there.

All of these things lump together toward a “YES” when answering whether ProtonVPN is safe or not.

Is Proton VPN Secure?

The way this article is being approached, there’s a difference between “safe” and “secure.” A VPN that is safe to use hinges on how the company treats your information, or the overall business ethic.

As far as a VPN being secure, it comes down to the technology, and whether it’s effective. Let’s take a look at what ProtonVPN has in place to provide security.

They currently maintain 865 servers in over 50 countries.
They enforce their strict no-logs policy.
Secure Core architecture- Defends against network-based attacks and presents an array of complexities for the most ardent intruder.
High-Strength Encryption- Your communications are encrypted with AES-256 encryption.
4096-bit RSA Encrypted Key Exchange- This is among the strongest forms of encryption today, providing a secure handshake between your device and the VPN.
HMAC with SHA384 is used for message authentication. This ensures that your messages are safe between your device and ProtonVPN’s servers.
Two Factor Authentication- An added layer of security to make sure only you have access to your account.

With all of the above available, let it be known that the level of security for the free package is in no way different than their most expensive package. The only things that differ are the added features, not the strength of security.

Because of that model, the free package of ProtonVPN is among the most secure free VPN’s out there today.

Conclusion

The evidence of this company’s competence is answered through their ProtonMail product. That service is wildly popular due to the levels of integrity incorporated in the product, and the multiple layers of features and security. Others who have conducted Proton VPN reviews have been impressed overall, finding few reasons to complain.

Those who have used and reviewed a ProtonVPN download have had top-tier, positive responses about everything from the user-friendliness to the higher-tech security aspects of their service.

The additional features that come through the paid program are only as beneficial as your preferences or requirements. But as far as their free program, there’s nothing out there that can beat it. Having all of the security measures of a top-paid service for free is only real if the company hosting the service is competent and capable.

We are asked quite often, “Are free VPNs safe?” Our usual answer would be “no”. However, from what I’ve been able to discern, ProtonVPN is both competent and capable of providing continued free coverage and security for years to come, even their free version.

If you have input on ProtonVPN or ProtonMail, I’d love to hear from you. Or perhaps you have other related experience or insight that would be helpful. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and we will respond.

SimpliSafe Sale – 4th of July DEALS!!

July 1, 2020August 16, 2020 Darrin 12 Comments

UPDATE!! Although the July 4th promotion is over, the prices at SimpliSafe are still the best in the industry and their products are state-of-the-art. Check out the links below to get updated pricing or a quote directly from SimpliSafe, or check out this review of a few of their products.

Below is the sales post from last weekend:

30% OFF Of Everything at SimpliSafe Until Tuesday July 7th!!!

To go straight to the discount link, start here at SimpliSafe! For more info, keep reading……

In case you haven’t heard, SimpliSafe is taking off as the next big thing within the home security industry. And I should not stop with the home. There are countless small business owners and managers who have chosen SimpliSafe’s components to protect their businesses as well as their homes. So, right now, this SimpliSafe Sale is their way of saying “thanks” for the support and for all of the positive input regarding their products and services.

In this brief post, I just want to give you a “heads up” on the deal SimpliSafe is currently offering. Frankly, their website, though simple, can leave a few things unclear. I will clear those items for you that I encountered. But I’d rather a great product with a not-so-clear item or two on their website than a glorious web presence from a company who sucks, has poor customer service, elevated prices, or has a bad logo! (I guess that’s just me as a design guy)

So here we go with the SimpliSafe Sale for the week of July 4th, 2020 and ending on July 7th, 2020:

30% Off of Everything!!!

30% Off? That’s a pretty good product-wide contribution to the country. None of the equipment comes in red, white, and blue, but they are about helping during this difficult time in the world. Usually, there are certain products that are on sale, not everything. But, you’re probably thinking “there’s gotta be a freakin’ catch!”. Well, kinda, but not really. Read on and I’ll explain.

Now, I won’t say 30% off is the best deal they’ve had, but it’s close. And I don’t see how they’ve done the deals they’ve done before. Around Christmas (2019), lots of people I know were receiving offers for 50% off of everything from SimpliSafe!! That was a sweet deal, but that was probably a one-time (or season) deal as SimpliSafe was in a campaign to show the world they are a serious contender within the industry.

So, what about the freakin’ catch!? Okay, okay….

Here’s the Not-Really Catch

The offer is for a “security system”, not individual components. My take? They are upfront about the fact that it is a package discount, and that is reasonable. With SimpliSafe systems, there is a hub and a wireless keypad for it to operate, so those two items are completely necessary to have a system with them. The only other thing required for it to become a package is ONE sensor. Yep, one door or window sensor makes it a package. So, it’s not some deceptive way to get a person to buy a certain level of package, or to get some overpriced junk to receive deep discounts. These are the essential components that have given this company its great reputation.

30% OFF Plus, Plus

On top of the 30% discount, SimpliSafe will throw in a FREE SimpleCam! Have you heard of these? They are part of the success of SimpliSafe. These cameras will alert you via phone, tablet or computer anytime it detects motion. These cameras are also on the cutting edge of technology in that they minimize the false alarms associated with motion detectors. For instance, if one of your rats were to come out to look through the garbage, you don’t want to know about it on your phone. They’re not gonna haul off your smart TV or computer (Just remember to leave out more cheese so they won’t rummage so much).

One Complaint I Have About This SimpliSafe Sale

The sale is great, and they are upfront about all products being 30% off when purchasing a package, and the package can be as small as would make sense to buy. But I didn’t see the Doorbell Cams on the list of the items of any pre-set packages, nor was it on the options of the ones you build yourself. That kinda set me aback about the promotion because I want people to honestly know what to expect and not be fooled by some bait and switch marketing. I thought, “well, that really blows chunks!”, because most people I know or deal with really want a doorbell camera as part of their security system. (I sure like it!)

So, I called an executive with SimpliSafe and they let me know that as long as someone purchases a package, all other items with that purchase will be 30% off. That means everything! Just remember that when you go check out the deals. It won’t be clear as you look at each item, but as long as a package is purchased, the entire purchase is discounted by 30%.

Last But Not Least!!!

I know the yard signs aren’t expensive, but they do throw one of those in for free as well as a $99 SimpliCam! That really sweetens the deal to me. It’s hard to get “too many” cameras. There’s always one more spot I wish I had one.

So, the 30% off of any size package is reasonable, in fact generous. Adding on a SimpliCam makes it well into a bargain. And to know you can purchase a doorbell cam or any other product from SimpliSafe at 30% off is a great reason to take advantage of this SimpliSafe Sale for the 4th of July. And don’t forget, this sale goes until Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

You won’t see the discounts as you are making your order, but you will receive the 30% discount at checkout. Just click here to go to the SimpliSafe product listing or order form.