Awesome Security

If you ever thought that blurring out text would protect sensitive information, you might be in trouble. This video from censiCLICK shows how readily-available technology can recover text that has been blurred using a mosaic filter. The moral of the story? Completely remove or block out anything you don’t want to be recovered.

Gazillions of packages are nabbed by porch pirates, especially during the holidays. The Yale Smart Delivery Box solves the problem with brains and brawn. When a package is placed inside, the Smart Cabinet Lock bolts the lid, notifies you, and remains locked until you open it with the Yale Access app, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.

Until LockPickingLawyer gets his hands on this lock, we’re not going to call it infallible, but Shane from Stuff Made Here put an impressive amount engineering effort into this deadbolt that managed to stump a professional locksmith. Along the way, he offers a great explanation of how lock pins and cylinders work.

This wireless security camera works indoors or out and can automatically alert your smartphone when it detects movement. It captures 1080p HD video onto a microSD card and has two-way voice communication, plus night-vision capability. It requires no power cable since it runs on a rechargeable battery.

Keep an eye on your house with this Wi-Fi-enabled security camera from Sinji. It can automatically pan and tilt to follow movement and can send notifications to your phone when movement is detected. It captures recordings on a microSD card (up to 128GB), has an infrared night vision mode, and two-way audio capabilities.

A pin tumbler is one of the simpler lock designs out there. But it definitely takes some skill to build one from scratch. Watch as FarmCraft101 puts his carpentry and engineering skills to the test with a working 10x scale lock made from wood, complete with a giant key to lock and unlock it. It’s way too easy to pick though.

Help improve your computer network and system security by learning to think like the hackers do. This online series features 8 courses, and more than 60 hours of lessons to help you understand some of the many ways that systems can be hacked, beefing up your tech skills and resume along the way.

This flexible bike lock is not only easier to wrap around posts than traditional U-locks, it’s far more durable. It can withstand a tremendous amount of torsion – which can destroy other locks, and has a pick and drill-resistant lock cylinder. It’s also insurance-rated, with optional bike theft coverage available.

As we move further into a world where our art, literature, and information are stored not in physical forms, but as data, we face the prospect that we could lose our history in a blink – especially if licensors decide to revoke access. Chris Cousins‘ dystopian short film explores that prospect using a future museum to illustrate the dangers.

Designed for the well-to-do who want the ultimate in security and luxury, the Sentry Civilian 2020 is built like a tank. Based on a Ford F-550, it packs a 6.7L diesel V8, four-wheel drive, is armored to handle rifle shots and grenade blasts, while offering up to six occupants a luxurious environment that looks nicer than most home theaters.

Motorcycle lifestyle brand Angry Lane created this versatile backpack to keep gear organized and safe from theft. The 15-liter pack features an embedded Pacsafe cable lock, an RFID-safe blocking pocket, MOLLE-compatible webbing, a foldable rain cover, and comes with a detachable zipper pouch for your passport, cards, and cash.

Spam has always been a big problem on the Internet. Tom Scott looks back at the history of CAPTCHA and other solutions attempted over the years to weed out bots from humans submitting forms, and the endless game of cat and mouse which is being fought on the digital battlefield.

With the advent of digital cameras and high-speed networking, it’s become easier than ever for the government (and other people) to spy on us at every turn. Ordinary Things dives in deep into the double-edged sword of public safety and the loss of privacy that come with mass surveillance.

Want an extra layer of protection for the data stored on your computer? This hardware device secures your digital files with AES 256-bit encryption. Simply plug the Purrtec into your USB port, drag files you want encrypted into the scrambler, app and add a password. Then reverse the process to decrypt. Sold in a 2-pack.

A homeowner decided to use BriefCam’s Rapid Recap tech in his FLIR FX security camera to capture all of the activity that took place one morning in his front yard. The tech superimposes time-lapse images on a static background, providing a quick glimpse at a day’s activities, and some awesomely surreal video footage.

The Travelock 2S is a padlock that uses your fingerprint as the key. It has a sensor on either end that detects fingerprints in just half a second. It can store up to 10 fingerprints, is water-resistant, TSA-approved, and lasts up to 2 years per charge.

The Keymitt is a smart lock that simply installs over existing door locks from the inside. It still lets you use your key to open the door, and has a knob so you can manually open the door from the inside. It can be controlled via Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.

Amazon’s Blink XT2 security camera has two-way audio, so you can talk to whoever’s on the other end through your smartphone or tablet. It retains all of the XT’s features, such as a two-year battery life, 1080p recording, night vision, and free cloud storage.

You might know web development or systems administration, but do you know how to harden your systems against hackers and other security threats? Name your price and up your skills with this extensive series of cybersecurity training in The Awesomer Shop.

The August View is a doorbell camera that you can install anywhere in your house, thanks to a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 6 months per charge. It also has swappable faceplates. Pair it with August smart locks to unlock the door from your phone.

The remo+ RemoBell S is an affordable addition to the growing number of video doorbells. It features a 180º field of view, customizable motion zones, night vision, a two-way speaker and three days of video storage for free. Paid plans are also available.

Ring’s Door View Cam sits over your door’s peephole, giving you a wireless camera, a two-way speaker, a doorbell and a motion sensor. It streams video to your mobile device and notifies you when someone rings the bell or knocks on your door. Drops soon for $199.

Email subscription monitoring services have come under fire for selling user data and reading emails. Leave Me Alone is a new alternative that lets you unsubscribe from email newsletters without the security risk. You can make a one-time payment to increase its scope.