The Internet of Things is, as security veterans joke, the Internet of Vulnerable Things. And unlike a laptop, which you can wipe, or a phone, which you can lock, a compromised camera is a spy that hangs on your wall, silently watching, until you notice its LED light is blinking when it shouldn’t be.

To avoid lawsuits, maintain neighborly relations, and protect your own data, follow these guidelines:

Keeps facial recognition data off third-party cloud servers.

: Install updates immediately to patch known security bugs.

A well-managed system protects your family without harassing your neighbors, exploits no one, and respects the digital privacy of all who enter your home. Before you install that next camera, walk the perimeter of your property and look through the lens. Ask yourself: Am I recording for safety, or for control?