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Home Security Checklist
62 action items across 7 categories. Check things off as you go — your progress is saved locally. Print anytime. Share with your neighborhood watch group.
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Silent Security.net · Free Home Security Checklist · silentsecurity.net/tools/home-security-checklist/
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Doors & Locks
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Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors
Grade 1 or Grade 2 ANSI-rated deadbolts. Single-cylinder is fine for most; avoid double-cylinder if fire egress matters.
Replace short door hinge and strike plate screws with 3-inch screws
Standard screws only go into the door frame. 3-inch screws reach the stud — a cheap kick-in fix that works.
Check that exterior door frames are solid wood or metal (not hollow)
A hollow frame negates even the best lock. Reinforce or replace if hollow.
Install a door reinforcement kit (door armor) on weak or older doors
Secure sliding glass doors with a bar or pin lock
A cut-down broom handle in the track works fine as a backup.
Install a wide-angle peephole or video doorbell to see visitors before opening
Ensure garage entry door (into home) has a deadbolt
Most garage entry doors are hollow-core and have no deadbolt. This is a top burglar entry point.
Keep garage door opener out of car if parked in the driveway
A clipped-to-visor opener gives a thief a house key if they break a window.
Rekey locks after moving into a new home
Previous owners, contractors, and real estate agents may have copies of the old key.
Consider a smart lock with auto-lock and access logs
Schlage Encode and Yale Assure are solid picks. Auto-lock catches the times you forget.
Windows
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Install window locks or window pins on all ground-floor windows
Add a keyed lock or blocker to any window-mounted AC unit
Window AC units are easy to push in from outside — a common entry method.
Apply window security film to first-floor windows
Security film doesn't stop a break-in but slows it significantly — enough to deter most opportunistic burglars.
Check that window latches are functional (not painted shut or broken)
Add window sensors to alarm system (or standalone window alarms)
Trim bushes and shrubs near first-floor windows
Overgrown shrubs provide cover for break-ins. Keep them under window-sill height.
Close and lock all windows when leaving home, even briefly
Install window break sensors or glass-break detectors in critical rooms
Exterior Lighting
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Install motion-activated lights at all entry points (front door, back door, garage)
Eliminate dark spots in driveway and side yards
Walk your property at night to find blind spots. Add solar pathway lights where needed.
Put interior lights on timers when away from home
Smart plugs with scheduling work well. Randomized schedules look more natural than fixed ones.
Keep porch light on or on a dusk-to-dawn schedule
Light the path from car to front door
Personal safety — well-lit walkways also reduce your own fall risk at night.
Use floodlight cameras (Wyze, Ring, or Arlo) for dual lighting + recording
Replace burned-out exterior bulbs immediately
Security Cameras
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Cover the front door / main entry with a camera or video doorbell
This single camera catches the most porch pirates and front-door incidents. Install this first.
Cover back door and backyard with at least one camera
Cover the driveway and/or garage
Ensure cameras are mounted high enough to avoid being grabbed or redirected
Mount at 9–10 feet where possible. Use tamper-resistant mounts.
Enable cloud or local (NVR/SD) backup recording
If your only camera storage is on the device itself, a thief who grabs the camera takes the footage too.
Set up motion alerts and review clips regularly
Change default username/password on all camera systems
Factory defaults are published online. Leaving them unchanged is the same as leaving your cameras open to the internet.
Keep camera firmware updated
Post a visible "Video Surveillance" sign at the property entrance
Deterrence matters as much as detection. Signs work even without cameras — and doubly so with them.
Alarm System
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Install a monitored or self-monitored alarm system with entry sensors
SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm, and Abode are strong self-install options. ADT for professional install.
Place alarm panel out of sight of exterior windows
Visible keypads let an intruder see whether the system is armed before entering.
Post alarm company yard sign and window stickers
Deterrent value is real. Burglars consistently cite alarm signs as a top reason to move on.
Test your alarm system every 6 months
Ensure alarm has cellular backup (not just Wi-Fi)
Burglars sometimes cut internet or power first. Cellular backup maintains the alarm connection.
Add smoke and CO detectors to your alarm system
Share alarm code only with trusted people; change it when contractors visit
Add a loud siren inside the home (not just outside)
Interior sirens are more disorienting to an intruder and wake everyone in the home faster.
Home Cybersecurity
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Change your Wi-Fi router's default admin password
Default admin passwords are published online and used in automated attacks.
Use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption on your Wi-Fi network (disable WEP/WPS)
Create a separate guest Wi-Fi network for IoT devices (cameras, smart TVs, etc.)
Isolating IoT devices means a compromised camera can't reach your laptop or phone.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on email, banking, and social media accounts
Use a password manager (Bitwarden free tier, 1Password, or similar)
Reused passwords are the #1 account takeover vector. A password manager stops this entirely.
Keep router firmware up to date
Enable auto-updates if your router supports it. Check manually every 6 months if not.
Check HaveIBeenPwned.com for your email address
Free. Shows if your email and password appeared in a known data breach. Change the password for any hit.
Place a credit freeze with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
Free and reversible. The single most effective step against identity theft.
Keep operating systems and software patched and updated
Back up critical files using the 3-2-1 rule (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite)
Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi (hotel, coffee shop, airport)
Habits & Routines
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Hold mail and deliveries when away for more than a day or two
USPS mail hold is free online. A pile of packages signals an empty home.
Don't announce vacations on social media before or during travel
Share photos after you return. Real-time vacation posts are a broadcast to anyone following you that your home is empty.
Ask a trusted neighbor to watch the property when away
Keep valuables out of sight in parked cars (including in your own driveway)
Smash-and-grabs are opportunistic. A bag visible through a window is often enough to trigger one.
Break down and flatten boxes for expensive purchases before putting them in recycling
A TV box at the curb is an advertisement. Flatten it inside, bag it, or take it directly to a recycling center.
Know your neighbors — introduce yourself within the first few weeks of moving in
Neighbors who know you are the most effective early-warning system that exists.
Photograph and inventory high-value items (for insurance claims)
Store photos in cloud storage, not just on a device that could be stolen with everything else.
Keep emergency contacts, insurance info, and serial numbers in a secure location
Walk the perimeter of your home once a year to look for vulnerabilities
Look at your home through a burglar's eyes. What looks easy? What looks exposed? Fix what you find.
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