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Six things you should absolutely do if you have an iPhone

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Six things you should absolutely do if you have an iPhone

If you own an iPhone, you might already be aware that there are tons of tricks you can do with your smartphone to make the experience smoother. 

However, there may be some tricks that you don’t know about yet, and we’ve got six great things you should absolutely try with your iPhone and six things that you should avoid with your iPhone. 

Let’s dive in.

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A woman on her iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Six things you should absolutely do if you have an iPhone

Tip 1 — Back up your data

Make sure to back up all of the data on your phone routinely. Use Apple’s iCloud to store important texts, photos, videos or anything else in the cloud, so it’s always there if anything happens to your iPhone. 

  • Open Settings on your iPhone
  • Tap on your Apple ID
  • Select iCloud
  • Tap iCloud Backup

Ensure the “Back Up This iPhone” toggle is enabled.

Back up this iPhone toggle  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Your iPhone will now automatically back up daily when connected to power, locked and connected to Wi-Fi.

TOP IPHONE CASES OF 2024 

Tip 2 — Explore the accessibility settings

Discover the power of iPhone’s accessibility features, designed to make your device more user-friendly for everyone. 

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  • Open Settings on your iPhone.
  • Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”Within the Accessibility menu, you’ll find options categorized by needs:Vision:Adjust Display and Text Size for better visibility.Enable VoiceOver to have the screen read out loud to you.Set up a Magnifier to use your iPhone as a digital magnifying glass.Mobility:Use AssistiveTouch to navigate hands-free with customizable gestures.Control other devices with your iPhone using Switch Control or Side Buttons.Hearing:Modify audio settings to balance sound output.Turn speech into text with Live Speech Set up Sound Recognition to have your iPhone notify you of certain sounds.Cognitive:Reduce distractions by limiting notifications with Guided Access. To turn on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Toggle on Guided Access Get help with tasks using Siri Shortcuts.Enhance awareness by adjusting the UI to reduce motion or limit auto-play video previews. To turn it on, Go to Settings > Accessibility > Select Motion, then turn on Reduce Motion
  • Within the Accessibility menu, you’ll find options categorized by needs:Vision:Adjust Display and Text Size for better visibility.Enable VoiceOver to have the screen read out loud to you.Set up a Magnifier to use your iPhone as a digital magnifying glass.Mobility:Use AssistiveTouch to navigate hands-free with customizable gestures.Control other devices with your iPhone using Switch Control or Side Buttons.Hearing:Modify audio settings to balance sound output.Turn speech into text with Live Speech Set up Sound Recognition to have your iPhone notify you of certain sounds.Cognitive:Reduce distractions by limiting notifications with Guided Access. To turn on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Toggle on Guided Access Get help with tasks using Siri Shortcuts.Enhance awareness by adjusting the UI to reduce motion or limit auto-play video previews. To turn it on, Go to Settings > Accessibility > Select Motion, then turn on Reduce Motion
  • Vision:Adjust Display and Text Size for better visibility.Enable VoiceOver to have the screen read out loud to you.Set up a Magnifier to use your iPhone as a digital magnifying glass.
  • Adjust Display and Text Size for better visibility.
  • Enable VoiceOver to have the screen read out loud to you.
  • Set up a Magnifier to use your iPhone as a digital magnifying glass.
  • Mobility:Use AssistiveTouch to navigate hands-free with customizable gestures.Control other devices with your iPhone using Switch Control or Side Buttons.
  • Use AssistiveTouch to navigate hands-free with customizable gestures.
  • Control other devices with your iPhone using Switch Control or Side Buttons.
  • Hearing:Modify audio settings to balance sound output.Turn speech into text with Live Speech Set up Sound Recognition to have your iPhone notify you of certain sounds.
  • Modify audio settings to balance sound output.
  • Turn speech into text with Live Speech 
  • Set up Sound Recognition to have your iPhone notify you of certain sounds.
  • Cognitive:Reduce distractions by limiting notifications with Guided Access. To turn on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Toggle on Guided Access Get help with tasks using Siri Shortcuts.Enhance awareness by adjusting the UI to reduce motion or limit auto-play video previews. To turn it on, Go to Settings > Accessibility > Select Motion, then turn on Reduce Motion
  • Reduce distractions by limiting notifications with Guided Access. To turn on, go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access > Toggle on Guided Access 
  • Get help with tasks using Siri Shortcuts.
  • Enhance awareness by adjusting the UI to reduce motion or limit auto-play video previews. To turn it on, Go to Settings > Accessibility > Select Motion, then turn on Reduce Motion

You can use Siri to quickly access these features. For example, say “Hey Siri, turn on VoiceOver” to enable the VoiceOver feature. Remember, you can always customize these settings to fit your personal needs and preferences.

Accessibility settings on iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

BEST ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR PHONE 

Tip 3 — Wi-Fi Calling

Learn how to make Wi-Fi calls on your iPhone during a service outage. 

  • Open Settings on your iPhone
  • Tap Phone
  • Select Wi-Fi Calling
  • Toggle the switch to ON for “Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone”
  • If Wi-Fi Calling is available, you’ll see “Wi-Fi” in the status bar.

Wi-Fi calling on iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Service outages can happen for various reasons, but, thankfully, you can still make important phone calls from your iPhone with Wi-Fi Calling. 

BEST PORTABLE PHONE CHARGERS OF 2024 

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Tip 4 — Download your favorite e-books for free

Did you know that if you have a library card, you can get free audiobooks and e-books for your iPhone or iPad with Libby?

  • Visit the Apple App Store on your iPhone
  • Search for “Libby” and download the app.
  • Open Libby and sign in using your library card.

Make sure you get a library card from your local library and enjoy free access to your favorite titles. Check out the free digital perks you may be missing out on by not having a library card. 

Libby app  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 5 — Learn how you can use your iPhone to sign documents digitally

For most documents in every U.S. state, your digital signature is as legally binding as a physical signature. Apple makes it easy to sign PDFs with a digital signature, allowing you to sign with just your finger and the touchscreen.

TEXAS MAN USES APPLE AIRTAG TO TRACK DOWN PERSON WHO STOLE HIS TRUCK, THEN KILLS HIM: POLICE

  • Open the document that you need to sign. This can typically be done within the Mail or Files app.
  • Tap the Markup icon (which looks like a pen tip).
  • Tap the “+” button, usually located at the bottom of the screen.
  • Select “Signature” from the menu.
  • Use your finger to draw your signature on the screen.
  • Once you’ve created your signature, tap “Done.”
  • You can then drag the signature to position it wherever you need it on the document.
  • Tap “Done” again to save the changes to the document.

Sign documents digitally on iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

This method is commonly used for signing PDFs and other documents directly on your iPhone, and it’s a feature that’s been praised for its convenience and ease of use. Remember, the exact steps can vary slightly depending on the version of iOS you’re using and the app in which you’re viewing the document. Always make sure your device is updated to the latest version to access the most current features.

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Tip 6 — Turn your iPhone into a countdown timer

Got a big event coming up? Did you know you can turn your iPhone into a countdown timer for any event, no matter how close or how far away it is? No matter the event, you can use your iPhone to make it feel more exciting and special with a special countdown!

Adding the Timer to the Control Center on iPhone:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Scroll down and tap on Control Center.
  • Scroll down to find the Timer option.
  • Tap the plus button (+) next to “Timer” to add it to the Control Center.

Accessing the Timer from the Control Center:

  • For iPhones with Face ID:Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to access the Control Center.
  • Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to access the Control Center.
  • For older iPhones with a Home button:Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Center.
  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Center.

Using the Timer:

  • Once you’ve opened the Control Center, tap on the Timer icon. The Timer icon resembles a clock face with a circular arrow indicating the passage of time
  • Tap “Start” to begin the countdown on the Timer.

Countdown timer on iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

  • This timer will continue to run in the background even if you navigate away from the Control Center screen.

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Six things you should absolutely avoid if you have an iPhone 

Tip 1 — Don’t connect your iPhone to public Wi-Fi networks

This is an easy way to fall victim to hackers and scammers. Instead, if you are out in public and need Wi-Fi, you can use your iPhone to create your own private hotspot. Creating a hotspot is easy, to create one:

  • Open the Settings on your iPhone
  • Tap Cellular (or Personal Hotspot, depending on your iOS version)
  • Toggle the switch next to “Allow Others to Join” to ON

If it’s your first time using the hotspot feature, a popup will appear with the network name and password. By default, the network name will be the same as the name of your iPhone. To ensure privacy, type in a new Wi-Fi password and select WPA2 security protocol for encryption.

A person on an iPhone  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 2 — Avoid clicking on links you don’t trust

Never click on links you do not absolutely trust. Don’t think that your iPhone is a fully safe device. While iPhones are more secure than other devices, getting some third-party good antivirus protection for your iPhone is still a good idea. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams

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Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

Tip 3 — If your iPhone gets wet, don’t use rice to dry it out

While rice is a common age-old trick to getting wet electronics dried, Apple has recently warned users that rice could damage the internals of its iPhones. Instead, you should: 

  • Lightly tap the iPhone against your iPhone with the charging connector pointed down. This should pull some water out
  • Wait for 30 minutes, then try to charge your iPhone
  • If liquid is detected in the charging port, leave your iPhone in a dry area for 24 hours.
  • Retest the charging connector after 24 hours.

Remember that all iPhone models since the iPhone 12 are able to withstand a bit of water safely.

X over iPhone in a bowl of rice (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Tip 4 — Don’t let robocalls jack your phone line and sell your personal data 

There are a few different steps you can take to stop robocalls from bothering you on your iPhone. The easiest way is to silence unknown callers:

  • Open Settings on your iPhone
  • Scroll down and tap “Phone”
  • Tap “Silence Unknown Callers”
  • Then, toggle ON Silence Unknown Callers.

This will silence calls from numbers not in your contacts list, automatically sending them to voicemall. Calls from known contacts will continue to come through normally. Check out more tips on how to get rid of robocalls with apps and data removal services here.

Please note: While this feature can significantly reduce interruptions from unknown numbers, it may also inadvertently block important calls from numbers you haven’t saved, such as calls from medical offices, schools or businesses trying to reach you for the first time. Also, remember to save new contacts to your phone to avoid missing important calls and to check your voicemail periodically for any messages left by silenced callers.

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Tip 5 — Don’t forget to shield your iPhone: Turn on stolen device protection now

This security measure adds an extra layer of defense, ensuring that your personal information remains safe even if your device falls into the wrong hands. To activate Stolen Device Protection, follow these steps:

  • Open Settings on your iPhone.
  • Go to Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode for iPhones with a Home button).
  • When prompted, enter your passcode.
  • Scroll to find Stolen Device Protection.
  • Toggle the switch to ON for Stolen Device Protection.

By turning this feature on, you’re fortifying your device with additional security requirements when it’s away from familiar locations like home or work. It’s a smart move to keep your iPhone and the sensitive data it holds secure.”

Tip 6 — Don’t fall for phone number spoofing

Don’t fall for phone number spoofing. Scammers can use spoofed phone numbers to text you, hoping that you will click a fake link and enter your personal details. Trust your instincts when something feels off about a text message, even from someone you know, there’s a good chance something is off.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Start implementing these tips today, and discover the additional ways you can easily enhance your iOS experience. Remember to always value your privacy when using your iPhone. iPhones have a tendency to be regarded as the safest phone, and while this is true, you still should always practice the best security habits when online.

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Technology

The TikTok deal is done, finally

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The TikTok deal is done, finally

TikTok USDS Joint Venture’s mandate is to secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures. It will safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem through robust trust and safety policies and content moderation while ensuring continuous accountability through transparency reporting and third-party certifications.

Data Protection: U.S. user data will be protected by USDS Joint Venture in Oracle’s secure U.S. cloud environment. The Joint Venture will operate a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program that is audited and certified by third party cybersecurity experts. The program will adhere to major industry standards, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) CSF and 800-53 and ISO 27001 as well as the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Security Requirements for Restricted Transactions.

Algorithm Security: The Joint Venture will retrain, test, and update the content recommendation algorithm on U.S. user data. The content recommendation algorithm will be secured in Oracle’s U.S. cloud environment.

Software Assurance: The Joint Venture will secure U.S. apps through software assurance protocols, and review and validate source code on an ongoing basis, assisted by its Trusted Security Partner, Oracle.

Trust & Safety: The Joint Venture will safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem and have decision-making authority for trust and safety policies and content moderation.

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TikTok USDS Joint Venture has three managing investors, Silver Lake, Oracle and MGX, each holding 15%. Completing the full consortium of investors are: Dell Family Office, the investment firm of Michael Dell, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies; Vastmere Strategic Investments, LLC, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group, LLP; Alpha Wave Partners; Revolution; Merritt Way, LLC controlled and managed by partners of Dragoneer; Via Nova, an affiliate of General Atlantic; Virgo LI, Inc., investment arm of a foundation established by Yuri and Julia Milner in support of science; and NJJ Capital, the family office of Xavier Niel, a French entrepreneur and pioneer in telecommunications. ByteDance retains 19.9% of the Joint Venture.

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Apple taps Google Gemini to power Apple Intelligence

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Apple taps Google Gemini to power Apple Intelligence

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Apple and Google just made one of the most important artificial intelligence (AI) announcements of the year. Under a new multi-year collaboration, Apple will base the next generation of its Apple Foundation Models on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology.

The companies confirmed the partnership in a joint statement, signaling a major shift in how Apple plans to deliver AI features across the iPhone, iPad and Mac. 

The deal comes as Apple faces growing pressure to catch up in AI, especially after delaying a long-promised overhaul of Siri. 

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Apple and Google have entered a multiyear AI partnership that will shape the future of Apple Intelligence and Siri. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Why Apple chose Google’s Gemini

Apple evaluated multiple AI options before settling on Gemini. According to the joint statement, Apple believes Google’s AI provides the strongest foundation for its own models. Gemini has quickly become one of the most capable large language model families, backed by Google’s massive cloud infrastructure. 

For Apple, this means faster development, more reliable performance and the ability to roll out advanced features without rebuilding everything from scratch. At the same time, Apple says Apple Intelligence will still run on the device and through its Private Cloud Compute system. In other words, Apple controls how user data flows, even if the underlying models come from Google.

The joint statement from Apple and Google

Here is the full joint statement from the two companies:

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“Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.

“After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google’s AI technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.”

That last line is critical. Apple is clearly trying to reassure users that privacy remains central, even with Google’s technology involved.

CHATGPT’S GPT-5.2 IS HERE, AND IT FEELS RUSHED

Google’s Gemini models will help power Apple’s next-generation AI features while Apple keeps control of on-device processing and privacy. (REUTERS/Norbert von der Groeben)

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A long-delayed Siri overhaul finally moves forward

A more personalized Siri is one of the biggest promises tied to this deal. Apple had already previewed major Siri improvements but ran into development problems. Reports described internal frustration, bugs and delays that pushed the revamped assistant further out than planned. This partnership helps explain why. By leaning on Gemini, Apple can accelerate Siri’s evolution instead of trying to solve every AI challenge internally. The result should be a smarter assistant that better understands context, handles complex requests and integrates more deeply across Apple apps.

Behind-the-scenes pressure at Apple

This deal did not happen in a vacuum. Apple has faced criticism for moving too slowly on AI while rivals pushed ahead. Apple had reportedly been in talks to license a custom version of Gemini for Siri and was expected to pay roughly $1 billion per year, though the official announcement did not confirm any financial terms. 

Apple has also reshuffled its AI leadership. The company recently hired Amar Subramanya as vice president of artificial intelligence. He replaced John Giannandrea, who stepped down from the role after leading Apple’s AI strategy since 2018.

Antitrust questions loom

There is also a regulatory angle. Apple and Google already face scrutiny for their long-standing search agreement. That partnership came under renewed attention after U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google holds a monopoly in online search, while still allowing payments to Apple to keep Google as the default search engine on iPhones. This new AI collaboration could attract fresh attention from antitrust regulators who worry about powerful tech companies becoming even more intertwined.

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The deal signals a strategic shift as Apple accelerates its AI roadmap to deliver smarter, more personalized experiences across its devices. (Phil Barker/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

What this means for you

For those of you using Apple devices, the impact is straightforward. You should see smarter Apple Intelligence features arrive faster, starting with a more capable Siri. Tasks like summarizing messages, handling complex reminders and understanding context across apps should improve. At the same time, Apple insists your data stays protected. Apple Intelligence will still rely on device processing and Private Cloud Compute, rather than funneling personal data directly into Google’s systems. In short, users get better AI without giving up Apple’s privacy stance, at least in theory.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple’s partnership with Google marks a turning point in its AI story. Instead of going it alone, Apple is betting that combining its privacy-focused platform with Google’s AI muscle is the fastest path forward. If Apple delivers on its promises, this deal could finally close the AI gap that has frustrated users and investors alike. The real test will come when those features land on your devices.

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Ring claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras

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Ring claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras

Ring’s partnership with Flock is sparking renewed online backlash this week, with influencers calling for people to smash their Ring cameras and claiming the company is part of the surveillance state amid heightened concerns over ICE actions.

Flock is an AI-powered surveillance camera company that has reportedly allowed government agencies — including ICE — to access data from its nationwide camera network. Amazon-owned home security company Ring announced a partnership with Flock last year as part of its new Community Requests tool. This allows local law enforcement agencies to request footage from nearby Ring users when investigating an active case.

“Ring has no partnership with ICE … and does not share video with them.”

According to reporting from Futurism, activists are pushing a grassroots campaign across social media, including TikTok and Bluesky, telling Ring users to get rid of their cameras to prevent footage from being used by ICE. However, Ring spokesperson Yassi Yarger told The Verge in an email that “Ring has no partnership with ICE, does not give ICE videos, feeds, or back-end access, and does not share video with them.”

Yarger also said that the Flock integration in question, which was announced last October, is not yet live. Meaning Flock does not have access to Community Requests.

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“As we explore the integration, we will ensure the feature is built for the use of local public safety agencies only — which is what the program is designed for,” she said. According to Ring’s support site, local agencies are limited to city and county organizations.

Still, once footage is in the hands of local authorities, it’s out of Ring’s control. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff has told The Verge that he believes widespread cameras can prevent crime. But once deployed, the potential for such a large-scale local surveillance system to be used for other purposes is very real.

Since returning to the company last year, Siminoff has leaned into his belief that more cameras lead to safer communities, launching Community Requests last September.

This is essentially a rebrand of Ring’s controversial Request for Assistance feature, which was discontinued in 2024. Only, instead of direct partnerships with law enforcement, Community Requests works through integrations with “third-party evidence management platforms,” such as Flock and Axon, a Taser and body-cam company.

Any local agency partnered with either company can request users’ footage through the Ring’s apps. According to Yarger, currently, only the Axon partnership is live.

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According to Ring, Community Requests sends a request from the local agency to both the Ring Neighbors app and the Ring app’s Community Feed. The request appears to all users in the area of an active investigation, and a user can choose to share footage or ignore the request. Ring says no one will be notified if you ignore a request.

How to disable Community Requests and enable E2E

If you don’t want to participate in Community Requests, you can disable it in the Ring or Neighbors app. Go to the app’s settings page, find the Neighbors Settings, then scroll down to Neighborhood Settings, click Feed Settings, uncheck Community Requests, and click Apply.

You can opt out of Community Requests without disabling your device.
Screenshot Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

However, Ring — like many security camera companies — may provide footage to law enforcement without a warrant in what it deems an emergency.

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To prevent anyone from accessing your Ring footage, you can enable end-to-end encryption (E2E) in the Ring app.

While your footage is still stored in Ring’s cloud, with E2E turned on, only the mobile device you set up the camera with can view the video; it cannot be accessed by Ring or used for Community Requests.

Enabling E2E means you lose several features, including person detection, rich notifications that show a snapshot of activity, and Ring’s new AI-powered descriptions, all of which rely on the cloud.

While most cloud-based security cameras encrypt footage in transit and at rest, they need to access it in the cloud to analyze it and enable those features.

Alternatives to cloud-dependent cameras

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If you want to avoid cloud-dependent cameras entirely, there are several other options for keeping your camera footage private and secure.

As mentioned, Ring cameras use the cloud to process footage for features like person detection; however, some security cameras can process video locally and fully encrypt it before sending it to the cloud. Generally, this requires a hub to process the footage.

If you are an iPhone user, Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service is fully E2E encrypted. Video analysis is done locally on a home hub, such as a HomePod or Apple TV, and stored in your iCloud account. It requires compatible cameras, including models from Eve, Aqara, and Eufy.

Anker-owned Eufy is another company that offers local storage and video processing for its wide selection of cameras and video doorbells. The company had some serious security breaches involving the cloud in 2022, but its newer HomeBase hardware can run locally.

TP-Link’s Tapo, Aqara, and Reolink recently launched local hubs for storage and processing of footage from their cameras, and these companies also offer cameras and video doorbells with onboard local processing and local storage via microSD cards.

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The new Matter standard now supports security cameras, which could open more options for local, secure storage and processing of camera footage.

Ultimately, any camera connected to the internet comes with the risk that it could be accessed by someone other than you, no matter what the company says. So it remains important to think carefully before adding any type of surveillance to your home or your neighborhood.

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