Anne Dennon

Home Technology Writer

Anne has covered home security and home automation for Reviews.com for two years. She's interested in human-computer interaction and tech ethics. She previously worked in education and information literacy.

The Latest from Anne

Is Ring’s Retrofit Kit a Good Deal?

Nov 27, 2019 | News

Wired Home Security Systems Can Get Smart for Around $400 and Up Ring is known for genre-redefining innovations, from multi-use home gadgets to the Ring Neighbors app, which brings the neighborhood watch into the digital age. Ring means smart home security, with all the automation features and smartphone control that entails. But what about regular,…

ADT vs. Protection 1

Nov 26, 2019 | Review

ADT vs. Protection 1 Review ADT is synonymous with home security. Drive through any neighborhood and you’ll probably spot more ADT signs — those telltale blue octagons — than those of any other home security provider. ADT claims the lion’s share of the home security market partly because of its longevity (over 100 years and...

Your Old Phone Might Be Your New Security Camera

Nov 25, 2019 | News

That Retired Smartphone Still has Work to Do The way we treat old smartphones is akin to how we treat old jewelry. Once we’ve moved on to newer, shinier options, we tend to hang on to the old. They gather dust in drawers and boxes marked “save.” We will probably never use them again, yet…

Black Friday 2019: Home Security Deals

Nov 22, 2019 | News

Your First Holiday Purchase Could Protect All the Others TVs and speakers, smart watches and laptops — electronics are high on everyone’s Black Friday shopping list. Of all the electronics you snap up this Black Friday, a home security system or security camera could be the most valuable. Whether a lone unit or part of…

The Best Cheap Home Security Companies

Nov 22, 2019 | Review

The Best Cheap Home Security Systems An effective home security system is first and foremost affordable. Alarms you couldn’t afford don’t make a sound. New competition has performed its usual good in the home security space, driving innovation up and prices down. While legacy companies still require professional installation and levy $40+ monthly monitoring fees,...

Elf on the Shelf — Caught on Home Security Camera

Nov 11, 2019 | News

Use your home security camera to add extra magic to holiday tradition Home security cameras are a vital part of any home security system, allowing you to monitor visitors, field security alerts, and identify would-be burglars. Whether you have a smart surveillance camera or a video doorbell, capturing unexpected footage of household antics is a…

2019 ADT vs. CPI Security Review

Oct 24, 2019 | Review

ADT vs. CPI Security Review In the quickly growing, quickly changing home security space, companies are distinguishing themselves by breaking with industry tradition — allowing customers to install their own wireless systems, monitor their own alerts, and pay month-to-month, while offering home automation features alongside safety features. ADT and CPI Security are old-fashioned in the...

Guardian Protection Review

Oct 21, 2019 | Review

Guardian Protection Review A well-established home security company with a presence concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic region, Guardian Protection combines heritage home security practices with up-to-date, in-house technology. If you want someone to professionally install and monitor your home security system, and you’re also interested in using your home security system as the foundation of a...

Keeping Your Home Secure on a Fixed Income

Oct 15, 2019 | News

Many people, including seniors and Social Security recipients, live on a fixed income. The monthly check in the mail has to cover all of life’s expenses until the next month, and the next check. When affording the essentials is your focus, making room in your budget for home security may seem impossible. But if you’re…

SimpliSafe Home Security Review

Oct 11, 2019 | Review

SimpliSafe Home Security Review SimpliSafe lives up to its name, eschewing the long contracts and steep rates of traditional home security companies in favor of month-to-month subscriptions that cost less than half the industry norm. SimpliSafe promises “more protection, less markup, no nonsense” and follows through with sleek, easy-to-install hardware and no contracts. SimpliSafe earns...