Hidden cameras are generally considered as ideal gadgets for surveillance — they’re unobtrusive, easy to carry and install and can be quite effective for monitoring and recording activities.  They have been used to catch a variety of law breakers, ranging from thieves and shoplifters to drug dealers and philandering spouses.  Unfortunately, these very characteristics also make hidden cams prone to misuse.  Due to their availability, many people forget that hidden cams are meant to be used to protect and not to abuse.

Legal implications of hidden cam abuse
Before deciding to use hidden cameras, there are certain restrictions you have to keep in mind.  Hidden cameras are considered legal provided they are:

- used to monitor and record activities that may be detrimental to general health and safety of persons concerned
- used with permission from a legal authority
- used to monitor and record activities performed in publicly accessible areas, if the hidden cam is to be used in a home or establishment

If used to monitor the nanny, cleaning lady or the mailman, for example, the hidden cam may only be installed in an area where no privacy issues may be raised.  They cannot be used in areas such as the bathroom, locker room, toilet, hotel room or even the bedroom of the concerned party.  These rooms are areas of the house where people will require personal privacy, so unless express consent is given, no hidden cam should be placed there.  Without the other party’s permission, installing a hidden cam where it could violate privacy rights will be considered abuse.

There are also laws that require the consent of at least one party to use the hidden camera, something that most states require.  There are also states that require consent of all parties, so you might have to inform people that cameras are in place.  You may not choose to inform them where these gadgets are located.

Need audio?  Check if it’s legal
There is also the concern of using hidden cams that record audio.  There are laws at the state and federal levels that protect against illegal wiretapping and eavesdropping.  Should you decide to include an audio function with your hidden camera, make sure you do not violate anyone else’s rights.

The bottomline: hidden cams are supposed to be used to deter, prevent or at least provide evidence of illegal activity in order to protect.  They should not be used as an abusive form of surveillance, such as when they become instruments of malicious spying or blackmail.

If you have children and a nanny, then you have every right to be worried. You may have heard news reports of nannies kidnapping their wards, children being left alone by irresponsible nannies, or nannies being the key that opens your door to all the world’s strangers. Although this can be paranoid, you will still need to exercise a lot of caution when determining who to hire. At one point, if you are busy and need help with taking care of your children, and you have a nanny that you are trying to trust, then perhaps you have thought of using your nanny cam.

The advantage of having a nanny cam is that you can watch your nanny and keep a close eye on your children and how they are treated. This can also be offset by the disadvantage of concentrating too much on your nanny cam that you can leave your work behind. You might as well stay home and watch your children if all your time at the office is spent monitoring your nanny cam!

Should you use a nanny cam? You can start thinking of this when you interview your nanny. Gut feel will easily tell you if your nanny is an amateur or has never worked with children. Your instincts should also tell you if something is amiss, such as if your nanny has a boyfriend with whom she has little contact, or if your nanny is over-indulgent and thus appears suspicious. There should be many warning signs that can tell you different things: can your nanny bring in her boyfriend and leave your children behind? Might your nanny just be showing her good side because she is being interviewed?

Continue weighing your options when you finally hire your nanny. You may want to interview your children when you arrive home and ask them how their day has been. Did they enjoy being with the nanny? Was the nanny doing anything inappropriate, talking too much on the phone, hurting the children? If you have more than one child, assign your elder child as your lookout. When your elder child starts voicing concerns, then you can use a nanny cam to confirm or refute your child’s claims.

There isn’t anything wrong with being paranoid, as long as you’re reasonable about your views. Always ask your nanny for referrals, and if you can, ask for certificates of good conduct or check on your nanny’s police record. A good way to test your nanny is to ask for the police records. A good nanny will have nothing to hide.

If you do need to use a nanny cam, make it discreet and start by not telling your nanny that he or she is being watched. This might make your nanny flustered; accidents can happen with careless or nannies who are conscious that they are being monitored. A disadvantage to this is that it can be a devious move that your nanny can sue you for. A good workaround is for you to tell your nanny that you have a nanny cam, and that you will be monitoring him or her at varying times. This way, your nanny cannot predict when he or she is being watched or from where. This can be a good test of nanny mettle, so make sure that you know how to use your gut feel.

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Children are very vulnerable beings, not only because they lack the experience and skills to recognize danger and protect themselves accordingly but also because they are naturally guileless and trusting. Each new thing they see, hear and feel is an experience worth exploring, regardless of its potential danger. Need to child-proof your home or simply ensure the protection and safety of your child? Here are 5 child security gadgets you might want to consider buying:

Baby monitor
It’s lightweight, inconspicuous and it lets you monitor a very young child from another location in the house. Baby monitors are one of the most popular child security gadgets for new parents. They function as ‘always on’ intercom system, allowing you to hear your child and any activities that may occur in his/her room even when you’re in the kitchen, living room, bedroom or garage.

Wireless leash
The wireless leash lets you keep your child within a specific area of the house or the yard. Simply attach this security gadget on your child’s wrist and the sensor will transmit a warning alarm to you in case he wanders away.

Security cam
Also known as a surveillance cam or a nanny cam, security cameras are excellent choices as child security gadgets. They allow you to monitor the child in his room and to determine if he’s in imminent danger or not. This will require some setup but it will come in handy in case you need to keep an eye out for a child but cannot be physically present with them.

A simpler but similar gadget is the wireless monitoring kit. You could install the camera in the room where the child is and then monitor their activities from a handheld receiver that you can bring to another location in the house.

Pool Alarm
If you have a pool in your home, consider installing this child security gadget. This alarm is installed in the pool and will electronically sense if your child wanders too near the water or actually falls into the pool. This is an excellent gadget to use if you have a pool or jacuzzi that is frequently unsupervised or uncovered.

Mobile handsets with GPS
In Japan, many parents are using mobile handsets with built-in GPS (global positioning systems) to keep track of their youngsters. Since most children walk to school or frequently use public transportation even at very young ages, parents feel that their children are safer if they know where they are exactly at a particular moment.

If you want to keep tabs on your child’s location from time to time, consider buying a child security gadget that has a built-in GPS. In case you suspect a problem, you could immediately give your child a call or get in touch with the authorities to check on his location.

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Children are every parent’s pride and joy. It would be devastating to lose your child and you can prevent this from happening with child guard monitors.

What Are Child Guard Monitors?
These electronic devices are safe for children to use and have with them all the time. They contain transmitters that lets the receiver knows when its user is near to straying past specified distance boundaries.

How to Choose the Right Child Guard Monitor

Design and Materials
This is the most important factor. Child guard monitors come in various guises but mostly, they’re designed to look like toys. Of course, not any toy would do for your child so it’s important for you to choose one he’d be willing to have with him at all times.

Check for resilience and durability as well. Children are naturally clumsy and it’s not unusual for them to accidentally drop or step on their toys. For maximum protection, look for a child guard monitor with a long-lasting or hard-wearing shell.

Size
The best child guard monitors are those small enough that your child can keep in his pocket but big enough for him to immediately notice if it’s lost or misplaced. Smaller child guard monitors are also acceptable but only they can double as bracelets or necklaces that children can wear.

Frequency and Range
Look for child guard monitors you can use both indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, look for monitors capable of offering the greatest amount of coverage. This will help you track your child more easily if he ends up lost.

Adjustability
The best child guard monitors allow users to specify configurations. As such, you can adjust the coverage for the transmitter, depending on your needs and preferences. For some models, the volume of alarm can also be adjusted.

User-Friendliness
Child guard monitors shouldn’t be complicated, especially as you may be dealing with serious crisis anytime. Controls for distance or volume adjustments should be just as easy as turning the transmitter on or off. This is especially important if you wish for other companions of your child to make use of the device as well.

Power
Different types of batteries are used to power up child guard monitors. Models using long-lasting batteries are naturally preferable. Consider charging time if batteries used are rechargeable.

Reliability
The safety of your child will be compromised if your child guard monitor is faulty and unreliable. As such, consider buying only child guard monitors manufactured by reputable companies. The Better Business Bureau can help you find ideal manufacturers for these devices.

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image credits to dhammza