The problem with most motion detection software for personal or business use it that they’re triggered by a leaf, animal, or other insignificant events.  Vitamin D, on the other hand, can detect movements of people, doors opening and closing, email alerts, and more. The diy security software works on PC and Mac

Impressive Features:

• “People Detection” instead of motion detection.
• Daily Highlight Reel – Summarizes the events of the day.
• Highly Customizable – Pinpoint when a certain door is opened.

It’s in beta and free until February 2010, so grab it while you still can.  We’ve covered some similar software on motion sensing security for more ways to protect your home or gadgets.

DIY Security Projects:

• Remote Surveillance Spy Vehicle/Office Unit
• DIY Rotating Bookshelves, Staircases and Trap Doors
• How to Use RFID to Protect your Beer, Valuables

Here’s a fantastic project using an arduino, a motor, and a piezo sensor which allows you to both record and detect knocking patterns to unlock a door.  The video below does a fantastic job of demonstrating how it works: It’s completely mobile and can be suction cupped to any dead bolt. Press a button to record a new sequence.  Upon detecting the correct sequence of knocks, the motor turns the lock open.  Brilliant!

Don’t miss: Top 40 Arduino Projects of the Web

For more details on the project including detailed photos and code, check out the project build.  We have hundreds of the best Arduino projects for your inspiration:

• DIY Football Hero Using the Arduino
• Top 40 Arduino Projects of the Web
• Twitter Robot makes Popcorn, starts a Movie

We have dozens of DIY home security projects and here’s another outstanding project to add to the collection.  Learn to build your own DIY Halloween pumpkin with a built in wireless surveillance camera so you can watch for vandals or have advanced notice of unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.  The full tutorials are in step by step instructions as shown below:

Basic Materials:

Basically, this project just combines a consumer product with a pumpkin, making it rather bland.  We suggest you can spice up your version with some inspiration (see our popular security projects at the bottom of the page).

Gut, Install, Finished.

The project tutorial shows you how to do this with two different types of wireless cameras.  Since little hacking is involved, the project is a little bland so check out our far more exciting tutorials below:

Popular DIY Security Projects:

• Remote Surveillance Spy Vehicle/Office Unit
• DIY Rotating Bookshelves, Staircases and Trap Doors
• DIY Motion-Sensing Laptop Security Cam

Securing our privacy is important to everyone. We’ve featured dozens of DIY security projects in the past including a spy van, money stash, and hidden passageways but this one doesn’t even require any additional hardware if you’ve got a webcam Highlight cam is free software you can install to guard your PC and act as a silent security guard for your office space.

Impressive Features:

• Motion alert notifications sent via email
• Off-site backup in case the intruder takes the computer

Setup:

The software is dirt simple to install. After that, you’ll be asked to take a still recording of your workspace with no movement. Then you can set the software to begin recording when motion is detected. It’s so simple your grandmother could do it!

If Highlight cam doesn’t work out, Motion Detection and Yawcam are other options you may consider. The free version of Highlight cam will probably suit your security needs for now but there is also a paid version which has additional features.

More DIY Security:

• DIY Laser Surveillance Security System
• How to Use RFID to Protect your Beer, Valuables
• Build a Motion Activated Spy Cam

Our loyal reader, Rich, posted this awesome tutorial about making a surveillance spy van. If you’ve seen any mystery or action movie, you’ve seen a van stuffed full of fancy electronics and spy equipment.  Now learn to make your own.  Our project involved taking a brand spanking (okay, two years old) Citroen Relay and turning it into a mobile office with a standalone runtime of 8-10 hours. The applications are endless! This particular model has been given the surveillance treatment with a roof mounted pan-tilt-zoom camera hooked up to internal computers and recording equipment.

See also:

• Covert Security System Hidden inside Garden Lamps
• 6 Outstanding DIY Spy Projects

Inside you’ll find furnished walls and floor which hide the guts of the system (power, insulation, wiring, batteries etc) and a two person desk setup. The design essentially revolves around a ’shell’ built inside the van. Carpeted wooden hardboard makes for a sturdy floor and paneling system, each of which can be removed individually for easy access to electrical components and batteries. The shell is insulated with glass matting (the same stuff that keeps your house warm!) meaning the vehicle is kept at a nice temperature in winter and summer. We’ve used two fluorescent on independent switches at either end of the vehicle, and emergency LEDs overhead.

We’ve got a battery monitor on the wall, next to the monitors, which displays voltage and amp draw at all times. The capacity is also obviously shown. This means you can see the effect plugging in a component has right away, e.g charging a mobile phone or laptop. We used damned expensive crystal matt batteries for longevity and sturdiness which should power the computers, monitors, lights and occasional use of the a/c for around 8 hours or more if you’re careful with the power use.

When you plug the van into mains power, the system detects this and starts charging the battery. The entire battery can be charged in 3.5-4 hours. If mains power is removed, the system flicks over the battery power “in 0.02s”, so none of the onboard components will lose power. There’s lots of clever stuff too, such as float and trickle charging if the vehicle is left stood for a longer period of time.

The computers are the focus of the vehicle and where work is done. For this particular vehicle we used one ‘normal’ spec computer (dual core 3.2ghz, 2BG ram etc) and one ’super spec’ (quad core, 4GB ram) computer to handle the intensive data the roof mounted camera would need. We used a separate 4 way capture card to improve performance. Internet comes in the form of a decent wireless router and a 3G dongle if your out of range. Computers are located under the desk and of course can be removed and upgraded in the future. There’s also dual plug sockets x6 for anything you might need to plug in (phones, laptops etc).

Climate control – no mobile office would be complete without it! The temperature is adjustable from 22 to 28 degrees (trust me, that’s way too hot ). Plus the a/c will dehumidify, which is useful when two or more people are camped inside the van for a long period of time (say, overnight).

Add in a few basic home comforts such as executive seats, blacked curtains for either end of the rear cab, coat hooks and a whiteboard opposite desk, we think this is the perfect budget office (or surveillance!) vehicle, which lends itself well to upgrades in the future. If you’d like any more info about the build, more photos, or even a demo if you’re in the UK, please email me: r[at]suspicionindustries.com.

This vehicle is for sale right now.

Check out more of our DIY car projects and always send us your projects so we can feature them on the site.

All you need to make your own DIY security system with hidden outdoor cameras is the garden lamp housing, network cables, screws, and of course the  IP cameras which you will put up to keep a track of what is happening outside. Today we will tell you how to can prepare such a camera on your own to build a DIY security network.

You may also enjoy our similar posts:

• Build a Motion Activated Spy Camera
• How to use RFID to Protect your Beer & Valuables
• See all of our security projects.

How to build your own:

Once you have all your materials, you need to remove the reflector from the dome. You will find that the reflector is attached with screws on both sides. Simply unscrew the screws and open the reflector. Next, Remove the rubber seal from between the holder as you will need to place the camera in between that and attach it with the cable.  If you’d like, you can check the full project details here.

Getting things ready for use

• Prepare the tube with the help of the screw as the cables have to pass from inside the tube so they’re safely hidden. A hole needs to be made in the tube from where the wires can come out for connectivity purpose. This hole should be a little large so that it is large enough to pass the power connector of the camera.  Note, we sell several types of security webcams in our store than can be adapted for this project.
• While connecting the wires be vary careful not to cut the colored wires.  After the garden light has been prepared, the power adapter needs to be connected. Find the positive and the negative connection and then attach the wires to the camera. Always try to use the RJ45 power connector as this is the safest connector for such a project.

Finally the camera needs to be mounted and attached and your IP security system is ready for use. You can monitor various areas outside your home.  There are plenty of  software available which can be used to check multiple cameras from your computer.

• View full project details.
• Subscribe to HacknMod for future posts.

By hacking a motion detector and soldering it to a tiny pinhole 4GB USB Stick Camera (cheap on eBay) you can secretly record video whenever someone enters the room. When motion is detected, the motion sensor sends out a signal which is instructs the USB stick cam to turn on and begin recording.

DIY Security Projects:

• 6 Outstanding DIY Spy Projects
• DIY Rotating Bookshelbes & Trapdoors
• Make a Laser surveillance System

Everyone loves cool spy gadgets and gizmos. Over the years we’ve gathered up a comprehensive database of tutorials to help you be stealthy, to teach you how to eavesdrop, and of course snoop your way to becoming the ultimate 007 agent. You’ll be one step closer to world domination. Enjoy! Subscribe to stay updated.

Make your own Laser Surveillance System

Using a basic laser pointer and a sensitive amplifier, it is possible to listen in on conversations happening outside through the walls! This guy definitely has great taste in eye wear as you can see. Anyways, check it out and spy on your neighbors, parents, that old lady you have a special fetish for, or whomever. Enjoy!

Secret Agent Style Earphones

Here’s an easy way to make FBI-like earphones. This is very useful if you ever want to listen to music but also maintain one free ear (for instance while biking in the city). Plus they look just plain PIMP! Click here to read more.

Make Covert Spy Sunglasses

I’ve always wanted a pair of spy sunglasses that can record stealth video, but they run upwards of $300. So here’s how to make your own pair that works great, records color, video, AND audio! Watch the Test Results in the video!

Eavesdrop from 1,000 miles away.

This really simple, yet effective hack allows you to eavesdrop from anywhere a cellphone receives a signal. See here for more.

USB Web Cam Super Telescope

Take your standard web camera, attach a 12 dollar telephoto lens, and presto, you’ve got your very own telescope. You can even record video footage. Spy on your neighbors, the moon…� Anything you’d like! It’s actually capable of spoting craters on the moon. Besides for the webcam and lens, all you’ll need are some standard PVC plumbing materials (pipes, diameter adapters and end caps). Enjoy the video!

How to Disappear (For Reals)

What follows is a collection of excerpts and source documentation for the curious mammal looking for DIY invisibility suit projects. Although there are doubtless several parallel “classified” research programs exploring optical camouflage, a great leap of innovation has been going on in the public domain and you can reap that harvest. Don’t miss the awesome video too:

DIY Security Projects:

• DIY secret rooms with DIY rotating bookshelves, passageways.
• Make custom locks using RFID, keypads, NES controllers, and more RFID.
• Design your own laser surveillance system.

Man makes trap door bookshelf – And teaches you how! Ever seen those hidden bookshelves in the Munsters or Scooby Doo? Always wanted one of your own? Hell yeah! Well now you can with these fantastic projects that teach you how to make your own secret rotating doors. Although this seems like an overwhelming build, you can easily use the Arduino microcontroller programmer to build your own hidden doors.

First up, we have two awesome rotating bookshelf tutorials. The main tutorial does a fantastic job detailing the entire build and design process. The next tutorial is more of an overview yet still provides plenty of detailed information.

Popular mechanics has a neat article about a mechanical engineer who started a company which specializes in installing secret passageways. He installs everything from the standard bookshelves to rotating fireplaces. The New York Times also has a fantastic article about hidden passageways. Now that we’ve shown you how, check out the inspiration below and go build your own trap doors!

Related Tutorials:

• How to Be a Covert Spy Tutorial
• Super Secret Safe inside a Full Pop bottle
• Secret Agent Style Earphones