Cloud storage is cheap, but data retention is dangerous. Set your camera to delete footage after 7 days (or 30 days maximum). There is no reason to keep a video of your neighbor getting their mail from three months ago. Short retention limits the damage of a data breach.

The core tension is simple:

Navigating the legality of home cameras depends heavily on where you live, but some general rules usually apply:

Never place a camera in a bathroom, guest bedroom, or live-in nanny’s room. In shared living spaces (living room, kitchen), point the camera ONLY at the entry/exit doors. Consider using a camera with a physical privacy shutter (Eufy indoor cams have this) that you can close when you are home.

Home security cameras aren’t evil. Neither is wanting to know who’s at your door at 11 p.m. But privacy is a two-way street—or in this case, a two-way lens.