CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) home security cameras are a good way to deter potential intruders. They can be added to your system wirelessly or they can be hard-wired. They can be large and visible or small and out-of-sight.

When you're looking for a security camera, you'll find that there are lots of options available. You can get cameras that will also capture sound, cameras with night-vision abilities, and cameras that just capture time-lapse still shots rather than motion video.

You can get mini cameras that can be effectively hidden or dome cameras that have a wide field of vision.

The signal from your security cameras can be fed to your television for convenience - you don't have to go to a special monitor to see the picture. Some system even have motion detectors that will automatically switch your TV to the proper channel if they sense motion.

These motion sensor cameras can also be set up to automatically activate a VCR to record the video when movement is detected.

There are now security cameras that connect to the internet as well. These will let you check the video feed from any computer connected to the internet, even if you're halfway around the world. If an alarm is triggered, the internet camera can alert you by email, cell phone or some other method.

You can also get cameras that are made to look like something completely different, like a lamp or a toy. These can be effective for monitoring the inside of the house - your babysitter or nanny for example.

You can get both black & white and color security cameras. Black & white is usually the best choice however. They are more sensitive, with a clearer picture, and work much better at night. There are some cameras that can switch between color and black & white, depending on the time of day.