What happened to monitronics?
Monitronics International, Inc.
The company was rebranded as Broadview Security in 2009 with a massive and controversial advertising campaign. In 2010 Broadview Security was merged into ADT, which became a standalone company in 2011.
Monitronics International Inc. has emerged from Chapter 11 protection and has merged with Ascent Capital Group Inc., according to an announcement on Friday. This marks the completion of its financial recapilatization.
Monitronics International, Inc. ("Monitronics") and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company" or "Brinks Home Security TM", "we", "us", and "our"), are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Ascent Capital Group, Inc. ("Ascent Capital").
Our pick for best overall home security company is Vivint. Their wide assortment of available, high-quality equipment and affordable monitoring options allow their customers to experience highly customizable security that can be optimized for individual needs.
But, there's things you can do to keep it from happening to you. In it's latest tests, Consumer Reports found five home security systems were susceptible to these types of attacks: Adobe Iota, Cove Home Security, Eufy 5-Piece Home Alarm Kit, Ring Alarm, and SimpliSafe the Essentials.
Not all home security systems are hackable. Local alarm systems, for instance, aren't connected to the internet and thus aren't hackable. Smart home security systems, on the other hand, are connected to the internet, so there is a possibility of hacking, like any other internet-connected product.
DALLAS, June 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monitronics International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (doing business as Brinks Home Security ™), (“Brinks Home Security” or the “Company”) (OTC: SCTY) today announced that it has acquired approximately 114,000 residential alarm monitoring contracts from Protect America, Inc.
Canceling MONI subscription service that you no longer need just became so much easier. To voice your concerns or raise a complaint, simply call 800-447-9239 from your phone. Line is your one-stop destination for all the information you need to delete your MONI account, unsubscribe or cancel a free trial .
Apollo Global Management owns ADT.
The current President and CEO of ADT is Jim DeVries. ADT is a security company that has been around for over 145 years.
Chairman/Co-Founder, Simplisafe Inc.
What alarm company did Brinks buy?
In addition to the accounts, Brinks Home Security is retaining the majority of Select Security's commercial sales, field technicians and customer service employees, as well as certain office locations to offer the highest level of service to these customers.
They're different devices, but they serve the same purposes. You can add a host of security sensors, hazard sensors, and cameras to your system. Brinks and ADT offer the same types of equipment, so there's not much to discuss here.

Vivint is the clear winner when it comes to automation and smart home integration. Their devices easily connect to Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant and, unlike ADT, don't require an upgrade to your monthly payments.
The average cost of a home security system that's wired is between $800 and $1,600, according to HomeGuide.
When it comes to ADT alternatives, Vivint is probably ADT's top contender. Like ADT, Vivint offers professional alarm system installation, home automation, and professional monitoring through its in-house Five Diamond certified center, but it does all that for a lot less than the cost of ADT.
- Vivint. : Best overall.
- SimpliSafe. : Budget pick.
- ADT. : Trusted brand name.
- Cove. : Best customer experience.
- ADT Self Setup. : Best optional monitoring system.
- Abode. : Best for Apple Customers.
- Frontpoint. : Quality DIY pick.
- Ring Alarm. : Best outdoor cameras.
According to the research, the answer is a resounding "Yes." Studies have been conducted on the effect of the presence of a home security system. The results are in: as much as 60% of burglars casing a potential target would indeed be deterred by an alarm system.
Any device connected to the internet can be hacked, and that includes home security cameras. Wired cameras are less vulnerable than Wi-Fi cameras, and those with local storage are less vulnerable than cameras that store video on a cloud-based server. However, all cameras can be hacked.
“Jamming attacks are technically possible, but they're very unlikely to happen in real life,” says Fred Garcia, a CR test engineer for privacy and security. “We don't recommend you throw out these systems, but you should be aware that they're vulnerable.” There's no real way to avoid systems with wireless technology.
Wireless PIR motion sensors use electromagnetic waves to communicate with the Hub. Because of this, burglars can use radio jamming technology to disable all the motion sensors in a home.
Can hackers access home Wi-Fi?
Can a Wi‑Fi router be hacked? It's entirely possible that your router might have been hacked and you don't even know it. By using a technique called DNS (Domain Name Server) hijacking, hackers can breach the security of your home Wi‑Fi and potentially cause you a great deal of harm.
Brinks Home Security is not going out of business. However, its parent company Monitronics is deregistering its common stock under 1934's Securities Exchange Act as of January 25, 2021. Still, customers can still purchase Brinks security systems as usual.
Unlike most alarm panels, the Brinks Home Touch Panel encrypts all sensor signals to safeguard against hackers, and utilizes LTE cellular transmissions (and Wi-Fi, as part of our dual-path communication) to ensure all alarms are sent quickly and securely.
From Class Advocate: Based upon reports from current and former employees, this investigation led to a class action lawsuit against Brinks on behalf of employees that had or have outside sales positions.
You can turn off or power down your home alarm system by disconnecting its backup battery and then unplugging the transformer for the device from the wall outlet. You can confirm that the panel has been powered down by checking its touchscreen or keypad and making sure that it is blank.
A contract provides you a lower monthly fee because installation and equipment costs are spread out over the term of the contract (generally 36 months). Although you may not pay less overall, this option makes your monthly payment very affordable over the duration of your contract.
If you're looking for a security system that's trustworthy, ADT is your best bet. With over 140 years in business, ADT offers professional monitoring that'll give you and your family peace of mind plus protection.
Thanks to its extensive network of monitoring centers and its history of over 150 years in the industry, customers continue to trust ADT for their home security needs. Forbes Advisor named ADT the Best Pro Monitoring security company on our Best home security companies list.
ADT Inc., formerly The ADT Corporation, is an American company that provides residential, small and large business electronic security, fire protection, and other related alarm monitoring services throughout the United States.
Cove, Abode, and Ring are solid alternatives to cover specific areas where SimpliSafe isn't the strongest. Cove offers more affordable equipment and a better customer experience. Abode is the best at smart home compatibility. Ring has stellar cameras with an app that's hard to beat.
Is SimpliSafe as good as ADT?
We think that SimpliSafe is as good as, if not better than, ADT. Unlike ADT, SimpliSafe offers month-to-month professional monitoring at a fraction of the cost, $14.99 compared to $40 to $60 a month three-year contracts with ADT.
SimpliSafe is an American home security company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The company produces and sells self-installed wireless security systems.
Our Take on Brinks Home Security
We rated Brinks Home Security a 9.2 out of 10. It has multiple pricing options for security packages. However, not all packages include video surveillance and customer complaints reveal that it's extremely difficult to cancel your plan.
Brink's shareholders approved the $2 billion deal on May 12. Dallas-based Brink's, which operates as Broadview Security, is now being combined with Tyco's ADT security business based in Boca Raton. The acquisition gives alarm business ADT more than six million residential and small business customers.
AlliedSignal and Pittway
On June 7, 1999, Honeywell was acquired by AlliedSignal, who elected to retain the Honeywell name for its brand recognition.
The company, formerly known as Monitronics and MONI Smart Security, said that it has undergone a transformative process over the past year that saw it bring in new executive leadership, improve the corporate culture, implement a centralized “Transformative Office,” and leverage enterprise data and research to redefine ...
With ADT, you lease the equipment. The price of the equipment is rolled into your monthly monitoring payment. When we spoke with an agent from ADT, they said that once the contract is up, they will not take their equipment back—so you can either leave it in the home or throw it out.
SimpliSafe will immediately dispatch the police to your home when you deactivate an alarm with your duress PIN.
The total cost for the ADT Smart Home Package starts at:
$919 to $1219 upfront + $49.99/month; or. $65.31 to $70.31/month.
How many alarms are false alarms? The vast majority of alarms are false alarms. Data shows that 98% of all alarms in our industry are false alarms. And majority of them happen during arming and disarming the system.
Can Burglars disable ADT?
If you have your security system monitored through a home phone line, a burglar can easily disable your alarm communication. A cellular dialer uses a cell network to communicate with the central station.
According to the IRS, if you “install a security system that protects all the doors and windows of your home, you can deduct the business part of the expenses you incur to maintain and monitor the system.
According to HomeAdvisor, home security cost runs between $280 and $1,109, or $695 on average. These costs can vary depending on region and the level of monitoring and features a customer chooses.
Equipment Ownership
At the termination of your contract, ADT has the right to remove, disable or abandon any of the equipment they own. Typically, they'll simply leave the equipment on the house, and you (or a new owner, if you sell) can re-activate service at any time.
- Never pay full price with ADT. They are always willing to work with you and get you a deal.
- Analyze the competition. ...
- Threaten to cancel instead of asking for a lower price. ...
- Think about your contract period. ...
- This tip applies to ALL alarm companies.
You don't need a subscription plan. The Blue by ADT offers a video doorbell without subscription that works for you and your family.
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monitronics International, Inc.
NRG is acquiring Vivint at $12 per share, which comes out to about $2.8 billion in cash. NRG will also assume $2.4 billion of debt from Vivint for a total deal of around $5.2 billion. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.
Apollo Global Management owns ADT.
The current President and CEO of ADT is Jim DeVries. ADT is a security company that has been around for over 145 years.