The latest from ubiquiti - protect 6.0
The latest from Ubiquiti - some major software updates released with UniFi Protect 6.0
What’s New:
Ubiquiti is one of the fastest-growing players in the security manufacturing space, highlighted by its license-free business model. This makes the Ubiquiti ecosystem very cost-friendly, and it only gets better from there.
In their latest release, they have implemented some amazing features that puts their software on par with some of the biggest manufacturers in the space. Here is the official release from Ubiquiti if you want to check it out:
If you’re looking for a detailed breakdown, I’ll hit some of the highlights in this article. If you are a visual learner, here’s another great video showing you where and how to access some of these features:
Here’s the Highlights:
Spotlights
Spotlights allow you to quickly access any new recordings of a specific type. Whether you want to highlight known faces, vehicles, or any new activity, it’s all readily accessible from the spotlights tab. Think of this as an easy and clean way to filter through your latest notifications. You can also set a duration for each spot light if you don’t want it on indefinitely.
AI spotlights require an AI Key. With AI spotlights, you can use plain text to highlight anything within your recordings. Using the example in the above video, he uses “cats” as his spotlight search. Now, anytime a cat is present in the recording, it will be present as a spotlight in the dashboard and readily accessible without any further digging.
Dwell Time
Under highlights from the live view, you can now toggle dwell time to see how long a person, object, or animal has been present.
Toggle dwell/idle time from the highlights option
Smart Object Search
Another feature requiring the AI Key, but is super convenient, is the smart object search. Using this, you can easily find footage of a smart detection object. Simply pause the recording when a smart detection is present, click “AI Summary”, and click on the highlighted detection once the scan is complete. This will bring up past footage of that object. Currently, this is only available for people detections, but expect this feature to be available for vehicles in a near future update.
Plain-text Search
With the AI Key in the “Find Anything” tab, you can use plain text to search through your recordings. This is one of the better features in the update that really puts Ubiquiti on par with other manufacturers in the space. There are many filters to choose from in the Find Anything tab, but in essence, you can simply search through your recordings using plain language. For instance, if you typed “male wearing a black hoodie and sunglasses,” all recordings fitting that description would appear. You can even search vehicles by brand.
Timeline Updates
Grid search
You can now highlight certain areas within a recording to further define your search. This is great if you have a known location, like a parked vehicle, package, etc., that you need to locate. See the image below for an example.
Object Counting
Within the “Playback” tab, you can further filter through different detection types within a specified time range. In addition, you can get an exact count of events by time. This is great in a retail setting to track busy times, see how many window shoppers you have via the loitering detection, etc.
Multi-cam Playback
If you want to scrub through multiple camera recording streams at once, you can now do so. Albeit with limited functionality compared to the other options highlighted in this article. To do so, simply click “Multi-Camera Playback” in the dashboard (highlighted by the red arrow below).
Grid search feature in UniFi Protect
System Logs
System logs now offer a much more granular look at all events across the platform. So much so, you can see exactly how long a user viewed a stream to the second. You can further sort through the additional logs via “Devices,” “Users,” and “Categories,” such as detections by type, site activity, admin activity, and more. Essentially, nothing will be missed, making this update one step closer to an enterprise-friendly platform.
Summary:
These are some very powerful updates released with UniFi Protect 6.0! I expect additional functionality to be added in future updates to supplement this impressive software release. If you don’t have an AI Key, this might be the catalyst needed to get one!
See the full press release here.
The Unseen Threat: Ty Warner's Home Invasion and the Glaring Question of Billionaire Security
An aerial view of Fairway Road, Montecito, CA
A Gilded Cage Cracked Open
The news sent a ripple of shock through the affluent enclaves of Southern California and beyond: in late May 2025, the Montecito mansion of Ty Warner, the billionaire creator of the Beanie Babies empire, was the scene of a violent home invasion. While the 80-year-old tycoon was present, a woman in the home was brutally attacked and left in a coma. The alleged assailant, a man from Nevada, managed to breach the perimeter of a home owned by a man worth an estimated $6 billion, according to Forbes.
The incident, which occurred on Fairway Road in the celebrity-studded community, has left many asking a startlingly simple, yet complex question: How does a billionaire, with access to virtually unlimited resources, fall victim to a home invasion?
The Paradox of Protection: Why the Wealthy Can Be Vulnerable
On the surface, it seems inconceivable. We imagine the homes of billionaires as modern-day fortresses, replete with towering gates, motion-sensing cameras, and a private security force. While the specifics of Warner's security are not publicly known, the successful intrusion begs a deeper look into the potential vulnerabilities that can exist even at the highest echelons of wealth.
Several factors could be at play. Complacency can be a silent security threat. A long period without incident can lull anyone, regardless of their net worth, into a false sense of security. The "it won't happen to me" mentality can be a powerful and dangerous blinder.
Furthermore, the very nature of a sprawling, luxurious estate can present its own set of challenges. Multiple points of entry, extensive grounds, and a rotating cast of staff and service providers can create a complex security landscape that is difficult to manage flawlessly. Human error, a universal vulnerability, can also play a role, from a gate left momentarily unsecured to a security protocol not strictly followed.
Obscurity is No Longer Security
For generations, one of the most effective security tools for the wealthy was privacy—a shield of obscurity. The less people knew about you, your routines, and your property, the safer you were. However, relying on obscurity will not protect you in this digital age. It is a dangerously outdated strategy.
Today, a wealth of open-source information is easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Public records, social media activity, and online maps provide a treasure trove of data for those with malicious intent. A determined individual can digitally case a property, study its layout, and identify potential weaknesses from miles away. The idea of a truly private life, especially for a public figure like a billionaire, has all but vanished.
A glimpse of Ty Warner’s home from a KSBY article
In the immediate aftermath of the attack on Warner's home, this modern reality was starkly illustrated. Several news outlets, in their reporting of the horrific event, included clear aerial and ground-level images of the sprawling estate. This coverage, while informing the public, further diluted the shroud of privacy that once offered a layer of protection. Every published photo and video clip served as free reconnaissance, broadcasting the property's features and potential vulnerabilities to a global audience. The belief that one can remain a ghost while living in a palace is a fantasy, and a perilous one at that.
A New Era of Security Consciousness
The violent intrusion at Ty Warner's home is a brutal reminder that wealth alone is not a shield. In an age where criminal tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated and privacy is all but gone, a proactive and multi-layered approach to security is paramount. This includes not only the physical barriers of gates and guards but also a keen understanding of the technological threats that can silently dismantle those defenses.
For high-net-worth individuals, this means investing in security solutions that can detect and counteract signal jamming, employing robust cybersecurity measures to protect smart home systems, and fostering a culture of constant vigilance. For the rest of us, it is a wake-up call to the evolving nature of crime and the importance of understanding the vulnerabilities in our own connected lives.
The tragic events in Montecito should serve as a catalyst for a broader conversation about security in the 21st century. As the tools of criminality become more advanced, our approach to protecting ourselves, our homes, and our communities must evolve in tandem.
Sophisticated Burglary Rings Prompt Response From Montecito Association
An aerial view of the Rosewood Miramar, future site of a Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department satellite office
Montecito, CA - In a decisive move to counter a surge in brazen burglaries, the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort has announced it will fully fund and house a new Santa Barbara County Sheriff's substation. This unprecedented partnership comes as a direct response to growing community frustration over crime and law enforcement response times in the affluent enclave.
The need for a heightened law enforcement presence has been acutely felt in communities like Birnam Wood, where residents have been targeted by sophisticated criminal rings. These are not your average smash-and-grab operations. Law enforcement officials have identified the perpetrators as well-organized groups, some allegedly with ties to "South American Theft Groups" (SATG), who carry out meticulous surveillance of their targets. These groups often use hidden game cameras or camouflaged cell phones to surveil potential targets.
Hidden game camera used to surveil homeowners
These groups are known to study the routines of homeowners, often striking when they are away, even for a short dinner. Their methods are increasingly high-tech, employing signal jamming technology to disable Wi-Fi-based security systems and cameras, effectively rendering them useless. This allows them to operate undetected, swiftly entering homes and making off with valuables before any alarm can be raised.
The brazenness of these crimes was recently highlighted by a violent home invasion at the estate of Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner, which left a woman seriously injured and sent shockwaves through the community. While a suspect from Nevada was apprehended in that case, it underscored the vulnerability of even the most seemingly secure residences.
The new sheriff's substation, to be located at the Rosewood Miramar and just a mile away from the Upper Village, aims to provide a much-needed, visible deterrent and significantly reduce response times. The Montecito Association had been actively fundraising for a substation, a testament to the community's collective desire for enhanced security. Rosewood Miramar's generous offer to take on the full financial and logistical responsibility for the substation has been met with widespread community support.
The conversation around the root causes of this crime wave is complex. Some community members and law enforcement sources have pointed to the potential for international criminal organizations to exploit perceived "open-border policies," allowing individuals to enter the country and participate in these lucrative burglary rings. This perspective suggests a need for a broader examination of how transnational crime is impacting local communities.
Regardless of the complex factors at play, the residents of Montecito and surrounding areas are taking a proactive stance. The establishment of the new sheriff's substation is a clear message that the community will not stand idly by. By combining increased law enforcement presence with resident vigilance and the adoption of more robust, hardwired security measures that are impervious to signal jammers, Montecito is building a stronger defense against those who seek to threaten its safety and peace of mind.
What Else Can Be Done?
A Layered Security Approach for a Modern Threat
No single solution is foolproof. A comprehensive home security strategy integrates multiple layers of defense:
Physical Security: This is your first line of defense.
Reinforce Doors and Windows: Install heavy-duty deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Use security film on ground-floor windows and glass doors to make them more difficult to shatter.
Secure Gates and Garages: Always keep side gates locked and your garage door closed and secured.
Electronic Security: This is your alert system
Monitored Alarm System: A professionally monitored system with cellular backup is the gold standard.
Multi-band signal jamming sensors can be added to your alarm system to alert authorities
Comprehensive Camera Coverage: Install high-quality, hardwired cameras that cover all entry points and approaches to your home.
Add video monitoring to enhance your perimeter security and provide video verification for your alarm system
Procedural Security: This involves your habits and community engagement
Vigilance and Awareness: Be observant of unfamiliar vehicles or individuals in your neighborhood and report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.
Illusion of Occupancy: When you are away, use smart home technology or simple timers to turn lights, a radio, or a television on and off to create the impression that someone is home.
Digital Hygiene: Avoid posting vacation plans or real-time updates of your whereabouts on social media. This can be an open invitation to burglars who may already be surveilling your home.
By implementing a robust and multi-layered security plan, homeowners can significantly decrease their vulnerability to these organized and technologically adept criminal groups. The key is to make your home as difficult and unpredictable a target as possible, encouraging would-be burglars to move on to easier pickings.