Security firm ADT is giving its customers access to unusual activity alerts, a feature that learns patterns across connected devices and sensors, detects meaningful changes in those patterns, and alerts users when something appears out of the ordinary.

They are available at no cost for ADT+ customers with a V5 or newer Base paired with door and window sensors, smart lock, garage door controller or Z-Wave smart lights that integrate with ADT+.

Designed with privacy in mind, no video, audio or camera clips are used to learn patterns. Alerts are based solely on data from the connected devices and sensors. When activity falls outside established patterns, such as a door remaining open longer than usual, the ADT+ app sends an alert so homeowners can determine whether action is needed. The feature is available for both professionally installed and ADT Blu DIY systems.

How it works is that ADT+ logs device history from door and window sensors, lock or garage sensors, and Z-wave lights and switches paired with a V5 Base to identify a home’s patterns and routines and compiles those data. Unusual activity is determined from changes in these patterns.

Users will receive an alert via their phone. Clicking the alert takes them to an activity view where the homeowner can see which event prompted the notification. The user can then select the thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate if the alert was helpful. This feedback should help increase accuracy.

A home’s activity patterns consider factors such as day of the week, time of the day and seasonality.

The system requires at least 14 days of activity to understand a home’s patterns. Activity older than 60 days is not considered.

Users can opt out of unusual activity alerts by going to their notifications menu on the ADT+ app. Under the alerts menu, they can toggle off the unusual activity alert.

Florida-based ADT (www.adt.com) employs more than 12,000 people and provides alarm monitoring services across the USA and Canada.