As more affordable options have entered the market in recent years, the number of drone owners in Australia has dramatically increased.

But are there any laws or regulations surrounding drone usage? Absolutely, and if you're a drone user it's best to know them so you don't accidentally get fined.

No one wants to buy a $650 hobby drone only to discover they're a bad pilot, especially considering how one bad twist or crash can leave your investment in pieces. Practise on a simulator before you buy one, just to be safe (and show off in front of friends).

If you're looking for an interesting project to work on this weekend, you can turn a Raspberry Pi into a device that will drop Wi-Fi controlled drones right out of the sky with just a tap of your finger.

It's said necessity is the mother of invention. About 15 years ago, Dr Gernot Heiser, from Data 61, looked ahead and, despite being fit and healthy, could foresee a day when he might need an implanted, life-supporting device such as a pacemaker. And he didn't like the idea the it might be attacked remotely. So, he set out to build a trustworthy computing platform that could not be hacked.

Dear Lifehacker, I've been hearing reports that the Australian government is all set to ban drones at the hobbyist level. Is there any truth to this? If they are banned, what happens to the drones I currently own?

If you're looking for a way to shoot down snooping drones in the near dystopian future, or just want to pretend to be Batman, this fun DIY build is for you.

Dear Lifehacker, I was wondering what the main laws are on drones in Australia? (i.e. - How high can you fly a drone, how far away are you allowed to be and where is drone activity restricted?) I'm looking to buy one for Christmas and don't want to cop a fine if I can help it.

Dear Lifehacker, Drones are becoming part of our lives whether we like it or not. Some (like myself) are concerned about the level of privacy we are going to be entitled to in the near future. In addition to criminal elements using drones to case out your property, they can also be exploited by businesses such as solar panel installers looking for potential sales. What legal protections are in place to block drones from snooping on us? And what measures are we allowed to take to self-protect our properties?

If the premise of drones seems a fraction too RC pie in the sky, you might be surprised to know some of the ways drones can - and already are - shaping careers and lives.

Say hello to the world’s smallest camera drone. Fitting in the palm of your hand, the SKEYE Nano 2 First-Person View Drone captures crisp HD video from the sky above.

A company called DroneShield recently released an 'anti-drone' gun (pictured above) that is designed to interfere with a drone's signal and force it to land. For those who value their privacy and hate the idea of drones snooping on their property, this is an alluring proposition. But is it legal to shoot a drone down if it's on your own land and no projectiles are used? Let's find out.

Dear Lifehacker, I'm no photographer by any means but I'd like to know what the best drones around are for beginners. I'd prefer something with a flight time of around 10 mins that's able to be smartphone controlled. What drone should I buy?

Last week, it became legally easier to fly drones in Australia, with the relaxation of Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules about “remotely piloted aircraft”, or RPAs. Here's what you need to know -- including what it means for your privacy.

Drone footage is everywhere, whether used to film extreme sports, outdoor events, nature, music festivals, or just for its own sake. Recreational aircraft such as quadcopters, fixed-wing and mini drones are getting ever cheaper and easier to buy. They are fast becoming a must-have item for people who want to document their activities for social media, or just explore their neighbourhood. As of this week/a>, it will also be legally easier to use such aircraft in Australia, with the relaxation of Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules about "remotely piloted aircraft", or RPAs.

First it was autonomous pizza-dispensing robots. Now, Domino's is bringing a fleet of pizza delivery drones to the masses. If the headline-hungry company can be believed, New Zealand customers will soon be receiving pizzas from the skies via a technology partnership with drone delivery service Flirtey.

Domino's has proudly proclaimed its new initiative as the first commercial drone delivery service in the world. However, there's no timeframe for when the service will be available and the service is still seeking approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Hmmm.

Globally, the rules on how to legally and safely fly your drone can vary quite a bit. This guide helps you find out what the rules are in your country.

If you got a new drone for Christmas, congratulations! There's plenty out there on the market and they can be a lot at fun. They're becoming popular enough that regulations are starting to catch up, too, with CASA issuing guidelines coming into force next year that cover commercial and hobbyist use of drones.

But say that hobbyist pilot is your neighbour's kid. Who happens to be an annoying brat that keeps crashing their new drone for Christmas.

Dear Lifehacker, our neighbour has a drone equipped with a camera. We have not given him permission to film our residential property and have previously told him we feel it's an invasion of our privacy. Today at approximately 3pm, he was within one metre of our rear deck (not visible from street). In addition to possibly filming us, the drone was quite noisy. Is this noise pollution? Is it trespassing? An invasion of privacy? Please help!

Brief news items of note for Lifehacker readers, including: LG UF950T Ultra HD TV Australian review, first-person-view drone racing, how supermodel Lara Bingle stays fit.