The Value of Home Security Safes
Friday, August 18, 2006
A basic locking cabinet can secure valuable papers or personal items but it will not protect them from theft or fire damage. Only safes can provide a superior level of protection for documents, jewelry, guns and personal items. Computer data that would be difficult or impossible to duplicate if lost. Home and business security systems require the addition of security safes to eliminate the possibility of data and document loss due to fire and climate disruptions.
The proliferation of home robberies are classified as "snatch and grab." The intruder invests approximately 3-5 minutes within the home. The very presence of a home security safe is a deterrent to such robberies. Any additional time invested within the home increases the odds of apprehension. Theft prevention and climate control management have rendered security safes a requirement for any home, office or business. The needed security afforded by home and business safes completes any existing security control system. Home security safes offer protection of personal documents, jewelry and irreplaceable items. Home safes are a major deterrent from robbery and provide needed security from fire and climate changes. Advance Safes offer a large inventory of wall safes, floor safes, fire safes, gun safes, and electronic digital safes. Home safes are a perfect compliment to any home security system.
Fire could destroy your business! In fact, eight businesses burn almost every hour in the U.S. resulting in over 2.3 billion dollars in annual losses.* Unfortunately, seven out of ten businesses have not adequately protected their vital records. When that information is destroyed a business often fails. Don't become a company that incurs fire damage resulting in critical loss of data (customer, personnel, accounting files, etc.) by not utilizing quality fire and data media safes. Survival is possible but preparation is necessary.
Security safes are an essential protection against fire, theft and climate changes. Theft prevention, fire protection, data security and storage are a requirement for any business or home office. Advance Safes offer a complete inventory of fire safes, data media safes, depository safes, floor safes, treasury safes (TL-15 and TL-30), vaults and hotel safes. A quality safe is an essential requirement for any business security system. A safe investment is a long-term security dividend. Please consider our inventory of security safes as a welcome addition to any home or office environ. Contact us at: advancesafes@hotmail.com.
* Source: National Fire Protection Association article Fire Loss in the U.S. During 2004 Abridged Report.
[via ArticleCity]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 2:09 PM,
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Home Security System - A Step Beyond The Traditional Alarm System
Most people when considering their home or business security automatically think "Alarm System".
In reality though the alarm system, as sophisticated as it may be, is what the burglars are trained to deal with. It is part of their bag of skills to be able to neutralize most of the alarm systems commonly installed on residential and commercial properties.
Furthermore a high level of education doesn't guarantee that the individual will not use that knowledge illegally. Unfortunately there are burglars who have engineering degrees in electronic. Some of them are the very ones who design the alarm systems we use.
OK, they are a small percentage of the big bulk of the thief category, but they are out there and the more value is on your property, the higher the probability that a very skillful thief will notice you.
A better security approach is what I call the "war camp security".
Hopefully you never had to experience in first person how to secure an overnight camp in a war zone, but you have certainly watched a few war movies where this type of situation is more or less accurately described.
The crucial points are the following:
1. Create a perimeter which would alert you of the incoming intruders.
Possibly without alerting the intruders of the fact that you are aware of their "visit". On your property this can be accomplished with motion detectors and "hidden" peripheral security cameras with online remote monitoring, which by the way, nowadays have become quite affordable.
When activated the motion detector will trigger a telephone call to your cell-phone. You don't want the system to alert the authorities, not yet.
The trespasser may not be a burglar, it could be the mailman, your gardner, or it could simply be someone you know who is not aware of your absence and is coming for a surprise visit.As you receive the warning call you can grab your laptop or get online with any computer, go to the security company website, usually the same company which installed your remote monitoring security system, enter your username and password and "see" what is happening on your property.
If it looks like a burglar you can call the police. You will have the video recording to prove the suspect was behaving as a burglar. Additionally the images recorded may help identify the person.
By the way, none of your flood lights should be facing your hidden cameras. They should "look" , more or less, in the same direction. If the lights shine into the cameras the subject in the image will result having the dark side exposed to the camera, possibly compromising any attempt of identification.
2. Establish a first line of defense.
In war times this would be a various number of lethal traps but of course it is not legal during peace times. In our case the first line of defense is a passive one and it is comprised of very robust doors and windows. Don't forget to place the alarm company stickers on your doors and windows. You should also have a security camera in plain site right outside your front door. Many unsophisticated thieves would simply turn around and go look for an easier loot.
All your doors and windows, even the upstairs ones, need to be locked and connected to the alarm system. At this point, when the burglar has broken into your house, or business, it is time to alert the authorities, but not the intruder. Having the alarm activate a siren at this time is a very common mistake.
When the siren goes off the burglar knows that he has a few minutes before the police arrive. He may know where your precious things are. He might have been on your property before. If it is your house he could have been someone doing some work at the house. If it is your business it's even easier to snoop around just pretending to be a customer and survey the ground before hand.
The experienced burglar will know if he has enough time to get the loot and get away before the police arrives.
3. Establish your second line of defense.
Your remote monitoring security cameras are in every room but here is a trick. Use sets of two cameras at every observation point, one as it would be normally installed and the second one as a hidden camera. Nowadays wireless cameras can be very small and easy to conceal exactly because of the absence of wires.
4. ATTACK !!!
If your finances allow you to install some Home Automation you can actually engage the intruder with some psychological warfare.
Through your web interface you can turn on and off various appliances, lights, a tape recorder with a prerecorded message. You can let your imagination run wild and have fun inventing ways to surprise the intruder.
Here is something to remember though; you can not try to trap the intruder in your house and you can not cause any injury, not even put him to sleep releasing sleeping gas. There have been similar cases where the burglar has sued the property owner for putting his life in danger, and won the case.
A simple, and definitely cheaper way to distract the thief is by calling your home phone and when the answering machine picks up try to initiate a conversation, let the burglar know that you are watching and intend to propose a deal. The point of course is not to get to know him, and not even to scare him away, but simply to distract him and make him slow down so to give more time to the police, or the alarm company security guards, to reach the site.
You can also play with his intention to steal something of value and leave a misleading message.
Here is pretty good diversion; call pretending to be a friend of yours who has borrowed your Jaguar and leave a message saying that you are ten minutes away from the house, on your way to returning the car. Then ad that if you don't find anybody home you will leave the car keys under the door mat. What thief wouldn't be tempted to wait a few minutes and add a luxury car to his loot?
On the market there are several different type of devices with wireless transmitter which may be strategically placed so that when a certain item is moved the alarm will emit a very loud sound, so loud to impair the cognitive functioning of the offender brain. His first reaction will probably be to try to destroy the device, but if you have been careful to place it somehow out of reach, the intruder may be forced to abandon the room.
This type of devices can be connected to closet or cabinets doors, drawers or even directly to items like precious art pieces, jewellery boxes, big screen TV, safes. By the way, having a safe not secured to the wall or the floor is quite pointless. Unless the safe weights a ton the thief will simply carry it away and open it in the comfort of his own "workshop".
In conclusion, the traditional alarm system that sounds a siren when the burglar brakes in does not save you from being burglarized.
Think about it, how many times after hearing a home alarm going off in the neighborhood you have actually gone to check if the house was being burglarized? You might have looked out the window, or you might have stepped outside and looked down the street, but let's be honest, very few of us would actually go to the house and knock at the door.
The professional burglar knows that, and counts on it.
From the technological point of view that type of security system is a thing of the past. Nowadays with very little additional investment you can have motion detectors triggering several telephone calls and security cameras with online remote monitoring to check your property any time you want and record any unusual event.
This is the least security you need to have if you are serious about protecting your home or business.
On a less pressing note security cameras with online remote monitoring gives you the opportunity to make sure everything is all right any time you whish to do so, giving you peace of mind if you have kids, pets, cleaning service, baby sitter, gardner... you name it. It really is an investment which increase exponentially the eventuality of a much safer future for you and your family, and that is much more precious than any material possession.
[via ArticleCity]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 2:08 PM,
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Home Wireless Network Security Issues
Running a business from home has its advantages, including no commute, a more accommodating work schedule, fresh coffee and home-cooked meals at any time you want.
But running a business from home using a home wireless local area network (WLAN) with your computer may lead to thievery of confidential information and hacker or virus penetration unless proper actions are taken. As WLANs send information back and forth over radio waves, someone with the right type of receiver in your immediate area could be picking up the transmission, thus acquiring access to your computer.
Here is a list of things that you should consider as a result of implementing a home wireless network setup used your business:
Viruses could be loaded onto your laptop which could be transferred to the company's network when you go back to work.
Up to 75 per cent of home wireless network WLAN users do not have standard security features installed, and 20 per cent are left completely open as default configurations and are not secured, but are made for the users to have their network up and running ASAP.
It is recommended that home wireless network router/access point system setups be always done though a wired client.
Always change the default administrative password on your home wireless network router/access points to a secured password.
Enable at least 128-bit WEP encryption on both card and access point. Change your WEP keys periodically. If equipment does not support at least 128-bit WEP encryption, consider replacing it. Although there are security issues with WEP, it represents minimum level of security, and it should be enabled.
Change the default SSID on your router/access point to a hard to guess name. Setup your computer device to connect to this SSID by default.
Setup router/access points so as to not broadcast the SSID. The same SSID needs to be setup on the client side manually. This feature may not be available on all equipment.
Setup your home wireless network router to block anonymous internet requests or pings.
On each computer having a wireless network card, network connection properties should be configured to allow connection to Access Point Networks Only. Computer to computer (peer to peer) connections should not be allowed.
Enable MAC filtering. Deny connection to wireless network for unspecified MAC addresses. MAC or physical addresses are accessible through your computer device wireless network connection setup and they are physically written on network cards. When adding new wireless cards / computer to the network, their MAC addresses should be registered with the router /access point.
Your home wireless network router should have firewall features enabled and demilitarized zone (DMZ) feature disabled. Periodically test your hardware and personal firewalls using Shields Up test available at http://www.grc.com. All computers should have a properly configured personal firewall in addition to a hardware firewall.
Update router/access point firmware when new versions become available.
Locate router/access points away from strangers so they cannot reset the router/access point to default settings. Also, locate router/access points in the middle of the building rather than near windows to limit signal coverage outside the building.
You should know that nothing is 100%. While none of the actions suggested above will provide full 100% protection, countermeasures do exist that will help. The good collection of suggested preventative actions contained herein can help you deter an intruder trying to access your home wireless network. This deterrant then makes other insecure networks easier targets for the intruder to persue.
[via ArticleCity]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 2:06 PM,
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Security In Your Home
Physical security is very important to a home owner. Your home is one of your most important possessions since this is where you and your loved ones reside.
Once you know that your home is safe from intruders, you can rest assured that your material and personal possessions as well as your loved ones, are secured.
There are several parts of your home that you need to secure by using electronic devices:
- The perimeter of your house to prevent burglars from intruding on your home.
- Enclosed areas within the house should be secured as well, in case of fire.
- Your garage should also have an intruder alarm to protect your vehicles, aside from the anti-theft device on the car itself.
Here are some tips when planning for the security of your home:
- Make an initial survey of your house and from there, develop a home security plan.
- Check all of the rooms and the area outside of your house. Determine if the neighbors have a clear view of what is going on within your house.
- Having a very open area that can be easily observed by anyone from the outside may be a threat to your security.
- When placing burglar alarms or intruder sensors, place them in strategic areas in and out of your house.
- Home security need not be expensive. You do not need to put in alarms and sensors on each and every part of the house.
- As long as they are installed on the proper places, then your house will be secured enough.
- Review your way of living and the size of your family.
- Do you often have visitors who may roam around freely? Do you have a member of the family who may come inside the house in the middle of the night?
- These factors will help you decide on the “level†of security system that you will install on your home.
- You can place sensors within your house. These sensors can be installed on windows to alarm you of intruders.
- In addition, you may install sensors within the house, specifically in hallways, to warn you of intruders within the house.
- Place fire alarms in areas around the house which is most likely to gather heat or smoke.
- An unusual level of smoke, fire or heat can easily be detected to warn you of impending fire threats.
- There are mechanical locks and sensors that you can install on doors for good measure.
- For households with babies, you may purchase a baby monitor or a video surveillance.
Whether you choose to install it yourself or get the services of a company which specializes in building security systems, home security should not be taken for granted.
You should put in extra time and effort in order to ensure that you and your family have a happy and physically secure environment.
[via ArticleCity]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 2:01 PM,
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Home Security Watchdog Foreseen
ST. JOHN'S—Canada may be heading toward the creation of an independent review agency to ensure police and others involved in anti-terrorism and national security activities comply with the law.
While he made no concrete proposals, Ontario Associate Chief Justice Dennis O'Connor, who is heading the inquiry into the case of Maher Arar, hinted strongly yesterday he will recommend the government move forward with an independent watchdog.
His report on the role Canadian officials played in Arar's deportation and torture in Syria is to be released next month. A second report, on broader issues including the need for civilian oversight of anti-terrorism and national security activities, is expected in October.
"I am completely satisfied there can be an effective independent review of national security activities," O'Connor told judges meeting here yesterday. "It is a completely obtainable objective."
A strong review system could carry out its work without compromising the confidentiality of information gathered by security agencies, he said.
But it's "critical" any review system has the power to gain full access to all information and individuals involved in anti-terrorism investigations, he said. "I think the two can operate quite nicely side by side, effective national security activities and robust review."
O'Connor was speaking to judges from across Canada as part of a panel discussion on the challenge of balancing national security interests with human rights. It was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Canadian Bar Association.
An independent review agency would have several functions, including offering a measure of accountability normally missing from national security investigations, O'Connor said.
Unlike ordinary police investigations, the target of a terrorism or security probe can't count on hearing all the facts in court, he said, and neither can the public. Often, charges are never laid.
O'Connor also said national security investigations harbour the potential for "improper profiling." An independent watchdog could investigate perceptions that some communities are being unfairly targeted.
"Since 9/11, it is the reality that counter-terrorism investigations have focused on people within the Muslim and Arab communities in Canada."
But Jim Judd, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), stated flatly that Canada's spy agency doesn't engage in racial profiling.
"I am acutely aware of the discomfort many people feel, in many communities, about being `profiled' by the security service," said Judd, who was part of the panel.
"We don't profile because it's fundamentally stupid and, secondly, because we don't have enough resources to profile communities on religious or other grounds."
In fact, CSIS has poured "an extraordinary amount of time and effort" into community outreach programs in recent years to "try and dampen this legend that this is how we do business," he said.
Judd said he's also firmly against the use of torture as a technique for obtaining evidence in anti-terrorism investigations because he personally believes it is wrong and the resulting information is unreliable.
[via TheStar]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 11:21 AM,
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Pick Home Security System With Care
Home invasions have become an all-too-common problem. You hear about burglaries every day. The details are frightening and the thought of someone breaking into your home is terrifying.
In light of this, many people consider home security systems. They find peace of mind knowing their homes are protected. Others consider the possibility of lowering their homeowner's insurance rates.
Whatever the reason, it's important to not only choose the right security system, but the best company. After all, your home and life are at stake.
The best security system will accommodate your lifestyle and protect your valuables. The best company will offer a quality system with the right amount of customer service and technical support.
Your search for a reputable security company should begin by asking family and friends for recommendations. Or, get suggestions from your insurance company. You can also get a list of security system companies that are Better Business Bureau members or get reports on ones you're considering. Simply, visit www.dayton.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301.
Contact at least three companies and ask for written quotes. Keep in mind, prices for security systems will vary based on the level of protection and additional features included.
So, make sure your estimates are based on similar products and specifications.
You'll want to determine if the company is licensed and a member of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association. Make sure you find out whether the company screens employees before hiring them. You don't want the wrong person in your home installing the system and having access to passwords and other sensitive information. Also, ask for references and check them out. Here are more questions to ask:
- Does the security system monitor anything else besides fire and intruders such as carbon monoxide or temperature?
- What guarantees or warranties are available? Is there a maintenance plan?
- Does your alarm offer a radio backup unit if telephone lines are cut or unavailable?
- What happens in a power failure? Is there a battery backup system?
- How long is the contract and what's the cancellation policy?
Once you've decided on a company, review the contract and make sure everything you've discussed is included such as installation and monthly costs, alarm type and coverage, contract length, warranties or guarantees and the cancellation policy. Don't sign the contract until you understand everything and ask questions if you're not clear on all the details. Then, have the security system company go over the system with you. This will help you feel comfortable using the system and prevent false alarms.
[via DaytonDailyNews]
posted by Dr. Wizvax @ 11:17 AM,
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