Technology moves SO quickly! There are always new technologies coming out and it is so tough to keep up with everything. This brief news report profiles some new video surveillance technology that is so easy to use you can set it up yourself! Have you seen any cool new technology that you are thinking of integrating into your home security set up?

Have you ever thought about just how much coordination and communication goes into securing one of the world’s largest events – like the Olympics. Well….London is figuring that out right now in anticipation of London’s 2012 Olympics this summer. Not that they haven’t had to deal with large-scale events before (remember Will & Kate and the 20 million pounds that were spent on the security forces at their wedding?) but the Olympics may be a whole new thing!

This week, London is undergoes security training to test the response for emergency preparedness in the case of potential terror attacks at the events. This exercise brings back too recent memories from London’s most recent terror attack on the city’s metro system in 2005. On July 11, 2005, 52 commuters were killed by suicide bombers in what is the deadliest attack in Great Britain since World War II. In their security tests this week, London’s security personnel will focus on a disused metro station to run their drills.

“We want to deliver a Games where the sporting achievement and the Olympic spirit is what people will remember – not the security,” said British security minister James Brokenshire.

“To ensure that happens, we need to test our plans and this exercise gives us the opportunity to inform, reassure and build confidence in the UK’s safety and security operation,” Brokenshire added.

“We are determined to leave nothing to chance to deliver a safe and secure Games that London, Britain and the world can enjoy,” he said.

It would be interesting to be in London this week to see all the hoopla going on around town. I know that even though I don’t live in London, I am glad that the city is taking the security seriously to ensure the safety and security of all people in London for the Olympics.

The Seattle Police Department has some great tips for keeping your home secure from potential burglary and home invasion. Do you have any other good tips for us?

IDENTIFY ENTRY POINTS
Before you make security improvements, identify those entry points most likely to be used by a burglar. You can do this by answering the following questions:
o Which entrances are hidden/out of view from my neighbors?
o If I am locked out of my house, where could I get in without too much difficulty? Every door/window you list in response to these questions should be a number one priority.

BASIC SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
Other security improvements should follow, keeping in mind that your goal is to make it difficult for a burglar by forcing them to take more time and to make more noise!
o Exterior doors should be strong enough to withstand excessive force.
o All exterior doors should be secured with a deadbolt lock that has a minimum one-inch throw.
o All strike plates and frames for exterior doors should be anchored to the home’s main construction.
o All exterior doors should fit snugly against the frame and all frames should be free of warping, cracks, and other signs of wear and tear.
o Solid core wood, metal or other reinforced doors, Reinforced door jams or jam braces.
o Three-inch screws, heavy-duty strike plates and tamper proof hinges.
o The main entrance door should have a doorwide-angle (180 degree)viewer/peephole.
o Sliding glass doors and windows should be secure against forcing the locks or from being lifted completely out of the frame.
o High-risk windows (basement, garage, ground-level, partially or totally secluded, latched, etc.) should be secured sufficiently enough to discourage or impede possible intrusion.
o Double-hung windows should be secured with pins or extra locks to discourage prying.
o Trees and shrubs should be trimmed to allow visibility along the perimeter (particularly entries) of the house.
o Timers (both interior and exterior) should be installed to activate lights in your absence
o All entrances (doors and windows) to your home should be well lit at night.
o Your address should be posted on your house and be clearly visible from the street both night and day.
o Safety glass or security film on vulnerable windows.
o Motion sensor lighting, specifically directed and focused on entry points and vulnerable areas, no flood lighting and beware of light trespass.
Security improvements should not be made at the expense of fire safety! Remember to allow at least one door or window per room as a fire escape – meaning that exit via the door window can be made quickly and easily. There should also be fire escape routes established for your household. Family members should know where these are and they should be practiced periodically, especially if there are young children at home.

INSTALLING AN ALARM?
Thinking about installing an alarm? Before you do, read about how false alarms are caused and how they can be avoided.

If you want to learn more about securing your home, please don’t hesitate to call us at Allied Fire and Security!

As London is preparing for one of the biggest events in its history, the 2012 Summer Olympics, the police department and royal marines are stepping up their security measures. This practice of the River Thames is just one of several new security measures they are practicing for.

Do you own a Treadnet Camera on your home computer? Well, the company has just released information related to a potential leak in the Treadnet software that could enable others to see you and your home. According to a BBC report, thousands of the company’s cameras have a flaw that allows for anyone on the Internet to hook up to the camera’s video feed and see into the homes of others.

It was recently discovered that anyone who went to the IP address of a given camera could tap into the camera’s feed without needing a password or any security function. On top of that, people across the internet are flocking to the web forums and sharing information about web addresses of specific cameras.

The company stated: “We recently became aware of a vulnerability with several Trendnet SecurView IP cameras purchased since April 2010,” the company said. “Trendnet’s security team understands that video from some Trendnet IP SecurView cameras may be accessed online in real time. Upon awareness of the issue, Trendnet initiated immediate actions to correct and publish updated firmware which resolves the vulnerability.”

Apparently the vulnerability is a result of a coding error that was introduced in an update to cameras in 2010. A full list of affected cameras can be found here. With so much of our lives firmly set in technology it’s always scary to come across these sort of security vulnerabilities and really stands as a reminder that we all need to be vigilant about our own home security and safety.