Manager Buzz

February 6th, 2010

Keep Your Kin Safe and Secure against Unfortunate Accidents

Posted in Security Hub

There’s more involved in ensuring the protection of your home and family than just making sure that every way to get into your house is bolted. Worrying about your family’s security is normal and an excellent family protection monitoring system should ease your worrying as they offer protection against a variety of threats such as carbon monoxide poisoning and theft, also, emergency response teams can be contacted if something does go wrong. Make sure that the alarmed security system you choose is the most suitable one for your house. Families are a diverse bunch and every one will need a distinct alarmed protection monitoring tool. Start by identifying what the unique protection requirements in your household are. Should your family rely on gas fittings, then ensure that you prioritize minimizing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by using an alarm monitoring system that can detect a problem if one should happen. For elderly people, or those more at risk, there’s the option of an emergency notification family security monitoring tool which contacts the security company if an accident should occur. A security camera tool would more suit families that routinely employ childcare professionals to take care of their infants.

Keep in mind when buying an alarmed protection tool that they have many degrees of protection to consider. A covert video surveillance system is a brilliant option if you need a very high security level since nobody will know where it is. A nearly impossible to breach security system could be achieved if you install an industrial-strength security monitoring tool which has eye pattern or fingerprint ID panels.

Don’t just think that visual surveillance is all there is to a best of breed alarmed protection tool. You could deploy a network of impact, glass break, movement and vibration sensors to contact help immediately the moment an individual breaks into your home.

Superior alarmed security monitoring tools should be installed with a distress button, to ease your worries. Simply activating that switch will send an alert to the emergency services if something awful happens. Depending on what you picked when you bought the alarm tool, the security company will then contact the emergency services to send assistance, or they can get in touch with you to find out what the trouble is.

There are plenty of comprehensive domestic security blogs online that you can read where you should easily be able to ensure more pointers and tips. Although it does call for careful consideration, choosing the right home security monitoring tool isn’t hard. Just a little effort can provide you peace of mind that may well last for the rest of your life…

February 19th, 2009

Body Worn Cameras Support Covert Operations

Posted in Security Hub

If you are a private investigator or a police officer, you know that body worn cameras are as much of a natural part of your investigative procedures as your ID. And because you are involved in this important, highly sensitive business, you often need to make video and audio recordings without the suspect knowing what you are doing. There is a great pocket DVR that is smaller than a package of cigarettes, and can actually be placed into an empty cigarette package for further concealment. This handy little device actually records up to eight hours on a single charge and comes complete with a 2.5″ screen for easy viewing, along with a built-in speaker and microphone.

Another great way to hide body worn cameras is by using the new wearable Sun Glasses that have a color camera built right into them, and they offer UV protection as well, so you don’t have to sacrifice your eye protection while covertly filming an important event.

If you are looking for the ultimate thing in body worn cameras, you have got to get the tie camera. Made from high grade materials, this necktie is the perfect way to conceal your covert camera activities and is already used in hundreds of police departments and by television stations all over the country. If you are a detective, you have got to wear a tie, right? What better way to record critical information that could make or break a case against a suspect. So if a tie covers up that button worn camera you wanted to use on your shirt, you can use the tie camera instead and start recording away.

To purchase Spy Products and Surveillance Products Read other related articles on our Spy products blog

January 13th, 2009

A Good Firewall Offers Protection Against Security Holes Caused by Open Ports

Posted in Security Hub

All computers have thousands of ports that are used as communication paths between the PC’s applications and services that are required on a network. Ports are like little open doors that allow two or more applications to talk to each other. Your computer has 65537 ports that may be used for various types of communication and data exchange. Of these, only 1025 are commonly used and designated as “well known ports”. All software applications require the use of ports in order to work, but the majority of ports are not used for anything, creating a potential security risk if left open.

Quite often certain unneeded ports are left wide open by operating systems, browsers, and other installed applications, leaving secret back doors open on your computer. Most software developers frequently issue patches, service packs and hot fixes when they discover a security hole such as this, but many still go undetected. Software updates will close the open ports that the developer is aware of, which is why it’s so important to perform regular computer updates.

Hackers and malicious software applications take advantage of open ports to infiltrate your computer. Spyware, viruses and other types of malware utilize open ports to retrieve information, destroy data and corrupt operating systems. Since unneeded open ports represent the “unlocked back doors” into your computer, it’s important to prevent unauthorized access. A good way to see how vulnerable your computer is to outsiders is to do a port scan. Many security vendors offer an online port scan that will show you exactly how far into your computer a hacker can get. Once you learn what your PC’s vulnerabilities are, you will see that it’s time to get some protection.

A Firewall is the Best Defense

The best defense against the vulnerabilities associated with open ports is a good firewall. Firewalls act as a “guard” between your computer and the internet, allowing only authorized data in or out. Data packets that are not needed by you or your applications are blocked at the door, so they never get near you. Many firewalls also have a feature called “stealth mode”, which makes your computer invisible to outsiders.

Software Firewall

For most home computer users, a software firewall (also known as a personal firewall) will provide sufficient protection. This type of firewall installs on your PC and is designed to protect your computer only. It is like having your own personal bodyguard. Some excellent firewall programs are made by internet security companies such as McAfee, Computer Associates, Zone Labs, Symantec, Sunbelt-Kerio, Trend Micro, and AVG - just to name a few. Software firewalls are the ideal security solution for laptop users who often access the internet from hotels, airports, coffee shops, etc…

Hardware Firewall

If you have a home network or business network, a hardware firewall is the best choice of protection. Hardware firewalls are security appliances that sit between your internet connection and the computers on your network. As opposed to protecting only one PC, a hardware firewall will protect all the computers on the network. Excellent hardware firewalls for business use are made by SonicWall, Barracuda, Hot Brick and Checkpoint, just to name a few. For home use consider D-Link, Linksys, or Alphashield.

It doesn’t matter whether you use a hardware firewall or personal firewall, or even both. The main thing is that you do use a firewall to protect your computer from the vulnerabilities of open ports. Today’s cyber-criminals are very sophisticated, and will take advantage of every security hole available. The best defense against this dangerous security issue is a firewall.

DJ is a corporate IT Manager and author of the following sites covering information technology topics: Computer Security for Everyone, http://www.saveonphoneservice.com, and http://www.antivirus-firewall-spyware.com

October 14th, 2008

Secrecy A Security Deterrent To Social Engineering

Posted in Security Hub

Social Engineering is the act of tricking or cunning people into giving out sensitive information, which is used for fraud, vengeance, murder or destruction.

The aim of this is to bring personal gain to the perpetrator and losses to the victim. The victim could be an individual, a family, an organization, or Government.

The reason why social engineering seem to succeed is because information that should be kept secret are right out there in the open in plain view for people to see.

Most individuals, families, organization and government establishments do not have information classification policy in place.

Information classification policy defines the degree of sensitivity of an information. Take this example, what information in our family do we classify as “restricted”, that is the information meant only for the family; father, mother and children. Anytime a member of the family comes home after 9pm, it is considered late. We use our secret code (number of door knocks) to get the door opened by a member of the family. This acts as a deterrent to house burglars, such an information is restricted to the family and must not be leaked out.

Secrecy is the only weapon that minimizes or prevents the act of social engineering. Secrecy is the only effective counter measure against social engineering.

Tips to Counter Social Engineering Using Secrecy as a Security Deterrent

  • Don’t give too much information to outsiders with whom you do business.

  • Learn the safe use of email as a communication tool.

  • Keep watchful eyes on people who enter your place of business for service or maintenance calls or to make deliveries.

  • Get a safe with changeable combination lock to store secret documents. Don’t use your birthday, or birthday of someone close to you as the combination. Change the combination frequently in an unpredictable schedule.

  • Formulate an information classification policy. Make it available for your employees, and family members.

  • All duplicate keys to critical files or safes must be kept by one person.

  • Do not conduct business in public places.

  • Learn what to say over a public phone boot.

  • When using your phone in a public place do not include sensitive information in your conversation.

  • Be careful the kind of information you place in public sites.

  • As a company that uses its website to conduct e-commerce, the best way to safe guard the credit details of your customers is not to store them on a web server but to store them off-line in an encrypted file.

  • Train your staff or family members on the need for secrecy. Tell them the importance of secrecy, show them the benefits of keeping certain information secret.

  • Buy a good paper shredder and use it. All paper scraps or information no longer needed should be shredded before throwing it in the waste bin.

  • Confidentiality agreements should be signed by employees promising not to reveal trade secrets or company secrets.

    • Social engineering is an act that no security technological tool can fight. The best weapon is secrecy. Learn the act of secrecy Now!

    Christopher Okoh
    CEO
    Computer Security & Network Associates.
    Website: http://www.compsana.com