An Easy Understanding Of IP Security Cameras

By Steve Strong

Computer security cameras are the latest way of providing security to your home or business. Computer security cameras are very cost effective. For people, who have limited budget and do not want to spend much on security camera, computer security camera is a good option. Mostly, computer security cameras are used for home security.

Technically, computer security cameras send the images to a DVR hard drive with a recorder. The output produced by computer security cameras differs depending on the camera. Occupying hard disk space is one of the major issues in computer security camera. A computer security camera fills up the hard disk space very fast because it generates lot of files. However there are ways to lessen this problem. Computer security camera provides easy navigation in comparison to traditional video tape system.

If you are looking for reasonable computer security camera, then you should go for webcam. Web cam is inexpensive and easy to use. Web cam is used for general monitoring of a place. But the drawback is that it requires proper lighting condition. In low light conditions, webcam can become ineffective and provide low quality image. But for money conscious people web cam is a good option. Obviously, with a security camera, which is as cheap as less than $100, you cannot expect great performance.

Web cam is very easy to install. Anyone who has general knowledge of computers can install a webcam. Web cam installation requires connection of the device with USB port, configuration, and installation of the software. It takes few minutes to install a web cam. The advantage of web cam is if you are not at home, it enables you to scan the images later on. Web cam also has an email alert service feature which can be activated to incorporate images. And if required you can forward these images to the police.

The other types of computer security camera are IP security camera systems. IP security cameras provide better quality image and range than a web cam. IP security cameras are also very easy to install. The price differs depending on the level of coverage and quality of image.
But you can get IP cameras in less than 100 dollars also. IP cameras can be accessed from a remote location through internet. These cameras can be connected to the network and you can access them from a web browser. Additional IP cameras can be added to the computer provided your computer has enough storage space.

There are many other computer security cameras available with advanced features. These advanced cameras have many features like counting the number of people who have walked in your premises, or faster devices to take the snapshots after the motion detector finds some movement. These cameras are capable of performing many things other than monitoring. But these cameras are expensive than web cam and IP Network security cameras

Steve Strong's is an employee with Sun Security which is an innovative and growth oriented company who uses a fresh and new approach to meet the security needs of millions of consumers throughout North America. Sun Security supplies IP Network Security Cameras Visit us at: http://www.sunsecurity.com

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Earn Profits And Future Financial Security

By Amit Malhotra

Money rules the world, they say - many of us accept this hard-core fact and try to make money in several ways. However, investment is the most accepted means of saving money. What if you get a chance to save as well as make profits from your small investment -- sounds cool. Yes, stock trading provides you the option of saving as well as moneymaking option in the best possible way. The other advantages associated with such trading method are that you can manage your funds online.

Online trading today has opened a new vista for investors. This Internet based trading is cool and safe. Though it is a computer-based system, you do not require computer knowledge at all.
Many new investors however, ask this common question whether they need computer knowledge or not. The trading Websites are so intuitively designed that you can understand each and every thing in just few minutes. Moreover, the video instructions available on the site make things much easier for first time visitor.

Stock trading companies play a very crucial role in the whole trading procedure. That's why industries involved in trading are doing their best so as to compete with others in the market.
New features like advanced trading tools and security systems are being added on the website. More and more features are being offered by companies just to attract new investors. In this competitive marketplace, investors are getting impeccable services at a very minimal commission rate.

In addition to various services, these websites also offers valuable stock content such as articles, blogs, newsletters, etc. Stock quotes with charts are displayed in an efficient manner. And, with advanced trading tools, traders can easily analyze the market for successful trading. What investors need is an online account. Open an account today and start trading now.

Stock market is the only platform where one can make money in a very short period of time.
But, to avoid subtle risks associated with the share market, one needs to be more cautious.
Those investors who are steadily reaping the benefits from trading are aware of the risks the market poses. And, it is their knowledge and the comprehensive market analysis that help them in taking the right decision at the right time.

You can also be a successful investor provided you learn about the market. Since, learning is a continuous process, you should learn always. Learn how to analyze the data and charts, get familiar with the changing market moods and move forward. However, online financial experts are also there to help you. Discuss with them and plan intelligently.

Investment today is very important for every class of people. It not only helps save your hard earned money, you also feel secured financially in future as well. If you are financially sound, you are mentally sound as well. So, invest now and live happily all through your life. Trading however, provides dual benefits: a secured future financial security and profits. So, what are you waiting for - open an account online on the best trading company websites and start trading from today.

Open an account with SogotradeIf you are new to Sogotrade:Online stock trading investment

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Affordable Do It Yourself Wireless Home Security

By Steven R Lane

Home security systems used to be flashing lights or loud noises when a burglar approaches, but that is no longer the case. A home video surveillance system and wireless security camera have taken precedence over those loud alarm monitoring security systems. These have developed as different and easier options to protecting your home.

These wireless home security cameras or video systems offer the homeowner so much more benefits to keep a closer eye on their entire home; both indoors and outdoors. There are hidden wireless cameras that the robber cannot see. You can administer your surveillance without the intruder knowing that he or she has been videotaped. These wireless hidden security cameras transmit directly to your television or computer or even your cell phone. You do not need any special software to work with these wireless security systems.

A hidden wireless camera is not only to catch the thief, but to watch your nanny. These are called nanny wireless hidden cameras or wireless nanny hidden cameras. There are some parents who find peace of mind in knowing what is going on at home while they are away especially if children are involved. The media has covered stories that reveal a hidden camera catching a nanny abusing a child. Had the parent not put in the hidden camera, they would not have been able to know that their child was being abused. If you have an elderly parent at home while you are away, this is a good way to see what is going on and to make sure everything is OK.
You can use the hidden camera to watch your pet while you are not home. The hidden wireless camera comes in different models. Some can look like a soda can, mirror, doll, clock, radio, phone, teddy bear, and normal things that would not look out of place at home.

You can purchase a wireless hidden camera in color or black and white. While some people prefer color, black and white also works just as well. It should only be a personal preference. Black and white wireless cameras, of course, cost a little less than color and that is their only difference.

All wireless home security camera systems have become quite economical for homeowners.
Before, this was not the case. It was mostly bought by business owners. However, with modern technology and the increased crime rate, vendors are making it easier for homeowners to buy a wireless home security camera to protect their home and their family. You can either have professional installation, but installation is so easy, that you can do it yourself.

Make sure you buy a security camera that has at least a 2.4 MHZ capacity. You get better picture and transmission. Be careful to purchase from a company that is reliable and will offer customer support in the event that you have questions or need troubleshooting. There are companies online that sell different types of security cameras or surveillance systems to accommodate both business owners and homeowners.

Steve Lane is a freelance writer of informational websites on personal self-defense and home security products including high tech surveillance. He is one of the leading writers on home security and personal self defense products in the country.

He started "Self Defense Shop" in 2004 to help people prevent crime in their lives. "Self Defense Shop" is an Internet business specializing in hard to find and unique self-defense and home security products that help people protect themselves, their family, home and business. His website includes self defense products like pepper sprays, stun guns, personal alarms, and self defense training DVDs.

His business is poised to meet the needs of security conscious consumers who want to protect their families, home and business in increasingly dangerous times with growing crime rates.
http://www.laneselfdefense.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_R_Lane

Wireless Home Security Systems - A New Innovation To Home Security

By David Faulkner

The Benefits You Would Reap From Wireless Home Security Systems
The security has become a very key issue in contemporary lifestyle. Our homes are vacant most of the daytime are vulnerable to many horrible crimes as the adults are not at home and the criminals are very well aware of this fact. However we can effectively minimize this threat if we make use of the modern innovations in home security systems, for there is nothing more valuable than one's dear ones. Hundreds of home surveillance systems are available now a days to ensure the vigilance and security, but these systems are extremely complicated and need a very skilled professional for their installation. But the wireless home security systems are quite easy to handle and one can fix them oneself very easily without needing any costly professional.

Why Wireless Home Security Systems!
The wireless home security systems have many great advantages over the other cotemporary systems. Firstly, they are very economical and cheap and do not need any much post installation expenditures & follow-ups. Secondly the wireless home security systems are extremely simple, they do not involve any electric wiring or other complicated operations for their installation anyone with a nominal technical know how can fix them.

This ease in their handling has a lot of benefits. You wont have to spend huge overhead expenditures for their installation. Neither you will need to drill and dig wholes in your walls for the installation of your wireless home security systems. This would help you save your time, money and energy. This would also mitigate the nuisance attached to the installation. Your system would be at your immediately after purchase.

Some Salient Features Of Wireless Home Security Systems
Wireless home security systems are very efficient and smart surveillance equipment due to many reasons. Firstly, the wireless home security systems can operate on quite large distances.
These wireless home security systems use radio frequency waves for data communication and this increases and even doubles their range of operation. Their wireless characteristic renders your wireless home security systems highly efficient as you can place them anywhere in your house camouflaged and mimicked with the surrounding environment. Your home have not to be adaptable for your wireless home security systems rather they can work in any type of the building. An other use of the wireless characteristic of your surveillance system is that since it does not rely on wires for its installation it is not easily detectable by criminals, hence every act of any bugler or thief will remain under careful watch of your wireless home security systems and they won't be able to escape behind the veil of any excuse during litigation process. So your wireless home security systems provide you the security and sense of safety with comfort.

You can also find more info on alarm home security and burglar alarms
Homesecuritysystemsguide.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Home security.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Faulkner

Advantages Of Do It Yourself Complete Home Security Systems

By Caroline Bourke

As technology advances and the cost of technology drops more people are starting to do their own do it yourself complete home security systems. With the products that are available do it yourself complete home security systems are not a bad idea and you not only save yourself money on installation costs but you can also rest assured knowing that a group of strangers did not install your homes security, you did it yourself with one of the many do it yourself home security systems people are creating these days. You just need some basic components.

Door Bolts And Window Locks
The first part of a good do it yourself complete home security system has nothing to do with electronics or cameras. Securing your home is the first step towards good home security and putting in sliding bolts on all of your outside doors and locks on all of your windows will help a great deal in that area. It also makes them more effective if you use them so make sure you lock up your doors and windows every time you leave the house or you lock up for the night.

Lights Outside
No do it yourself system is complete without good lighting. Even the cameras you will install will benefit from good lighting so make sure you install motion detecting lights around the outside of your home and on the perimeter of your property if you are able. The more light you have the more you can see and that is a huge advantage over the intruder that is trying to sneak in under cover of darkness.

Cameras
You can get wireless, internet ready, stand alone security cameras for $100 each or less that will broadcast a signal on the internet for you to monitor. It is hard to imagine a complete home security system without video surveillance and now you can have video surveillance that is accessible by any computer connected to the internet anywhere in the world. It makes any security system simple to set up and use.

Action
All you need after that is a quality computer with a lot of storage space for video surveillance digital images and you are set. Make sure you load a good home security software on that computer and make sure you learn how to use it. Once you realize how powerful your DIY home security system really is you will wonder how you ever felt safe without it.

Caroline Bourke is a full time therapist in Florida. Check out these great Home Security Systems resources and articles or the more general Home Security advice.
http://www.homesecuritywarehouse.com

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Stop The Dangerous Games Under Your Roof With Video Security and Surveillance

By Nahshon Roberts

So much for liberalism. Kids are taking the fun to a dangerous edge with their drinking. If your kids are starting to drink, better step in even when you're away with home video security and surveillance.

Cat and Mouse Game
Mom and dad goes out of town for the weekend, leaves the house to their high school kid, comes back to find a wreck - broken vases, trashed sofa, broken beer bottles! How many times have we heard this story? If you do not want this to happen to you, install video security and surveillance in your home. This way you stay in charge, even while you are away.

House parties can be fun for teenagers. After all, there are no adults. Teenagers are left to do what they want to do. There is bottomless beer to consume, young girls to flirt with, and other guys to show off to. Without video security or surveillance, all you can do is imagine what could happen under your roof while you're a hundred miles away.

Without adult supervision, fun can turn into disaster in just a snap of your fingers. Drunken conversations can easily turn into fist fights and harmless flirting can turn into unprotected sex. What about drunk driving and possible car crashes? All these things can happen in one night - without your knowledge.

Fun and Disaster
What starts out as fun drinking can end in disaster. If you can remember, there was the death of a 16-year-old girl who drank herself to death just to win an $80 bet in 1997. This could happen to your kid if you don't warn them of the dangers of alcohol.

Perhaps you need to know that a third of high school teenagers are binging whenever they can. That number may include your kid. Educate your young now on the dangers of drinking - and remember there is no safe drinking.

Drinking and smoking are the paths to addiction. Before you know it, your kid may be arrested for smoking pot. This is not only embarrassing, but is also painful to parents who have thought all along that their teen was safe from the clutches of addiction, as he was only drinking occasionally with friends.

Other risky games kids play are the thrill games online, which are also addictive. One child already lost his life by hanging himself for the painful thrill of it and on the last time did not survive. This was shocking news to his parents who said their son was not into drugs. True, but he was into another thrill. Had his parents installed video security and surveillance in his room, they would have known his dangerous activities.

Teen Monitoring
Parents are now faced with the difficulty of raising their teens. Working parents are hit hardest with this problem. What can they advice when they suspect nothing? The help of video security and surveillance can provide them a means to keep tabs of their children.

A neighborhood organization to keep an eye on young drinkers and collaborating with the local police to help curb this dangerous predilection are good ideas. But as a concerned parent, stop the dangerous games under your roof with video security and surveillance.

Your home video security has uses like that of security camera and wireless cameras you see in public places. Visit Video-Surveillance-Guide.com now for your security needs.

Selection Of Home Security Devices

By David Faulkner

There are countless home security devices available in different countries depending upon different technologies. However the selection of such devices depend upon many factors. These devices can be classified according to type of power supply storage capacity of digital information, sensors and sizes etc. out of numerous home security devices, one can be selected which is the best suitable.

Usage Of Home Security Devices
One of the main features of home security devices is back up power supply. It sustains the home security even in a condition when there is no main power. Moreover, one should ensure that the home security alarm system is functioning properly and efficiently. During nighttime because most of the security risks are likely to happen at this time and due to a proficient alarm system the house owner becomes alert earlier to coming danger. Some people use key fobs and remote controls to operate the alarm system on the hour of need and by using such devices the home security alert system can be operated easily.

Home Security Devices: Use Of Panic Button
Some house security devices also include a panic button, which alerts the homeowner about any illegal activities occurring in the vicinity of the house. So during an emergency situation the panic button can be used to activate the home security devices system and after that precautionary measures can be taken accordingly. There are different features of home security devices depending upon the complexity in their nature. Also investment is a main factor in order to develop a well communicated and highly efficient net work of security alert system.

Home Security Devices: Use Of Smoke Detectors
As the name depicts smoke detectors has ability to sense the presence of smoke in a home, office or a factory etc. The smoke detectors add more and more level of security for human being. The smoke detectors are used within the circuitry of whole security alarm system. Just consider a situation when there is rapid fire in a room of the home then due to fire the whole wiring of the room becomes damage then would the only use of be a sufficient solution for this problem? The answer would be definitely No. Because while having a destroyed power system how can we hear the fire alarm so for this purpose smoke detector is the best option. It will sense earlier any change in the smoke level of a room and will activate the whole security system so that the danger could be over come easily. There are other devices, which can be used in this direction for the best safety system, however it depends on the investment and the seriousness, which one can have amongst his home security devices.

You can also find more info on home security system and alarm home security. Homesecuritysystemsguide.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Home security.

15 ways to make your home more secure

By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com

Your home may be your castle, but just how deep is the moat? Tighter security is always a concern, but you don't need a "panic room" to feel safe and sound at home, sweet home. All it takes is a little common sense and maybe some elbow grease. So here are 15 tips to make your home more secure:

1. Be your own burglar. Go outside and pretend you're a crook. How would you get in?
Repeat this exercise at night. What parts of the yard are dark or hidden enough to act as cover for an intruder? These are areas you want to eliminate or illuminate with outdoor lighting. If you don't want the lights on all the time, you can put them on a timer or install motion detectors.
Ask the experts. Local police are usually happy to examine your home and offer you tips for shoring up your defenses.

2. Network with neighbors. Believe it or not, that nosy woman across the street could be your "best weapon against crime," according to Jean F. O'Neil, director of research and evaluation for the National Crime Prevention Council. Informed neighbors who know each other and know who doesn't belong in an area can stop crime before it starts with a quick call to the cops. If you want a more structured setup, more than 90 percent of police departments will help you establish a Neighborhood Watch program, says O'Neil, and the groups are a proven crime deterrent.

3. Call the cops. If you see something that strikes you as odd, trust your instinct and dial 911. "If you see something you think is suspicious," says O'Neil, "it probably is."

4. Create an illusion. Most felons want to come and go without anyone around. So make it look like someone is home. If you're away, put an incandescent lamp on a timer so that it goes on in the evening. (Skip the halogen lights, since they can be a fire hazard.) Leave on the TV or a radio. Turn down the ringer on the phone. An unanswered phone is a great advertisement that no one is around.

5. Lock and key. Forty percent of all successful break-ins happen without force, according to O'Neil. That means the door or window was unlocked or they had a key. Use the locks you have.
It's common sense to keep doors and windows closed and locked, but "the basics are the things that people mess up the most," says Seattle Police Officer Duane Fish. His department recently arrested two burglars with more than 100 break-ins between them. "Their primary method of getting into the home was an open door or window," Fish says.

When you move into a new place, make sure you get new locks. Don't hide keys outside. And, as much as you love your neighbors, friends and relatives, don't give them a key to your home, says Los Angeles Police Officer Jack Richter. "Nobody's going to be as careful with your property as you," he says.

6. Put on a peep show. Install a wide-angle peephole, and use it every time you open the door. Make sure it allows you to see all around your front door. Set up good lighting so that you can see visitors. If you have kids, consider installing a second hole at a lower height. And if you aren't expecting anyone, don't know the person on the other side of the door or can't see because your porch light has mysteriously "burned out," don't open it.

7. Hide the garage-door opener. When you go into the house, close the garage door and take the remote control with you. If he can open the garage door, a thief can "take bigger equipment or steal the car altogether," says Chicago Police Department Officer Raimond Ranne.

And if you're out for the day, especially in venues like office parks or movie theaters, keep your remote hidden, says Richter. An enterprising thief could get your home address from your auto registration or even from mail left in the car. Once a thief is in your garage, he can close the door and have time and privacy to break into your home.

And if you're going on vacation and leaving an empty house, you can deactivate the garage door opener and put a padlock through the tracks, effectively locking the door.

8. The doors. Outside doors need to be solid wood or metal, with hinges on the inside and deadbolts that extend at least 1½ inches to 2 inches into the frames. Secure a sliding door with a snugly fitting dowel in the track.

"I'm not a big fan of windows in the door, unless they are high enough that you can't reach the handle," says Fish. "French doors are the most difficult things to secure." Options: vertical deadbolts at the top and bottom of the doors. If you don't need the door as a fire exit, consider a double-barreled deadbolt, which has a key lock on both sides. Keep the key near the door but out of sight and reach from the outside. Otherwise, outfit the door with an alarm or motion sensor.

9. Get alarmed. Get a monitored security alarm. And you want one that rings at your home as well as at the monitoring station, says Philadelphia Police Corporal Jim Pauley. "You want the person to know there's a system. As a homeowner, you want them out of there."

10. Windows 2002. When it comes to ground floor windows, you might consider something stronger than the usual thumb locks, according to O'Neil. If you can afford a locksmith, you can get keyed window locks -- the kind that uses a deadbolt. Two warnings: always keep the key in the same place (near the window, but not visible from the outside) so you can find it in the dark in an emergency. This is a better option for first-story windows that you won't need as exits in a fire. And it's not a great idea in homes with kids or people with impaired dexterity, since they might not be able to remember where the key is in an emergency or be able to work the lock quickly if they need to escape a fire.

If you don't want to spring for a locksmith, you can drill a thin hole at a 45-degree angle in each window sash and drop a small-headed nail snugly in the opening, says O'Neil. Leave enough of the nail sticking up that you can pull it out easily in case of a fire. As with other window locks, you don't want to use them on windows you'll need for an exit -- or if you have people in the house who couldn't easily pull out the nail.

11. Lock up ladders. If you, or a neighbor, leave a ladder lying around, you're giving thieves an invitation to try the usually less-well-guarded upstairs windows. Either put ladders away or chain them securely to something heavy. If you're having work done on your home, treat windows near scaffolding as if they were on the ground floor for the duration of the project.

12. Super cuts. Trim bushes and trees so that all your doors and windows can be seen from the street. If thieves have no place to hide, your home becomes a less attractive target. And a mowed lawn or shoveled walkway is a sign that people are home.

13. Hide your toys. When you get that new 50-inch flat-screen TV, don't leave the box out at the curb for a week, says Ranne. Instead, take it just before the trash collectors come. Better still: carry it to a nearby dumpster.

14. Ssssshhhhh! You want to tell the world about the great deal you got on that two-week cruise to the Caymans, but save the crowing until you return. Otherwise, you might come home to an empty house. While your co-worker or postal carrier is probably totally trustworthy, you never know whom they'll tell, says Richter. Instead of putting the mail and newspaper on hold, arrange with a friend or relative to pick up newspapers and mail in your absence.

15. Look out for yourself. "Don't be paranoid, but have a general sense of what's going on around you," says Pauley. You might be mentally preoccupied with what's going on at work or with a family situation. But being aware of your physical surroundings is a great security habit, and a good lesson to teach your kids.

"Be aware of your lifestyle, what you're doing and who you are," says Richter. "Look at it from the outside, and do everything you can to minimize being a victim."

Lock bumping: A new burglary threat

Using cheap tools and tips available online, thieves could probably get into your house in less than a minute. Most American homes are vulnerable to this spreading break-in technique.
By Claes Bell, Bankrate.com

Imagine a method of defeating the vast majority of American locks that can be learned in under an hour, uses tools that can be acquired on the Internet for less than $50 and, if done right, can be performed in less than a minute, leaving little or no trace of a break-in.

If you watch local news or spend time on the Internet, you may have heard alarming stories about a new way of picking a lock called lock bumping or key bumping. Security experts in Europe and, more recently, the United States have declared lock bumping a danger to anyone who secures their valuables with pin-tumbler locks, which happens to include the vast majority of American houses.

What is lock bumping?
Lock bumping is a way of opening a lock using a specially filed key that is the same size and shape as the key normally used in the lock. This special "bump" key is inserted into the lock and then struck with a tool made of rubber or plastic. The impact of the bump key on the tumblers inside the lock temporarily pushes them up, allowing the lock's cylinder to turn. This method, if done correctly, can open a lock quickly and with relatively little noise.

"The main concern is that it is so darn easy and that you don't need any special tools or training.
You only need a key, which in most cases is an easy thing to get," says Barry Wels, a founding member of The Open Organization of Lockpickers (TOOOL), a Dutch locksmiths club that has helped promote awareness of the technique among government officials and consumers. "If you take a motivated 15- or 16-year-old and give him an hour or two and $100 to invest in tools, he can open most locks."

To know whether your lock is vulnerable, just look at the key to your front door. Some of the most popular locks by manufacturers such as Schlage, Master, Yale and Kwikset may be susceptible to lock bumping. Other potential targets include recently built condos, apartments and subdivisions, where one lock manufacturer often supplies similar locks for every house in the community. A thief would have to gain access to only one key to be able to make a bump key that would open all the locks in the neighborhood.

Fact or fiction?
How common is this technique? It's hard to say how many of the more than 2 million burglaries that occurred in the U.S. in 2006 involved lock bumping. But there's no denying that with millions of American homes relying on the pin-tumbler locks that are so vulnerable -- and with how-to information and tool kits readily available on the Internet -- the potential for exploitation of this weakness is huge.

"It's been spreading in Europe ever since it came out on German television in 2004," Wels says. "It became popular for burglars in Germany."

Still, says Yaron Erez, a security expert with Vertex Security in Manhattan, the danger presented by key bumping may be overblown. The unpleasant truth, he says, is that almost all locks can be picked. Security personnel think in terms of the time and noise it takes to compromise a lock -- no matter how good the lock, it's a matter of when, not if.

"If somebody knows how to bump a lock, most likely he knows how to pick a lock as well," Erez says. "Bumping is a little faster and easier than other forms of lock picking, but that's all."

Anti-pick locks
There are locks available that are resistant to all kinds of picking, including bumping. High-end locks by manufacturers such as Medeco, Schlage, Assa Abloy and Mul-T-Lock are alternatives to the mass-produced, widely available locks that can easily fall prey to bumping. These premium locks incorporate more-complex, multilayered locking mechanisms and patented designs that allow manufacturers to control the number of blank keys that are produced.

Electronic locks, combination locks, magnetic locks and rotating-disc locks are other choices that are immune to lock bumping. Cylinder protectors, devices that cover the front of the lock to prevent tampering, are also an option.

Unfortunately, these premium locks also carry a premium price tag, especially when the fees charged by the professional locksmiths who install them are factored in. The hardware alone starts around $100 per lock.

Security systems
Erez recommends upgrading your locks to a bump-proof design but cautions against relying entirely on any type of lock.

"Locks are just one part of the total security picture," Erez says. "There are so many ways to get into a free-standing private home: windows, garages, patio doors."

Instead, Erez recommends thinking of security in terms of providing a deterrent to potential thieves. One such deterrent is a security system, announced by a sign in the front yard. Or even the sign with no alarm at all. Extra lighting in key spots around the home and a family dog can also help.

"It's a mental thing," Erez says. "If someone wants to break in, put as many things in his way as you can. He'll most likely move on to another house."

Also, it's important to remember that many thieves don't even bother picking a lock when robbing a home. Lock bumping is irrelevant if a potential thief would rather use a crowbar or a swift kick than a bump key and a rubber mallet.

Home insurance
There is one surefire way to protect against big losses in a burglary that doesn't involve any cutting-edge equipment or security know-how: a good insurance policy. Most providers of homeowners and renters insurance will pay for a loss even if, as is the case with locks that have been bumped, there are no signs of forced entry.

"A theft is a theft. A loss is a loss," says Mike Siemienas, a spokesman for insurance giant Allstate, "as long as it's covered under your policy. Our policy is that you as a customer don't have to prove that someone broke into your house."

Kip Diggs, a State Farm representative, agreed. "It's very unlikely that we would reject a claim based on that."

Check your policy to make sure yours will pay regardless of how the thieves got in. For those who choose to upgrade to bump-resistant locks, it's worth a call to your insurance company to see if it would offer you a discount for installing higher-quality locks in your home. For the record, State Farm and Allstate do not offer a discount beyond a generic one for deadbolt locks.
According to Mike Barry, the media-relations director at the Insurance Information Institute, it's unlikely insurance companies would offer a premium discount for a specific brand of lock.

With little evidence available that lock bumping is common practice among thieves, the security threat to the average residence is, at this point, largely theoretical. Still, the probable spread of the expertise and tools required for lock bumping may make it a bigger concern in the future.
Those most in danger may be lock makers themselves, who may one day face class-action lawsuits filed by customers angry about the possibility that some companies have known about this flaw in their products for decades -- and done nothing about it.

Motion Sensor Home Security Cameras

By Timothy Croy

Many security cameras do not record well in the dark. This implies that a slinky presence can get away with any deed as long as the dark provides a shield. This is where a security camera with motion sensor comes in. The motion sensor triggers an automatic response as soon as it picks up a movement in its vicinity. Some of these cameras come equipped with floodlights that power up as soon as a motion is registered, flooding the area with light and catching the culprit in the act. This is further enhanced by the fact that a security camera with motion sensor often offers a connection to a TV or computer monitor. As soon as the sensor is triggered, images of the perimeter can be captured immediately.

A security camera with motion sensor is most of the time used to detect human presence. As such, it has been configured to capture any human movement around it. For this purpose, the sensor uses an infrared- commonly called IR- illuminator. A security camera with motion sensor uses PIR - passive infrared- detectors.

Humans with a body temperature of ninety-three degrees Fahrenheit emit infrared energy, its wavelength between nine and ten micrometers. PIR sensors are calibrated to pick up any wavelength between eight and twelve micrometers. The sensor is designed to pick up on rapid changes in IR energy, as when a person is moving. The sensor device itself is a basic one that works under the principle of a photosensor, which picks up on changes in the amount of light in an area when an emitted light beam is crossed.

Setup for a security camera with motion sensor is usually fairly easy. When connected to a surveillance system, it integrates well with other components to provide increased security. The feeds from the camera can be viewed on any monitor, a TV, or a computer screen. The images can also be recorded through a VCR or DVR for later viewing. Weatherproof, this type of camera can be used both indoor and outdoor, in a temperature range of fourteen to one hundred and twenty two degrees Fahrenheit. It also features a built-in microphone and wide angle lens.

A motion sensor home security camera is a necessity in any home security system. Learn more about Security Camera Systems at: Security-Cameras101.info

Social Security: What is it and Where is the Money?

By John Mcdonald

Social Security is a government sponsored pyramid scheme signed into law by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Actually, they ruled that way at first, until F.D.R. threatened to appoint five additional positions to the court knowing he could get his party-controlled Congress to approve the appointments because the constitution does not explicitly state how many supreme court justices there are.

The basic financial component is that the government began collecting a % of every working person's check to fund a supplemental retirement account designed to offset the way inflation was destroying elderly people's savings/fixed pensions during the great depression. At the time, there were 15 workers for every retiree and the system was set up to pay out so long as there were many more at the bottom paying to the few at the top - hence, a 'pyramid scheme.'

Today, the government collects 13% of the first $90,000 income earned - a regressive tax that hurts the working poor most - to pay a benefit for people over age 68, some people with health problems and disabilities, some who collect by lying about their situation, some lawyers, and some bureaucrats. Most of the people getting it today payed into it themselves and earned it through the legitimate guidelines, so the next few facts are extremely depressing...

The government has always run a social security surplus because of the demographics of the pyramid. Not just any surplus, a surplus that would be worth close to a hundred trillion dollars when adjusted for inflation and average market return rates. But that money is spent. In fact, it has been more than spent and there is only a nine trillion dollar debt in its place.

Within 20 years, there will only be two workers to every one recipient and the cost over the next 40 years is estimated around $70 trillion. So the people working today and paying 13% of their wages into this cannot reasonably expect the government to ever pay them back, Clinton himself even admitted it. One method of appearing to cover the deficit would be to devalue the dollar and therefor reduce the overall level of benefit received without ever having to go on record as having voted to cut social security. This seems to be the preferred method based on the last two decades of Democratic and Republican policies.

This article is written by John McDonald and originally appears at http://www.undergroundpolitics.com

Home Security System Monitoring - Is It For You?

By Ara Rubyan

Philosophers have a question that they ask and it goes like this.

"If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a noise?"

It's the same thing with your home security system. If the alarm goes off, and there's nobody listening for it, are you really protected?

Clearly, home security system monitoring is crucial. Here are some benefits of having your system monitored 24/7:

• Studies show that your home is three to four times less likely to be broken into, if your system is being monitored.
• You can save up to 20% on your homeowners insurance if your home security system is monitored.
• Home security system monitoring never sleeps -- it goes around the clock. It never takes a day off. And you are always protected whether your home or not.

Now, be aware that if you have home security system monitoring, you want to make sure that it is always working. So you need to test the system periodically. Test your system at least once a month, if not more. Some experts recommend checking out once a week. What's involved in testing your system? Simply turn it on.

And don't forget: Make sure your monitoring system is on at night -- even (especially!) when you are inside -- and also when you leave your house during the day.

Another good idea is to spread the word that your home security system is being monitored. Tell your neighbors; tell your friends; tell people who know about your habits, such as when you are away. Tell as many people as you can. Word gets around. By doing this, you will reduce the chances of burglary by someone who knows someone who knows you.

Conclusion

Relax and enjoy your vacation. When you hire someone to monitor your home security system, your home and your possessions -- and maybe even your family -- are protected.

P.S. You can also have your home security system monitored for fires and medical emergencies as well.

For more info on home security system monitoring, visit Ara Rubyan's Home Security Systems.
Ara Rubyan is not a part of the home security system industry, nor does he sell home security systems, nor does he pretend to be a guru of any kind. Instead, he is like you: a consumer, a business owner, and someone who has been researching the industry so that he could make an informed decision about the best home security system for his needs. Now, he's put all his research (so far) in one convenient location and he's sharing it with you, no strings attached.

Kenya Safari Security-Kenya Safari Safety, Insurance Cover, Plan

By Robert Muhoho

Kenya safari security, culture / exercise.

The word safari means “journey” in Swahili. A “safari in Kenya” sounds like such an outdoor, healthy activity. It connotes exercise (perhaps strenuous) and possibly hiking boots. A false impression. For most tourists, game –watching safaris in the major game parks mean game drives in vehicles, vast amounts of food in the form of generous buffets, perhaps a siesta, and sitting around the campfire. Hardly great for abdominal muscles.

Many game lodges are now realizing the popularity of game walks. There is a move to offer more personal interactive experiences with the African bush. Because of park regulations, this is easier for places outside of game park Boundaries. Ranches and home stays often specialize in this kind of interaction.

Ironically, it is easier to get more exercise at the coast. There is always swimming, perhaps disco dancing at night, and long walks along the beach. However, sun and humidity, the languid pace, big meals and good beer also mean that exercise might not feature in your Kenya coastal holiday. You can always return to your aerobic classes when you get home.
Kenya tourist Security

Kenya has more than its share of bad press, particularly in the north and in Nairobi. While theft and violence are real concerns, the tourism industry and the government of Kenya are taking every possible step to ensure your safety. Travelers should exercise good sense and take some reasonable precautions:

• Don’t parade valuable jewelry
• Don’t stroll the streets at night
• Catch cabs rather than walk in strange areas.
• Don’t carry lots of money and important papers
• Don’t take valuables to the beach
• Don’t walk around Nairobi at Night.

Culture shock/stress in Kenya
Although Kenya is one of the wealthier countries in Africa, there is still a great deal of poverty. Visible poverty. Poor mothers with babies beg in the streets, makeshift shacks mushroom next to modern buildings, trash heaps have just but recently disappeared.
Life goes on in public-hairdressers ply their craft under a tree, sewing machine
s sing on sidewalks; furniture makers display their wares in the sun.

Kenya jars and excites with color and chaos, vibrant life and the unexpected. It can be an exhilarating, eye-opening cultural experience.

If you come from a fast and efficient lifestyle, you may feel frustrated by the slow pace and the inefficiencies. Humor works better than anger. Surely, slowing down and appreciating a different culture is part of what makes a holiday.

Remember one of the most common Kenyan Swahili expressions: “Hakuna Matata” Kenya- no problem in Kenya.

Vendor vigilance
You may be pestered by local vendors. Bargaining is the order of the day. Bartering is an option-T-shirt and pens are popular. Remember! Use humor and don’t be dismayed at persistence.
Photos-animals, landscape, people in Kenya

Photograph landscapes, photograph animals, but ask permission before taking photos of people, and be prepared to pay for the privilege in some instance.

Creepy Crawlies
You will see less of these than you expect but they do exist. You should not walk around at night, or in the bush, without shoes. Hopefully you will be lucky enough to see some brightly colored lizards or perhaps the odd chameleon. (P.S. most of us who have lived in Kenya for years have only seen a snake twice). Don’t forget your insect repellant.

Our Furry Friends
The animals are wild. They are not paid to entertain the guests, Respect them, and keep your distance. The fact that hippos are grazing next to your tent at night does not mean you can pat them. Hippos are very dangerous. So are lions, elephant, buffalo, rhino, crocodiles, monkeys, teddy-bear-like-hyrax…It is just not prudent to pet.

The big Five are lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and your choice of buffalo or hippo. Remember, each animal is more than an addition to a list. It is fun to see how individuals react with each other, in groups, and with the environment.

Favorites of tiny five
A scarlet nit, an iridescent emerald fly, and the walking stick.

Robert is a Kenya travel agent of Landmark safaris- One of travel agencies in Nairobi. At Landmark, we provide you with African travel advisories, Health and disease information and preventative injections and medications. Let us know where you want to go and your travel health questions here http://www.landmarksafaris.com