Home Security Beat

Hidden Cameras Can Reveal Some Truths

When you think of hidden cameras, some words might pop into your head such as “sneaky,” “underhanded” and “spying.” Although hidden cameras and nanny cams have been criticized for undermining people’s privacy, there is another side to this issue. It’s important to remember that it’s your home and you have a right to know what is going on inside of it. Of course, it’s not necessary to put a hidden camera in a bathroom or bedroom, but you can keep ones outside your home as well as in common living areas inside of the house.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to install a hidden camera, it’s beneficial to look at the pros. What can you get out of a hidden camera? Well, there are actually several different roles that a hidden camera can fulfill.

The camera can monitor the outside of your home when you’re not around. With a hidden camera, no one will know that they’re being watched. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a potential burglar tampering with your surveillance camera if they can’t find or see it.

Unfortunately, you can’t trust anyone including close friends, neighbors and sometimes even family members. By having a hidden camera inside of the home, you can solve issues that might arise. For example, you can find out who took your watch or cash that you left on the kitchen counter. Pointing the finger and blaming someone doesn’t do anything if you don’t have proof. The camera might give you some sense of trust with individuals that you were unsure of too.

Nanny cams are beneficial when you have a baby or a younger child and you hire sitter. With the help of hidden cameras, babysitters have been caught abusing and mistreating children. If you have to hire a nanny, it’s hard to entrust them or any other person for that matter with your child. However, with a hidden camera, you can find out how well they are treating your child.

Hidden cameras might give you the creeps, but they can helpful in more ways than one. You will definitely find out who you can trust and who you can’t out of the process.

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Tags: hidden camera, nanny cam

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Can Your Social Media Activity Compromise Your Home Security?

In order for us to stay connected with the rest of the world, we now go to various social media platforms such as Twitter, Myspace, Foursquare, Facebook, Loopt, etc. While these online sources have made connecting with friends and family as well as meeting new people easier, it makes you wonder how much social media activity can compromise your home’s security.

Some people who use Twitter or Facebook update their status almost religiously. Sometimes the updates are so regular that people can figure out exactly where you. This is where people’s personal safety can be at stake, because if you give out too much information about your location over the Internet, you can put yourself at risk. Although it might seem like fun to brag about wherever you’re going, you should think twice and maybe not be so detailed in your responses. It’s also wise to keep your location on your profile private or just enter the state and not your city. However, when it comes to your social media activity, it’s not just your personal security that you’re putting in jeopardy.

According to an article on Geeksugar, a UK-based website forecasted that homeowner’s insurance rates could increase due to social platform sites such as the ones mentioned above. These sites are not only connecting friends and family, but they are also used for business promotion and just for fun too. Could you imagine if your homeowner’s insurance company raised your rates by ten percent simply because you use these services?

With regard to home security, the problem isn’t necessarily checking in with people online and saying what you’re doing. The issue is with writing updates, which reveal that you’re not home. This is like an open invitation to burglars, and depending on how detailed you are, these lurkers might even know how long you will be gone.

When you look at these security concerns from this perspective, it will make you think twice when you’re writing updates on these social media sites. You can still have fun with these websites and stay in touch with friends and family, but you have to keep in mind that strangers can read this information too. In other words, choose your words wisely when using these sites and make sure to educate your children as well.

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Tags: social media activity, social media safety, twitter safety

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New Video Surveillance iPhone App

When you have an iPhone, everything can be at your fingertips so why should your home security be any different? A wireless camera designer called Dropcam has made home video surveillance available at consumer’s fingertips with its new iPhone application. Now you can check on your house when you’re on the go.

In order to use this new app, you need to purchase Dropcam’s surveillance cameras, which are priced at $199. The camera requires no computer, and it has a 320 x 240 color resolution. Currently, this model doesn’t have audio, and you can only view the live feed—in the future, the company is planning to enable playback by DVR.

There are three different plans you can choose from Dropcam. The Basic version includes the single camera with live viewing and no recording for free. The Plus includes up to two cameras with live viewing and seven days of recording for $8.95 per month. Last is the Pro version, which includes up to two cameras with live viewing and 30 days of recording for $24.95 per month. With the Pro and Plus plans, your video is stored by Dropcam and isn’t located on your home computer where it can be stolen or tampered with. In other words, you don’t need to be a technology wiz to figure out how you’re going to store and view the video.

In addition to viewing your camera footage from the new iPhone app, you can view it online from any computer as long as it has Adobe’s Flash player installed. From the app, you can view video from other cameras that Dropcam has setup around the world. Right now you can view the Empire State Building in New York, Dropcam’s offices in San Francisco, Calif. and Interstate 5 located in Del Mar, Calif.

Dropcam is just one surveillance camera company you can work with. Their competition includes Avaak’s Vue and Logitech’s Wilife. However, the Vue camera is battery operated, and the Wilife needs to be setup with a computer.

Having the ability to protect your home from harm is convenient, especially if you’re frequently on the road. Plus, the app makes it easy to view what’s going on at your house even while you’re at home. So if you hear a noise that concerns you, just check your video footage from your phone without even getting up!

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Tags: Dropcam, Dropcam app, home security app, iPhone App, video surveillance app

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Properly Dispose of Dangers in the Medicine Cabinet

Now that it’s the new year, it’s time to face difficult tasks that you were meaning to accomplish in the previous year. Over the years, many different products can accumulate in your medicine chest. Maybe you are afraid to throw them away thinking that you might eventually need them. Or maybe you just don’t know how to properly dispose of these items. Today is the day to clean out your medicine cabinet, and these tips can help you clear out those items that can pose a danger to your children and other family members.

Whenever you come across expired prescription medicines and antibiotics, they should be thrown away immediately. By keeping them around your home, they could end up in the wrong hands. Children and pets are curious and can find ways to get into these pills. To dispose of them, do not flush them down the toilet or rinse them down the sink, because this can contaminate drinking water. Instead, remove your personal information from the bottle then duct tape each bottle and triple wrap them in plastic bags. This way when your garbage is collected and smashed, the pills will stay contained. At a landfill, the pills will have less of a chance of contaminating groundwater, because landfills use liners, clays and other materials to protect any underlying aquifers.

If you have old makeup or sunscreen, throw them out when in doubt or look for an expiration date. Using old makeup on your skin is dangerous, because over time, it can become tainted with bacteria. Old sunscreen can just make you more at risk for sunburn and sun poisoning.

Your local recycling center might have hazardous waste collection programs, which are worth checking into if you have a large amount of expired medication. You can also contact local pharmacies to inquire if they have any recycling or take back programs.

Prescription medications can cause major health problems for animals and people when ingested, which is why it’s important to dispose of them in the most eco-friendly way possible instead of flushing them down a toilet. In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled 139 streams in 30 states and found that 80 percent of these streams were contaminated with chemicals that can be pinpointed to pharmaceuticals. So take your prescribed medication, and if you have leftovers, seal them up and throw them in the trash.

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Tags: bathroom dangers, dispose of prescription drugs, medicine cabinet dangers

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The Ultimate Home Safety Comes at a Price

How much would you pay for home security? A modern day fortress built by Al V. Corbi in 2002, which is situated in the hills of Los Angeles, California, costs $7.25 million. This home carries quite a tab, but its home security features are some of the best that the world has seen.

Corbi designed this house based on experience with security systems and devices, which explains why this particular mansion is well-defended. Although the homeowner hasn’t disclosed all of the security and safety features, the ones that are known are of top quality.

In addition to having a panoramic view, this residence has other offensive options. The dwelling is five stories tall, and it has a heliport on the roof in case of an emergency such as a fire so the homeowners can be whisked away to safety. There is also an elevator that takes you from the garage to all of the floors.

With 32 rooms, there is 8,000 square feet to keep track of, but if you find an intruder in this house, you can seek comfort, luxury and safety in two hidden panic rooms or the two safe cores. However, it’s unlikely that a burglar will get past the comprehensive surveillance systems. The panic rooms and safe cores are meant to protect the homeowners from intruders as well as natural disasters, nuclear attacks, biological warfare and chemical attacks.

This Los Angeles home also has some safety features to keep guests comfortable too. If your family or friends need special treatment such as a handicap-accessible bedroom and bathroom, the guest suite has it all. In case you’re wondering what’s going on outside, the master suite has a 360-degree view.

This mansion has examples of extreme home security, but if you could afford it, wouldn’t you want to be able to feel this safe and have peace of mind? How much would you pay to make your house more secure?

Adding more security devices to your home might be out of your reach for right now, but it’s best to learn from this homeowner and keep your home surveillance hush hush. Although you might want to brag about your new, cool technological equipment, it’s wise to let it remain a secret.

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Tags: safest home, safest house in the world, ultimate home safety

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Go Green & Safe with an Environmental Consultant

Building an addition, designing a complete renovation or simplifying your home are challenging projects to do by yourself. Building or creating a more efficient and safer house requires specialized knowledge as well as some creativity. Although you probably have some ideas in mind, someone more knowledgeable in the field might have even better money and energy saving suggestions. This person would be an environmental consultant, so what is one and how can someone like this make your home greener and safer for your family?

A professional consultant who specializes in sustainability can determine what areas you need to focus on most. For instance, maybe new solar blinds can help reduce your electricity bill instead of new windows. Also, some might be able to do some mold and asbestos tests to ensure that you’re living in a safe and sanitary space. Because environmental consulting has expanded, the services offered will vary. Some consultants focus on landscaping while others deal with businesses and not residential spaces.

Hiring a consultant to assess your situation is a valuable tool when it comes to creating a more eco-friendly home. Plus, you might learn some tips along the way. For instance, maybe a rooftop garden is ideal for your house or maybe a set of rain barrels is a more convenient way to wash your car and water your flowers.

When looking for an environmental consultant, make sure the person has relevant academic training. They should have an undergraduate degree, master’s or PhD in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or another science discipline. Also, it’s beneficial if they have knowledge of building guidelines and any environmental legislation. Lastly, a minimum of five years of consulting experience will ensure that they will have valuable advice to share with you. This person should be able to communicate effectively too, because he/she will most likely be discussing the design with you and/or with the builders you hired.

Hiring an environmental consultant is an optional tool that you can use to create a more efficient home that will save you money in the future. On a side note, this type of consulting is an expanding field that may be a lucrative career if you’re passionate about encouraging others to have a cleaner and greener home.

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Tags: asbestos test, environmental consultant, green and safe

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Home Security Can Go Electric

Depending on where you live as well as the security concerns you have for your house, an electric fence might be a valuable addition to your basic home security features. Even if you already have an alarm system and cameras, it’s beneficial to increase your security when you can and build toward achieving a burglarproof home.

There are several reasons why an electric fence can be beneficial. First and foremost, it will deter burglars immediately, because they will most likely not want to risk getting an electric shock from climbing over the fence. An electrically charged fence gives the impression that your house is hands off.

Secondly, a fence of this type can prevent wild animals such as coyotes, wolves, bears, mountain lions, etc. from being on your property. When you live in a wooded area where potentially aggressive animals such as the ones listed above reside, it’s important to prevent them from coming into contact with your family, which includes your children and pets.

Lastly, an electric fence can protect you and your family from individuals seeking to harm you. If you live a high profile lifestyle or have enemies, this type of fence can deter these people from attempting to trespass on your property.

If you decide to invest in an electric fence, it can be even more effective if you have a stone wall as well. This will make your house even less attractive and much harder for trespassers to get into. Because electric fences are dangerous, you might not be permitted to have one in a neighborhood where the houses are built closer together. There are safety issues with this type of fence, so it’s best to check on whether something like this is permitted.

Regardless of whether you live in a secluded area or a neighborhood, it’s wise to post up signs warning others that you have an electric fence. Not only will this prevent innocent individuals from getting hurt, but it will also protect your liability. All you need are a few signs around the perimeter of your house to make it clear to passing on comers.

Electric fences in addition to a stone wall can provide your home with more security. Although it will be a substantial investment and there are some safety issues with it, an electric fence might be suitable for your home security needs or lifestyle.

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Tags: benefits of electric fence, electric fence, electric fence benefits

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Winterizing Your Car Equals Personal Safety

Trying to determine how bad the winter will be is close to impossible and counting the stripes on a wooly bear caterpillar is as helpful as watching your local weather forecast. Although you might think you have time to prepare your car for the winter, it’s important to get your car winterized as soon as possible, even if you begin the process late in the game.

• Winterizing your car might be a foreign process to you, but if you take care of your car, it will take care of you. Gasoline as well as extra parts and labor for repairs are expensive, but if you follow the tips below, you can increase your mileage per gallon and preserve your car’s current parts for longer.
• Test your battery when it’s nearing the end of the warranty. If you notice corrosion (rust or a white dust) on the battery terminals and cables, use a mixture of toothpaste, baking soda and water to remove it.
• Examine your engine’s belt for cracks, frays and missing pieces. When you have a slipping belt, it prevents your battery from recharging properly.
• Maintain a full tank of gas during the freezing weather. By running your gas tank down to the last drop before filling up, you risk the accumulation of moisture and ice in your fuel lines.
• Check your air filter to see if it needs replaced. This is especially important in cars with a fuel-injected engine, because if the air filter is dirty, the sensor might call for more gasoline when you really don’t need it.
• Monitor your tires when the temperature drops, because they will usually run low in cold weather. Don’t forget to make sure that your spare tire is filled up too.
• Consider investing in snow tires. All-season radial tires do work well in snowy areas, but if you’re near the snow belt or are constantly commuting in the bad weather, snow tires will make your car a little safer.
• Change your antifreeze according to the manufacturer’s specifications, because this liquid shields your vehicles cooling system.

It’s easy to hop in your car and go without checking any of these issues, but your neglect will catch up with you eventually. Keeping tabs on your car increases your safety, and it also improves your mileage.

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Tags: car safety, personal safety, Personal Security, winterize car

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Home Safety Tip: Monitor the Water You Drink

Contamination of groundwater and surface water is a serious issue, especially if this water is being used as drinking water. Although the water might be colorless, odorless and clear doesn’t mean that the water is clean, so the only way to know if it’s clean is to get it tested.

Pure drinking water should not have any of the following: minerals, radioactive material, pesticides, animal or human waste, chemicals or microbes. If a person were to drink water containing Escherichia Coli (E. coli), a common symptom usually 3-9 days after exposure is bloody diarrhea without a fever. Long-term complication includes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), kidney malfunction, high blood pressure, seizures, blindness, paralysis and even death. Obviously, this is a serious threat to public health, so it’s imperative to prevent human and animal feces from entering drinking water sources as well as consistently monitor drinking water sources. So what is usually more contaminated—wells or areas of surface water?

According to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Water and Sewer Infrastructure Project Steering Committee in 2002, 40 percent of sampled wells statewide were contaminated with coliform bacteria. Contamination of these wells can be caused by sewage overflows, malfunctioning septic systems, agricultural runoff near domesticated and wild animal waste.

Surface water is more accessible to contamination since it is above ground. Ponds, lakes and rivers are habitats for animals, which make these places common areas for fecal matter.  Rain runoff and flooding can cause this fecal matter to flow into these ponds, lakes and rivers too.

Basically, any type of water (groundwater or surface water) can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Alarmingly, 11 percent of Americans are not getting drinking water from water systems that meet all of the health-based standards. Therefore, it is important to remember that looks can be deceiving, so it’s safest to get the water testing and maintained regularly if drinking from it.

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Tags: drinking water quality, monitor drinking water

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How Safe Is Your Bathroom?

Bathrooms can be dangerous places, which explains why so many home-related accidents occur in the bathroom. Maybe you’re familiar with child proofing, but perhaps your bathroom could benefit from some adult proofing. So where do you begin?

Install a safety grab bar in your bathtub or shower.
This can be a stainless steel one or a thick plastic one with strong suction cup grips. If you don’t want a permanent grab bar, choose a plastic model so you can move it around and have it where you need it the most. Grab bars can prevent you from slipping and falling when you get in and out of the tub, and it can also help you keep balance while your washing or shaving.

Keep a rubber-backed bath mat inside and outside of your shower.
When your feet have soap or water on them, it can increase your chances of slipping and falling so reduce your risk with bath mats.

Leave slippers in your bathroom.
Once you have stepped out of the shower and dried yourself, slip your feet into a pair of shoes with a rubber bottom.

Place a shower bench or seat in your tub.
This will give you a stable place to sit and wash. If you live with an elderly relative, this is an important safety precaution to install.

Wipe up any excess water immediately.
Anyone can slip from puddles on the floor, and if your children like to play in the bathtub, it’s important to clean up the overflow as soon as possible.

Turn on the fan.
The heat from your shower can build into thick layers of steam, which can prevent you from seeing where you’re going so keep the fan going while you’re showering.

Set eyeglasses on a table near your shower or tub stall.
If you don’t wear contacts or can’t wear them while you bathe, at least keep your eyeglasses close by in case you need them.

Implementing some of these safety precautions into your bathroom will prevent you and your family members from falling and getting hurt.

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Tags: bathroom safety, safe bathroom

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