Why have a Home Security System?

WHY A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM?

 In today’s life you can never be too safe, having the right home security alarm makes a world of difference, especially during our tough economic times as thieves are more than likely to be brazen about breaking into homes for valuables. With a home security system you may possibly never be one of the unfortunate victims of this country.

When thieves break into a house, they are not likely to be concerned with the personal safety of anyone in the house, beyond theft there are people who are interested in breaking into houses just to hurt those inside. Home security systems deter and help prevent these types of attacks.

The benefits of a good Home security system:

• 24 hour, 7 days a week service for a very minimal cost
• A security system adds actual financial value, so when selling your home it becomes an additional selling point
• Having a home security system may lower your home insurance
• Investing in a security system is guaranteed to bring a better nights sleep and peace of mind, knowing the family is secure and safe.

Don't keep saying: “nah it won't happen to me or my family” rather be save than regretting it later, you don't have to spend an arm and leg to make your home a safer place to live, your safety is only a click away.

Contact Free Alarms Today for your FREE no obligation home assessment - Cape Town and Johannesburg

Computer Theft and Security

Computers and laptops are very attractive items for criminals. There are a number of precautions that you can follow to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of computer theft or fraud. 

 

 

Keep your computer in a locked cabinet, or lock the door to the room you keep it in to make it harder to steal. Try to keep it out of sight from windows

• Use security screws and bolts to make it harder for people without the correct tool to open the casing to steal parts (but check with the manufacturer that this does not affect any guarantee) 
• Use passwords, make back-up copies on disk and ‘watermark' documents. This will help protect your copyright and will mean you have a copy of your work if the computer is stolen
• Take care with your financial information. Don't send your bank details in an email. If you are ordering goods over the internet, make sure the company has a secure server
• If you need to carry a laptop with you, try to be discrete about it. Many laptops have distinctive bags, so try to put it in something else. Carry disks in a different place 
• Install a security system with sensors

Is your Home Secure?

It's no secret that crime is still a major issue in South Africa and is invading what once were considered "safe communities."  Crime against property occurs on the average of 20 times a minute with an estimated R10,000 loss for each occurrence. Burglary is a crime of opportunity where entry is gained due to the carelessness of homeowners.

Single family homes are twice as likely to be burglarized than apartments. While receiving a lot of publicity when it happens, hotels and motels account for less than 3% of all burglaries. The most likely things to be stolen in a burglary are cash, small electronic equipment, home computers, cameras, jewelry, furs, tools and hand guns.

Few people really bother about security until something happens to them or a neighbor. The public's complacent attitude is the burglar's best friend and your worst enemy. There are many things the average person can do to make their home less of a target. This report will get you started on the right road. Remember, the two things a burglar fears most are being seen and having to take too much time to complete the crime.

While burglars typically "target" a home when no one is home, if you surprise one in the act, your chances of being injured are too high to attempt to intervene. A sobering statistic shows many homeowners attempting to defend (themselves, family members, or their property) with a weapon end up having it turned on themselves.

PUT YOURSELF IN A BURGLAR'S SHOES
One thing every homeowner should do at least twice a year is take a walk around and through your property with a close friend or neighbor who is not too familiar with your house. Start outside and ask yourself "how would I best break in? The purpose of not doing it alone is your pal may spot things you'll overlook. Return the favor and complete a survey for your friend.
Besides the obvious "lived-in" look, don't get into a habit of only doing certain things only when you're not home. Chances are good you can tell when your neighbor isn't home. Remember it's a burglar's job to know the same things. Most professional criminals can tell nobody's home at least four or five houses away.
Several dead giveaways are always closing the drapes ONLY when you're not home. Having no garbage cans out collection day, or an empty can sitting at the curb, are tip-offs you're not home. So are closing up the house as tight as a drum in the hot summer months without the air-conditioner running. Turning on a certain light or two and every other room is in total darkness. Ditto for picking up all the kid's toys, taking in the dog, shutting the garage door if you frequently leave it open, and turning off the lawn sprinkler.
Many people before leaving turn on the "burglar light, " the light over the kitchen sink. You might as well hang a sign on the front door you're not home! If you use an answering machine never leave a message that you're not home. Instead say you can't come to the phone right now. If you don't have a machine, turn down the volume on phones before leaving so it can't be heard from outside - another dead giveaway nobody's home.

EFFECTIVE BURGLAR DETERRENTS
You've probably heard it several times and it's true! A dog is one of the best deterrents. Not because it's vicious, it need not even be seen, but it has to be heard. A dog with a menacing bark will scare away a lot of would-be burglars, not only because they don't know what kind of dog you have and what risk it would be to them if try tried to break in, but more likely because a noisy dog will create a disturbance and get attention - the last thing a burglar wants!
If you don't have a dog there's nothing stopping you from pretending. A Beware of Dog sign on your fence, a dog house in the back yard, even a loose dog chain or bowl can drive away a potential burglar.

Electronic devices that are effective besides the typical whole house alarm systems for windows and doors are infrared or motion detectors that sense movement or the heat given off by one's body. Anyone approaching too close will trigger any number of attached devices. The most effective are powerful lights or burglar horns that either flood the area with light or fill the air with a deafening sound without notice.

Just like a barking dog, the would-be burglar will usually hightail it out of there for fear of being discovered.
To be effective, the sensitivity of such devices much not be set too high or stray animals will set them off too frequently which will get you on the wrong side of your neighbors.

The Best Guard Dogs

A family pet can add more value to your family than companionship for the children. A well trained guard dog can add a new level of security to your household.  

Basically any dog can be a watchdog, that includes those silly little dogs celebrities carries around in their handbags. But all they can do is alert their owners of danger with their persistent ear piercing barks. A guard dog, on the other hand, can be trained to restrain or attack any unwelcome visitor to your home. 

If you are serious about your security here is a few of the best guard dogs available in South Africa.

Doberman 

The Doberman’s frequent use as a military, search and rescue, police and guard dog all over the world speaks volumes about this great and versatile breed. This medium to large, squarely built dog is highly athletic and one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. Doberman’s are ranked as the 5th most intelligent dog in the category of obedience command training. Dobermans have an unfair reputation of being stereotyped as unmanageable and overly aggressive. They are extremely loyal to their family. As a personal protection dog they are fearless and capable guardians and sufficiently obedient and restrained to only do so on the command of their owner.

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is an ancient dog breed which originated in Germany and was originally used as herd guards and protection dogs. This is a medium / large breed with compact and powerful body, a broad deep chest and muscular neck. Rottweilers have a fearless and self assured nature. They have generally good temperament if raised by a firm owner. Their credentials as a guard dog are great because of a natural desire to protect family and home. It is an intelligent dog of extreme adaptability and hardiness with a strong willingness to work, making them especially suited as a guardian and companion. The exceptional strength of the Rottweiler makes it a menacing appearance to any intruder.

German Shephard (Alsatian)

German Shephards are one the most recognizable and popular dog breeds in the world. This agile, large and powerful dog is also ranked highly in intelligence and is widely used in police and military roles. German Shephard’s are known for their intelligence. Their protective nature, high trainability factor and physical strength make them a highly recommended guard dog.

Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a large and ferocious looking dog of English origin. Their physical power combined with natural guardian instincts are great for families as these dogs can alternate between a capable protector and playful pet.

Boerboel (South African Mastiff)

The Boerboel is a large and powerful dog of South African origin specifically bred as a guard dog. Boerbels have a have strong territorial instinct and due to their calm and confident nature they remain the guard dog of choice for many African farmers. Boerbels are a powerful and headstrong breed and require obedience training from a young age. This breed is highly recommended for strong and dominant owners.

Alarms systems that a specially designed for a household with animals are available from Free Alarms.  The sensors are set in such a way that your dog won’t trigger a false alarm. Modifications can also be made to your current system.

Source: www.dogbreed4u.com

Securing Your Wireless Network

 

When you set up a wireless network in your house, the broadband signal is sent out from your router - it’s no longer necessary to physically connect your computer to your modem using an ethernet cable, and your network is no longer contained by the walls of your house. While this is great for you, it creates a whole new set of security challenges; protecting your wireless network is essential if you want to keep your connection private and hacker-free.

How do I check if my wireless network has security?

Go to My Network Places and scan for your wireless network. In the list that appears, there should be a picture of a padlock next to the name of your network. If there is no padlock, then your network is open and you need security.

An open network means that anyone within reach of the signal - which usually travels around 100 metres - can connect to the internet using your broadband connection. This could result in piggybacking users slowing your connection down and using up your download allowance. Or even worse, an open wireless network also leaves you open to hackers who can easily gain access to your files.

How do I secure my wireless network?

You need a wireless encryption key. This is a series of numbers and letters, working like a password to turn data into a code before it’s sent, making hacking more difficult. The most commonly used methods are:

• WEP with 64bit or 128bit encryption strength - a simple encryption that offers limited security and is relatively easy to break
• WPA-PSK (WPA-Personal) - in the forms of WPA-TKIP which offers better security and is backwards compatible with older routers and USB keys, and WPA2-AES which offers the best security and performance but less compatibility

Is there anything else I can do?

As well as having an encryption key, there are a few other steps you can take to protect your wireless network:

• Firewall - either built into your router or as software on your PC, this will help to protect you from hackers
• Anti-virus software - such as Norton or McAfee, to protect you from computer viruses
• Anti-spyware software - to prevent spyware from collecting personal information about you
• Anti-phishing - to alert you if you have visited a listed fraudulent website

You should also regularly run live updates on windows and your anti-virus to ensure that your security is always up-to-date.

Source: www.broadbandchoices.co.uk

            If you are serious about your home security you need to consider a many different factors such as an alarm system and a secure wireless network. Contact Free Alarms for a custom quote that will cover your home security needs.