Locking Product Deficiencies

There are many manufacturers of locks and locking systems. It can be a daunting task, sifting through the mountains of information about product quality and effectiveness, to guide the decision making process.

The Sidebar .org is a site that offers unbiased information and results of independent tests conducted on many security products. The information contained there can help to guide a prospective buyer of security products as to independent, field tested scenarios for some of the modern security products available.

The following products were recently tested by this organisation for quality and effectiveness.

KWIKSET SMARTKEY
BIOLOCK 333 FINGERPRINT LOCK
KABA SAFLOK IN-SYNC RFID LOCK
AMSEC ES1014 ELECTRONIC SAFE

ILOQ C10S ELECTROMECHANICAL LOCK

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State Farm Insurance - Opinion On Best Door Locks

I read with interest an article (in the website listed in the source below), offering an opinion about the quality of various types of door locks and systems that enable better security in residential applications.

From the site...

Door Locks From a Burglar's Perspective

Burglars prefer to break into a home through a door because it is quick and easy.

A good quality lock is a deterrent. When intruders are interviewed about the selection of a target, many say seeing quality deadbolt locks will cause them to move on to another house.

A burglar can enter the home through a door using several methods:

• The door can be left unlocked.
• Doors can be kicked in.
• Door locks can be picked.
• Door locks can be hammered until they fall off.

Instant Chat Feature

Free Instant Video Chat Feature.

Instructions

• Click on box
• Follow Prompts

Use at your pleasure.

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St Louis Crime Rate #1 In The Country

The CQ Press just came out with its list of most dangerous cities in America.

St. Louis -- number one in the rankings!

True, there is always a lot of controversy surrounding this kind of report, from people saying things like, "I wish you wouldn't use our data this way; there are a lot of factors that go into crime," and other people saying things like, "It generates discussion, and that's healthy," to still other people saying things like, "While you were discussing this, I was robbed at gunpoint eight times!" So there seems to be a range of opinion.

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All Time Leading Pages Viewed

Ok folks! Here is what you have asked for. The all time leading pages viewed at this site.

The Home Page

Cowdroy P697 Pocket Door Lock

Biometric Thumblock

Changing Locks

Bilock 1

Bilock 2

Bilock 3

Bilock 4

Keys To Cars

Strikemaster 11

Car Remote Broken

Pocket Door Locks

Why Make Car Keys

Cost To Change Locks 1

Cost To Change Locks 2

Urgent Need For A Locksmith In St Louis

These are the past 4 years results we are looking at. 400,000+ pageviews might yield data that people are searching for. Using these results as a guide to future marketing is proving worthwile. It allows us to get inside of the minds of our prospects, to help us write articles that are of greater interest to searchers.

Most Popular Posts This Week

Pictured to the left here are the statistics for the past week of the most popular posts of the week.

In order of popularity they are:

Kwikset Smartkey Problems

Schlage Securekey Problems

Schlage Securekey Fault

How Much Does It Cost To Change Locks?

Mebeam Now Koowy

Pocket Door Locks With A Key - UPDATE

Breaking News Bilock For Kwikset

How Much Does It Cost To Change A Lock

Bilock - Key Of The Future, Here Today

We have been asked a few times to show the most popular posts of all time according to our Google Analytics data. This will happen in a follow up post.

Breaking News - Bilock For Kwikset

8.00am EST Breaking News... Bilock announce final testing of a new replacement cylinder especially designed for Emtek, Baldwin and Kwikset Door Locks.

The ability for discerning customers to maintain the same hardware is a key motivator and cost savings factor to be considered, when updating to a 100% bump proof and virtually pick proof system that enables authorized signature controlled keys.

Bilock are constantly designing solutions aimed at reducing the customers cost for maintaining higher levels of physical security. To do so without largely buying new hardware is a chore that many competitors in the market are incapable of matching without complete hardware replacement.

By making use of Bilock's patented Quick Change Core system, you can increase the security of your existing door lock at the same time as having a self-rekeyable lock system.

We are expecting a test model shortly and will report more details later. Stay tuned.

Mebeam Now Koowy

A little over 3 years ago, we wrote about a phenomenal new technology (at the time) that allowed for multi-user video web conferencing online for no cost.

see Mebeam Web-Cam Chat For Upto 18 Users

and Mebeam Teleconferencing

Mebeam has since evolved into a newer product that has been streamlined into a way more efficient and easier to use system called Koowy.

While, not too dissimilar to the original version of Mebeam, the backend workings have been significantly strengthened and improved.

Koowy is aptly named I think. Imagine that typical Australian call sign "Cooee" explained here and you may understand where the naming comes from.

Why do I post this knowledge here? Because I believe that security and communications technology are distant cousins. Video surveillance is still an increasing demand industry and using online telecommunications technology to hold one on one or small group video conferencing meetings, can significantly reduce costs for companies or individuals wishing to meet in person with a potential customer or acquaintance, who may be located in a different timezone or destination.

I have tested the product with my Android powered Samsung Epic 4G and while it will work better with the impending Froyo update, it still is able to receive the video feed on my phone (provided you use a flash accepting browser like Skyfire). Being Flash based, reduces the need for installing dedicated software on your chosen device.

I eagerly look forward to testing it out after the Sprint Samsung Epic 4G Froyo update, coming very soon.

Crime Statistics Creve Coeur, MO 30 days to 11/11/10

Pictured here is a mud-map of the crime statistics for Creve Coeur, MO for 30 days ending 11/11/10.

Alarm Response - 163

Break & Enter - 7

Property Crime - 30

Theft - 52

Total = 252 Crimes.

We tailor our results to show just the four categories above. 

New Hidden Camera Report Exposes Another Locksmith Scam

Colorado is not immune to the legions of fraudulent locksmith companies, employing foreign (often illegal) workers, using the classic "bait and switch" tactics.

These companies have been running rampant across America for the last 3-5 years. The above report is from a few days ago, but clearly shows that these people will stop at nothing to rip you off.

Very few locksmith companies can afford to spend what some of these companies spend on advertising in any given month. Locally, I personally know of 2 similar companies that spend between $10,000 and $15,000 each month to be located across the top of all the search engines in the hope to pick up the unsuspecting consumer in need. $10,000 is a lot of money to spend on advertising and it's no wonder they try to charge as much as possible. They are not locals, they are not even trained in the locksmith trade. They are often foreign nationals on leave after completing their national service (of their home country), are put into private unmarked cars, with tools they do not know how to use.

The locksmith trade, across the country is reeling from the affects of these people. Many long established mom and pop companies are having to wind down operations, retrench staff and cut costs to remain solvent. This is primarily due to the influx of scam operators across the country.

In the 2000 census, there were 26,000 locksmiths known in the USA. In NYC, there are 40,000 advertisements online and in the book, this year. If you look at Google Maps, there are usually 20 or more at just about every intersection.

In Saint Louis, there are about 15 total locksmith shops across the greater metropolitan area and about 20 legitimate (known) mobile operators, yet just looking at the listings online or in the directories, you would think that there are considerably more.

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Lokk Latch Pro - Another Aussie Innovation

An Australian product is making it's mark across the world. The Lokk Latch Pro is a superb constructed product that effectively secures almost any gate on any commercial or residential property.

This product can also be keyed to Bilock Extreme Security products.

Simple effective security at affordable prices.

Door Jamb Armor - Installation difficulty

D

Door Jamb Armor is a great product! No doubt. I personally do not sell it. I believe it is advertised as a DIY product, however as the above video shows, it is not so easy. Even the so called experts have trouble.

Wireless Parrot Door Bell

Now this is a product that will tickle the fancy of many a bird lover or others who like unusual and unique gadgets.

The Wireless Parrot Door Bell is something that can provide endless enjoyment and joy to all who visit your front door or entry way.

It will give off bird sounds or up to 6 seconds of pre-recorded sounds, enabling a very unique and different attraction to potential visitors.

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Facial Recogniton Technology tested by US Dept Of Homeland Security

We began selling an imported Facial Recognition device earlier this year and have been testing it for the last few months. It is surprisingly accurate.

Now, a report surfaces that the US Department of Homeland Security recently conducted it's own test of some technology produced by NEC.

In the benchmark test, the 2D technology produced results like 92% accuracy from a criminal database of 1.6 million persons and a 95% accuracy from a database of visa applicants.

NEC says they largely focus on an individual’s eyes, mouth, or nose, while largely ignoring certain other features, for example the eyebrows. The Nikkei (Japan’s leading business daily) tested the technology just recently if it’s able to recognize the face of an NEC researcher through photos that were taken in 1987 and 2010.

NEC now expects the technology to be used for crime investigations or immigration control, for example. (source...)

Our product sells for about $480 and can be used as an interface for access control. You can use it like a time clock/attendance system, control access to secure facilities or specifically to ensure your employees are arriving at work (not getting a work mate to sign them in).

ADT Employs Scare Tactics in Chile

ADT the alarm company, known worldwide as a leading vendor in monitoring services recently employed advertising company DDB in Chile to promote their products to homeowners.

DDB decided to create a cardboard box with the company's advertising slogan printed, to be slipped under prospective customers doors.

The box, folded flat, springs to life after being inserted underneath the front entry door. This is to startle the homeowner into realising that their home is not secure.

Printed on the box, "Breaking into your apartment is easier than you think"

In truth of course, no break ins occurred. But do you consider this good advertising?

Scary, how some peoples minds work!

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In & Out. A New Design For The Push/Pull Handle

Jeon Hwan Soo, a student at SADI (Samsung Art & Design Institute) recently designed an innovative adaption to the panic exit device seen widely throughout the world.

Current panic exit device hardware, produced by varying manufacturers, conforms to an industry accepted design that is over 40 years old.

This new concept, allows a user to immediately know how to operate the hardware. It is simple, yet functional and reasonably easy on the eyes.

The simplicity of this design, allows for installation into a wide variety of door styles including narrow stile door frames and regular stile frames.

Installation is to the body of the door, allowing the door's construction to house all parts.

The construction of the hardware is straightforward, using springs that effectively return the inside and outside operators to original position, efficiently and effectively.

Redesigning the age old panic exit hardware is a challenge that many designers are constantly investigating to enable all people an easier experience to operate.

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