Dormi - Dont Throw Away your Old Android When You Update, Use It As A Baby Monitor or Security Listening Device

Dormi is a product for the modern era. Y'know, most of us who use smartphones, update them every 2 years at the end of our contract.

There are recycle programs out there, but why not, instead of disposing of, selling or recycling your old phone keep using it but as a baby monitor (or any listening device actually).

Dormi is an app for Android that does exactly that. All that is required is to download the app to 2 Android devices and pair them.

There is no need to have a telephone network connection on your old phone because Dormi uses the WiFi feature built into most existing Android phones. so there is no extra phone line cost involved.

The added ability to communicate back with your child, if necessary means you may not even have to get up and tend them.

Unobtrusive and silent, it works in the background oblivious to the surroundings. It may even make a potentially secret listening device if you so desire.

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Carlock - iPhone And Android Vehicle Tracker Made Simple

 Trust the Europeans to come out with a sensational smartphone compatible product that enables real time GPS tracking of your most prized possession - your vehicle.

This absurdly intelligent idea to use the OBD (on board diagnostic) port, found on just about every modern day vehicle and connect a small (almost hidden) dongle that operates on the GSM network (AT&T or TMobile), install the appropriate app from either Apple iTunes or Google Play and you suddenly have a super intelligent vehicle monitor.

The system works using the GSM (Global System for Mobiles) telephone network, where the dongle houses a mini SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card that you can purchase from AT&T or T Mobile on a prepaid plan.

 Plug the dongle into your OBD port, usually located under your dash and it receives its power from there.

Install the appropriate app from your network provider to your iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S running on both iOS 6 or iOS 7 platforms. Android 4.0 smartphones and up.


Currently available across the European Union, the plan is to release the product to the USA and Latin American markets toward the end of 2014.

The product is designed to work straight out of the box, which means no learning curve is necessary for any person to install, use and operate the Carlock. Because the product is plugged into the vehicles OBD port, it constantly trickle charges the built in battery, yet doesnt affect any of the vehicles operating systems. 

The product will come with a 2 year warranty. See the source below.

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David-Link Systems - Biometric Access Control Solutions Simplified

David-Link are a southern California based company specializing in biometric access control and time clock/employee attendance products and services.

They offer unique branded super-high quality fingerprint readers and facial recognition devices, like the one pictured here. This particular model also doubles as an intercom system, so it's a perfect modern solution for high trafficked environments that may require increased security levels.

David-Link, established in 2008 are building a reputation for providing cost effective high quality products that dramatically improve business control systems, reduce costs and provide timely and accurate reporting.

Not only biometric fingerprint time and attendance systems, facial recognition devices, they also introduced a line of biometric safes that are superbly manufactured and competitively priced. They also provide older style time clock systems with employee punch cards. Also among their product line are laminators, designed for office environments. Laminators are often used for making employee identification badges and signs.

There are many options available in todays market and separating the wheat from the chaff can be a daunting task. With David-Link at the cutting edge of modern, sophisticated technology, combining with their experience in the time clocks of yesteryear, their especially trained and qualified technicians provide timely support and installations across America.

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BMWs made before September 2011 at risk of theft from $30 cloned key-fobs (but company says it is 'not legally obliged to help out')

An enterprising gang of car thieves were caught last year on CCTV showing them succeeding in stealing a pre-2011 model BMW motor car.

According to the article, thieves are generally able to go online to any number of asian internet sites and purchase the required materials for around $30.00 and then program their own key to your vehicle.

The kits come with the fob, instructions etc that make this kind of modern day car theft all the more easy.

Essentially, almost nothing is thief proof today. If a determined thief wants in, they are getting in.

BMW claimed in a statement to The BBC that they are "not legally obliged to help out" but later followed up with extra tips to thwart theft of their more modern vehicles.

See the CCTV video (after the jump)

Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt

Schlage recently introduced their new Nexia Touchscreen deadbolt that provides multiple options contained inside one smart looking product. The ability to store up to 30 different 4-8 digit codes, auto-locking feature, built in alarm and wifi - Z Wave controllable, this new product is able to be used with a conventional mechanical key overide. This wireless, battery powered product will modify the landscape, providing users with nouveau access control technology combined with state of the art security protocols.

The video (after the jump) gives an overview of this new product.

How Secure Is your Life?

A couple of years ago I posted an article about thieves in the UK using social media to plot their nefarious activities. In the article we sourced information that suggested (at the time) a 7000% increase in crimes associated with a rather well known social media service.

A new television program in Europe is currently being developed highlighting the talents of a magician, who claims to be able to read minds with a large degree of success.

In the video (after the jump) see how he does it.

How secure are your life records?

Knock N' Lock - A Revolution In Access Control Technology

Knock N' Lock unique access control products have been around a few years now. We first published an article here back in June 2007.

The video above gives a typical scenario where the product can be typically suited. There are, of course many other applications where this product is especially useful.

Essentially, the lock system uses no visible outside keyhole and consequently ensures total access control to authorised remote control users. Yes, you still require to use the especially designed key, but without a conventional keyhole of any kind, surreptitious attack of a conventional keyhole is avoided, significantly enhancing the security of the application.

View the company website in the source below for further details about this superb access control solution.

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Stick N Find - The Ultimate Finder

 

Stick N Find is a new product device created by some talented engineers with about a decade experience in unique device design.

We have mentioned previously in this blog about various brands and types of key finders and other similar products that prove popular with our readers. Products like FOFA, Low Glo Key Fob, Ultra-Sil, Hone and Light Bulb Key Ring are some of the products previously mentioned here.

The Stick N Find is an ingenious invention that uses Bluetooth technology to pair your item with your smartphone. Unlike NFC, where a particularly enabled smartphone is required to use tags, the use of Bluetooth technology means that virtually any equipped mobile phone can be paired with the tags.

It is simple to install the application to your smartphone and even easier to stick the button or tag to your selected items

Watch the video below (after the jump) for a complete explanation of this fabulous product.

Multi-Touch System To Contemporize Touch Screen Use.

About 3 years ago, Light Blue Optics, a UK based technology innovator, introduced a product that will redefine the nature of touch screen controls. The Light Touch™, is an image projector that allows for any surface to be converted into a touch screen.

When combined with recent research undertaken by a Purdue University team, whereby a multi-touch system using a computer, video projector and kinect camera, has shown that hand gestures and movement characteristics can be defined by the individual user, it is possible that such a system could lead to new access control solutions that increase security for sensitive openings/areas. (see video after the jump)

Applock - Securing Your Smartphone Apps

Applock is a free app for Android designed to do exactly what you think it does. It secures certain applications (or all) on your smartphone, preventing another user of your phone from messing up your stuff or playing without your permission.

According to a recent statistic I read on Cnet, 50% of Adults in the USA have smartphones today. We use them frequently throughout or days, checking emails, playing games, sending sms', using Google Maps (bad luck iPhoner's) but are you completely satisfied that your phone is secure, using just the initial PIN to start using it?

The ability to prevent certain apps from being used is a great complement to any smartphone. I only just installed it, but expect that i should be able to secure more than just the login screen.

Check it out in the source below.

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Eyelock - Iris Scan Technology Surpasses Fingerprint Biometric Technology

Stanley Security Solutions are one of the best known security companies in the world. Stanley Security Solutions can be found in hospitals, universities, shopping centers, airports, banks, schools and a great many government facilities.

The locksmith industry has been turned off by Stanley in past years because they took the unusual initiative of bypassing the locksmith market segment by preferring to sell direct to the end user, effectively shutting out locksmiths from selling and profiting from their solutions.

Stanley, recently combined with Eyelock to provide these unique and 21st century products that surpass the more common biometric fingerprint systems, found in operation across the world.

Home Invasion Statistics Across USA

Home invasions across the USA are increasing supposedly due to the poor economy and the ease at which perpetrators are learning to ply their trade, thanks in part to the enormous amount of information spreading across the internet.

There are a few companies here that are producing unique quality products aimed at preventing home invasions and identifying criminals.

StranDNA is one such company that produce a modern itteration of the ages old door chain.

Strikemaster II is produced by A Safe Homes International, designed to repair a broken door frame casing while at the same time preventing future door kick ins.

OnGard Door Brace is produced by an Atlanta based company designed to prevent door entry.

Bilock is an internationally acclaimed guaranteed 100% bump proof and virtually pick proof key system with keys that cannot be copied.

Many of the above products cannot be purchased at the big box stores, only from approved industry professional locksmith companies.

For further information on any of the above listed products, please contact us at your convenience.

Chain Reaction DNA - 21st Century Door Security Chain

StranDNA are a United Kingdom based company that have re-invented the humble door chain, found across the world for the past couple of centuries.

This intelligent device provides two distinct differences from the humble door chain of yesteryear.
A) A 110db piercing alarm at the point of entry.
B) Sprays a UV mist with a unique DNA

The law enforcement agencies across the world have been using modern forensic technologies for the last few decades to identify perpetrators of crimes. But speedy results have been difficult to achieve until recent developments in DNA sequencing.

StranDNA have produced a replaceable canister that is easily installed into the unit. The fluid/mist, when encountering the perpetrator, leaves a unique identifiable DNA trace that remains active for up to 3 months (based on exfoliation)

The Society Of Professional Locksmiths is the USA based approved instructor of especially trained and permitted StranDNA products.

Criminal defense attorneys in the USA will have an unsurmountable burden of proof to dissuade a court of their clients involvement in a crime, when the DNA product clearly provides investigators with conclusive proof of their involvement, dramatically reducing lengthy investigations and reducing the costs for local law enforcement agencies to provide incontrovertible evidence of involvement.

Soon to be released in the USA, only approved installers trained by the Society Of Professional Locksmiths will be able to help residents and tenants and also local law enforcement departments effectively reduce crimes.

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Wireless Peephole/Video Intercom System - Answer The Door Without Answering The Door

Pictured above is the base station for a product aimed at the wireless video intercom market. A very popular search term that leads interested readers to this site, is "Wireless Peephole". 

A wireless peephole is a product that enables an entry point to have the ability to identify a visitor remotely.

ABC News 10 New York - Deceiving Viewers

ABC News 10 New York back in early November started airing some odd interviews with a former burglar, in a rather odd attempt to get advice to consumers about how to secure your homes.

While some of the advice is on par, it is troubling and obvious that this "expert" does not know the law or life safety codes regarding double cylinder locks and why they should not be used.

He goes on to suggest other ideas as well that are a little ambiguous also. He suggests that alarms are the difference between security and not. Nothing is further from the truth. Alarms cannot and can never provide any form of physical security protection.

Virtually all burglars know that if they set off an alarm to an unoccupied property, sure the authorities will turn up eventually, but the burglar just hides out of sight from the authorities. Usually the authorities will deem the alarm a false alarm, write the owner a bill for their attendance and leave the premise. The burglar comes back a second time and may indeed set the alarm off again, but is secure in the knowledge that the authorities are not going to return quickly to that property because they think it is false alarming. The burglar then does their damage and the homeowner suffers the loss. Often insurance companies will likely reject a claim because the authorities have written a false alarm ticket.

This "expert" suggests to use a "charliebar" in a sliding door. This is a suggestion however all burglars know how to easily and quickly bypass a charliebar. The suggestion of a broom handle or 4x2 in the track is often better, but the best suggestion is to put a self tapping screw in the top of the track to prevent the door from being lifted.

The only suggestion of merit in the article (see source below) is using 3" screws or better strike plates, but this is the primary reason the Strikemaster II Pro is such a formidable foe to burglars.

When it comes to windows, this "expert" suggested double cylinder locks. Double cylinder locks are illegal in almost every jurisdiction in the USA, if used on primary entry doors. The best suggestion is to use products like ShatterGard window security film, that actually prevent a window from being broken.

Shame on you ABC 10 New York for misleading consumers with advice from a burglar instead of a professional locksmith security expert.

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Reinventing Neighborhood Watch

Village Defense, an Atlanta based startup have recently modernized the neighborhood watch program system, popularized at the end of the last century. Remember when we actually knew our neighbors well enough to watch for suspiscious activities in our neighborhoods and worked together to protect each other?

Well, Village Defense is the brainchild of Nathan Black, a Georgia Tech engineering graduate who straight out of school created his vision for modernizing the ages old Neighborhood Watch program that was so popular last century.

Simply put, Nathan devised a system that combines modern communications technology with concerned neighbors action. The system is designed so that if or when a neighborhood resident witnesses or hears a crime in progress, they first call 9-1-1 and then the Village Defense hotline. Village Defense then contact all neighbors in the program to inform them of the criminal activities using cell phones and email alerts.

Would you even know if a crime happened in your street? How do we find out about crimes in our neighborhoods? Usually it is through the local newspaper or police bulletins and quite often, at a significantly later date.

This kind of physical security product is an important weapon in defending our homes I think, because it immediately alerts us of criminal activity and can allow us to be better prepared to protect ourselves, no?

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Locksmith Scammers Caught and Indicted

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

RICHARD G. CALLAHAN
United States Attorney

February 18, 2011
For Immediate Release

OWNERS OF FLORIDA LOCKSMITH SERVICE INDICTED IN SCAM TO OVERCHARGE FOR LOCKSMITH SERVICES

St. Louis, MO: The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that the owners of a Florida based locksmith service were charged in a superseding indictment on multiple federal charges involving a scam to overcharge customers for locksmith services, as well as employing and harboring illegal aliens.

According to the superseding indictment, Dependable Locks, Inc., headquartered in Clearwater, FL, managed a national network of locksmith technicians, operating from major population centers across the United States, including St. Louis. It also maintained a full-time staff of telephone operators and dispatchers, who were on duty 24 hours per day in Clearwater. The dispatchers received phone calls electronically forwarded from hundreds to thousands of telephone numbers listed nationwide for emergency locksmith services, all of which forwarded consumer calls to the call center in Florida. The dispatchers received the calls and the business dispatched locksmith technicians from the area of the call to respond. Many of the locksmith technicians working for Dependable Locks were aliens who were unlawfully present in the United States and were not authorized to work as locksmith technicians.

The indictment alleges that the locksmith company engaged in deceptive marketing by purchasing directory listings and advertisements in cities across the United States that identified the business to the public as a set of local locksmith companies. The company’s listings used multiple business names, local phone numbers and fake local addresses that had no affiliation with the company. Phone calls to the listed phone numbers were automatically routed to the company’s call center in Clearwater, Florida. In addition, telephone operators for Dependable Locks were instructed by managers to mislead customers to believe that they would be charged around $54 for a car lockout, while the responding technician was instructed by managers to charge up to $179 for a lockout. Technicians used techniques such as accusing the consumer who objected to the overcharge of "theft of services," threatening to call the police, withholding the customer's keys or driver's license to compel payment or following the customer to an ATM machine to ensure payment.

The locksmith technicians allegedly were allowed to split the profits of the fraudulently procured locksmith services with the company and were required to remit the company's share of the proceeds by regularly purchasing and shipping cash, checks and money orders to the Dependable Locks location in Clearwater, FL.

"After more than a year of following numerous leads with ICE and the Missouri Attorney General's Office, we are pleased to see this case continue to progress," said Postal Inspector J.R. Ball of the St. Louis Field Office. He added, "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is vigilant in investigating allegations where the mail or postal products are used to conceal or further a crime."

DAVID PEER, Clearwater, FL; and ADAM OLIVKOVICH, address unknown, were indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, five felony counts of mail fraud, one felony count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain and one felony count of engaging in a pattern of hiring unauthorized aliens. MOSHE AHARONI, Clearwater, FL, was indicted on one felony count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one felony count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain.

Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000. Conspiracy to harbor unlawful aliens for private financial gain carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000. Engaging in a pattern of hiring unauthorized aliens carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or a fine of $3,000 per alien. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorneys John Sauer and John Ware are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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While You Are Sleeping - Daring Burglars

Burglars are sometimes a crafty lot. They are indeed becoming more and more bold in their endeavors to outsmart residents.

Too often, many homeowners/residents who live with alarm systems actually leave the alarm switched off while they are at home.

Many may think, that a burglar is less likely to attempt malicious entry if someone is actually home at their chosen time of attendance. This is not so in the case of a Louisville KY resident recently.

Cheryl Effinger recently awoke to a disturbing revelation. Her home had been ransacked while they were sleeping. You see, they failed to arm their system upon going to bed. The bold burglars, broke through a downstairs door and caused damage and the loss of some very valuable home furnishings.

"We had turned it off," said Effinger, "because it would sporadically just go off."

Here in lies one of the problems with alarm systems. Many homeowners/residents are fooled into thinking that an alarm system is designed to protect them. Similarly to video surveillance systems, an alarm system cannot protect. An alarm system can only inform that a particular condition is occurring or has occurred.

You can pay a monitoring company to monitor your alarm system for a hefty monthly sum, but it does no good if it is switched off. In many precincts, the police, who attend to alarm calls for the monitoring centers, will invoice the homeowner for attendance, especially for false alarms. This adds to the real term cost of having an alarm monitoring contract. (something rarely divulged by an alarm system sales person)

Please dont be fooled by the alarm companies, especially when they use the closing sales spiel of 'your insurance premium will reduce by as much as 15%'.

Did you realize that the insurance companies and many alarm system providers are in cohoots? Insurance companies do offer some premium discounts if you have a monitored alarm, but rarely do they offer similar discounts for properly installed protective equipment, like good quality deadbolts, window security film or door frame strengtheners. Probably because they do not have an "arrangement" with protective equipment manufacturers.

Installing some of our products or similar, will greatly increase the physical security of your entries and likely thwart burglary attempts.

Often, locksmiths will provide obligation free security assessments with advice on methods to prevent attempted break ins. Yes, they can and do recommend products they stock and they often will provide expert advice on extra security prevention methods that are inexpensive/free.

For an obligation free assessment, contact your locksmith professional today!

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iPhone App Allows Homeowner To Witness Break In

An iPhone application helped a Dallas man, while visiting relatives hundreds of miles away in suburban Hartford, Conn., watch as two burglars broke into his home.

Vincent Hunter told WFAA-TV that he called 911 at the same time his home security system also contacted authorities.

Hunter says "we could see it unfolding."

Hunter says an iCam app, which he bought for less than $5, sent him a text message Friday afternoon alerting him that motion detectors sensed movement in his supposedly empty residence.

Hunter, who has webcams in his home, watched as two men are seen trying to break into the place. They eventually throw a brick through a glass door. The webcams, minutes later, show two police officers entering the house.

Both suspects remain at large.

This article shows that whilst electronic home security systems can be useful, they do nothing to actually protect your property. Many existing alarm companies market their products as security protection products, yet alarms have never and can never actually protect your property. Alarms are specifically designed to inform rather than protect. If you still feel the need to be informed that your property is being burglarized, then perhaps an alarm is for you. Personally I would rather install devices and products that prevent my property from being unlawfully opened in the first instance.

The only products that can prevent break ins are locks and related security protection devices. It is nice to be informed isnt it?

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PTZ WiFi CCTV Camera

I recently installed some of these CCTV cameras to a small business intent on securely monitoring their property.

Surprisingly inexpensive and made from very good quality components, the abilities of this wondrous gizmo are astonishing considering it retails for a little less than $100.

It comes with purposely built software allowing for up to 9 cameras to be viewed on your computer. Each camera maintains it's own IP address, enabling you to use Direct DNS systems to view the content (what it sees) over the internet.

It has a limited zoom capability but the pan and tilt functions are superb. It has an ethernet port allowing for wired connections too, apart from WiFi. Sometimes WiFi signals can be interrupted by brick walls and significant cabling and wiring built into the infrastructure of buildings. This is why they have included the ethernet port, to allow for hard wired access too.

I am experimenting with PoE (power over ethernet) devices too, which will allow for installing quasi-wireless systems using the existing electricity supply in dwellings. Effectively, PoE might just be the answer to our prayers for enabling wireless control of computer peripherals without necessarily using a wireless router.

I must say, I'm fairly impressed by this product and so far my customer seems to be reasonably happy too.