Square - Our New Credit/Debit Card Processor

Last year, we decided to enroll in a very new payment processing service/product known as Square. What we like about Square's product offering, is it's simplicity in design, process, minimal fee structure and the fact that it's is the brainchild of local St Louis entrepeneurs.

Simple to use, you insert the reader into your website connected smartphone, launch the app and swipe away. Enter a customers email address if they want a copy of the transaction emailed to them and that's it.

This product is a blessing for small businesses everywhere because it takes the pain out of payment processing, puts power back in the hand of the vendor and reduces costs associated with time, labor and computer or peripheral GUI training.

Do yourself and your business a favor, become a Square user and support another St Louis business while reducing your costs and inconveniences.

Your clients and your profits will be happier and higher, for sure.

Blogroid - Blogger and Android collaborate

Techies and early adopters rejoice, Blogger is now an Android app.
This will hopefully make it easier to write new articles and posts of interest and posts them from the field.

This is my first attempt at using the new app, so I hope it works well.

I look forward to posting more articles in this genre using the Blogger app for Android

Schlage Securekey Bumped

The new style Schlage Securekey Lock is the subject of much discussion recently and our post on Schlage Securekey Problems is one of this sites most popular posts. As popular is this sites post on Kwikset Smartkey Problems.

The above video shows how easily the Schlage Securekey Lock can be bumped. It was believed that Schlage's motivation for releasing this lock was to thwart the bump key phenomenon and to also provide the owner with the ability to rekey their own lock, rather than calling the services of a professional locksmith.

The quantity of issues with this product are mounting daily and this new example of the ease in bypassing/bumping or manipulating the lock, should be an indication to prospective buyers of what not to purchase.

These locks are primarily available at big box hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes. No self-respecting, ethical, honest retailer can offer this product for sale in my opinion.

Search Engine Statistics for January 2011

Here are the top 10 January's search stats that lead people to this website.

Interesting to note how many people seem to be searching for information on the Kwikset Smart Key Problems and the Schlage Securekey Problems.

Our Keyed Pocket Door Lock continues it's amazing run in popularity, too.

Kaba-Ilco Simplex 1000 Fault

Pictured here is the Kaba-Ilco Simplex 1000 Access Control lock, that is the subject of a wide ranging lawsuit previously mentioned.

The fault, which renders this lock totally insecure, can be easily performed by anyone using a rare earth powerful magnet, that is easily purchasable for about $125.00

Many government departments, institutions including hospitals, police stations, computer rooms, schools, medical facilities, file rooms etc, that have this lock or similar range of mechanical access control locks (Simplex 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 series etc) are now vulnerable to this simple "hack".

I feel that displaying the method here would be very inappropriate, however you can find it yourself (with a bit of digging) through the source below.

Suffice to say, I believe that any purchaser of this lock or similar, needs to be made aware of the fault and appropriate action be performed to replace it/them with a more secure device.

(source...)

EDIT: February 1 2011. Kaba-Ilco could have produced a fixer for their flagship product. Apparently, the newer models released in January this year, may be impervious to the magnet attack. (source...)

Xena - Padlock Alarms that are a cut above

Xena, a manufacturer of intelligent alarms that are portable, inexpensive and functional with the added ability of also being padlocks and other security devices are a new style product combining both physical and electronic security.

The many and varied uses for their products, augment well, an increasingly specialized market that demands quality and affordable products tailored at consumers desires to increase the security of their personal fixed and mobile applications.

The Bullet-Lock Alarm is a unique product that can be used on a multitude of applications.

I continue to be a skeptic of the value of alarm systems, however when a product comes along that incorporates both an alarm and a physical security product, I can only see a seldom seen combination that might actually improve the security of your property.

The Disc-Lock alarm, not only alarms your motor cycle, but actually prevents it cycle from being driven away.

A 110dB alarm, is often enough to attract the attention of onlookers, a hazard that potential burglars may see as a detriment to their chosen prey.

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Salto - Revisited

Two new products, tailored to the North American market have recently been released by Salto.

Pictured here is the Salto mechanism designed to convert the humble entrance set (most common in USA) to the ultra-secure Salto RFID wireless access control system.

Also recently released (not pictured) is a cylinder designed to be used with conventional wooden and aluminum door mortise locks.

Certainly these products are not cheap, but the convenience of high-security access control and audit trail features using the world reknowned Salto Inspired Access systems, separates this company from the other players.

Check them out! You are sure to be impressed.

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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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