The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued these recalls in October:
Target Jumbo Pencils with Sharpeners
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 176,000 jumbo pencils with sharpeners. The sharpener’s razor blade is exposed when the cover is removed. Also, the pencil sharpener hole is large enough to allow a finger to fit inside. This poses a laceration hazard to children and adults.
Stihl Inc. Backpack Blowers
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Stihl Inc. of Virginia Beach, Va. is voluntarily recalling about 6,230 BR 500 and BR 550 Backpack Blowers. The fan wheel on these backpack blowers could break, resulting in pieces of plastic flying out of the blower housing. This poses a risk of injury to the user or a bystander.
Child Craft Industries, Inc. Cribs
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Child Craft Industries Inc., of New Salisbury, Ind. is voluntarily recalling 155 Child Craft Cribs. A wooden strip added to the end assemblies of the crib to correct a spacing problem could come loose, creating a space in violation of the federal crib standard and posing a risk of entrapment. In addition, the three pin nails used to hold the strip in place pose a laceration hazard if the wooden strip detaches.
Hewlett-Packard Company Notebook Computer Batteries
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hewlett-Packard Company, of Palo Alto, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 135,000 HP and Compaq Notebook Computer Battery Packs. An internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat and melt or char the plastic case, posing a burn and fire hazard.
Polaris Industries Inc. Snowmobiles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 16,640 Polaris Snowmobiles. The fuel tank filler neck on these snowmobiles can crack. A crack in the filler neck area may cause the filler neck to separate from the fuel tank. A crack or filler neck separation may allow fuel or fuel vapors to escape from the fuel tank, posing a fire hazard.
Kelty Speedster Jogging Stroller
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kelty Division of American Recreation Products Inc., of Boulder, Colo. is voluntarily recalling 230 Kelty Speedster Jogging Strollers. Stroller handle-locking clips can unlock during use, causing stroller to collapse.
Design Ideas Ltd. Bean Bag Furniture Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Design Ideas Ltd., of Springfield, Ill. is voluntarily recalling about 1,100 Lily Chair and Lily Ottoman Bean Bag Sets. The chair and ottoman do not have locking zippers or warning labels. CPSC is aware of children who have died from suffocation when they unzipped, inhaled and ingested small pellets in similar bean bag furniture.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. All-Terrain Vehicles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., of Valcourt, Providence of Quebec, Canada is voluntarily recalling about 275 Bombardier Outlander 800 H.O. XT ATVs. The drive pulley inner flange could break resulting in the broken flange fragments becoming a projectile. This situation could cause serious injuries or death to the rider or bystanders.
Wal-Mart Holiday Candle Gift Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. and Dan Dee International Ltd., of Jersey City, N.J. are voluntarily recalling about 48,000 Holiday Time™ Candle Gift Sets. The decorative covering on the candles can ignite, posing a fire and burn hazard.
A.O. Smith Water Heaters
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), A.O. Smith Water Products Co., of Ashland City, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 75-Gallon Propane Gas Water Heaters. The water heaters can accumulate soot on the burners, posing a fire hazard.
Reebok Children’s Fleece Pullover/Pant Sets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Adjmi Apparel Group, of New York, N.Y. (Adjmi is an authorized licensee of children’s apparel products of Reebok, of Canton, Mass.) is voluntarily recalling about 61,000 Reebok Children’s Fleece Quarter-Zip Pullover/Pant Sets. The zipper slider and pull on the fleece pullovers can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
A series of home invasion robberies on Long Island is happening while residents are home, often asleep. Armed robbers enter the home and demand cash, jewelry and other valuables. Police report that most of the cases involve entry through an open window or even an open door. Linda Bible, the victim of one robbery, now has her alarm on at all times, but especially when she and her 14-year old daughter are home.
Newsday.com: Home-invasion robberies on the rise on LI
Most home break-ins occur because residents don’t take security seriously so they don’t lock their doors or windows, said John Mueller, the La Valle, Wis.-based author of a book called Savvy Guide to Home Security
“The number one entry point is the front door because the burglar simply walks up to the door and see if it’s unlocked, and in a lot of cases it is,” Mueller said. “It’s like inviting a crook into your home.”
Outdoor lighting can enhance your home security by eliminating the dark corners where burglars can hide while trying to gain entrance or case the house. Good exterior lighting also makes it easier for you to check oustide after nighttime noises and can make it safer when coming home. Timer lights are also great for times when you are away from home.
Outdoor lighting enhances home security on Southern Standard
These lights can be programmed to turn on for any length of time. For example, if you normally arrive home at 7 p.m., you can program the lights to turn on at 6:45 p.m.
“It also helps out if you’re not home,” said Hale. “If the lights suddenly come on, people will think somebody is in there.”…
Depending on the setup, lights can be installed for as little as $150 to $200. More elaborate displays where posts have to be erected cost more.
From Security by the Numbers,
$400 billion was the overall cost of cybercrime in 2004. [2005 McAfee Criminology Report]
Yet only 27% of small or medium sized businesses use an antispyware product. 73% of consumers felt that personal data theft would deter them from shopping online, but 80% allow their computers to be infected with spyware that can steal their data without their ever even visiting a shopping site.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 57% of all home burglaries are unforced, involving either an unlocked door or a lock, such as those on a sliding glass door, that can be “picked” in seconds with a credit card, screwdrive, piece of plastic or cardboard. Most windows manufactured in the last 15 years are stout enough to deter the typical burglar and even the barking of a small dog draws more attention than the usual burglar wants. Lights near doors will also draw attention burglars don’t want.
Steps to home security
Mr. Spurlock says a family pet can provide low-tech burglary prevention, but pets have about a 50-50 chance of being an effective deterrent.
“Burglars are nonconfrontational. They want to get in and out as quickly as possible. Even a small dog that barks will get people’s attention,” Mr. Spurlock says.
The Safe Travel Institure announced the Safe Passage Travel Companion(TM). Included is an instructional DVD and resource guide showcasing principles and strategies for safe travel, resource CD with vital information including emergency contact procedures and key embassy phone numbers, a pocket reference with strategic reminders of safe travel practices, a travel security pouch. Also included is a free membership to the online resource “Safe Passage NewsLine”. The Institute also offers hostage survival training through the National Hostage Survival Training Center.
Those interested in the Safe Passage Travel Companion may also be interested in these books:
Safe Air Travel Companion
The Safe Travel Book
Safe Travel Institute Announces ‘Safe Passage’: First DVD Designed to Help Travelers Learn to Reduce Risks in Today’s Volatile World: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
“Today, Americans are more uneasy about traveling than ever before,” said Randy Spivey, director of the Safe Travel Institute. “Currently, there are U.S. State Department Travel Warning Advisories covering 26 countries Americans should avoid… 16 more advisories warn of terrorist activities in the Caribbean, England and Scotland. Added to that is the fact that while Mexico and Brazil are not on either list, they rank high for kidnappings, theft and unsolved crimes. The Safe Travel Institute’s goal is to help consumers and business travelers process this information, learn how to travel safely, and enjoy their travels with a renewed peace of mind. We know that there is danger at some level no matter the destination, but we can help give you the tools to help you be more prepared to handle yourself in business or pleasure travels.”
(more…)
Microsoft offers some tips and tools on avoiding security threats via Bluetooth wireless connections. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows many PDAs, cell phones and other portable devices to interface with each other over short distances.
Bluetooth® wireless technology is included with many cell phones and PDAs. It was initially designed to let you swap documents between other Bluetooth devices without the use of annoying connecting cables, but has since expanded to provide services such as Web connectivity and online game playing. However, any time you transmit information online, you can be vulnerable to online attack; and as the popularity of Bluetooth increases, so does its interest to cybercriminals.
Avoid wireless attacks through your Bluetooth cell phone
40% of seven to 15 year olds use internet chatrooms and over a third of them think it is OK to give out personal details online. Have you talked to your kids about staying safe online and more importantly how to make sure their online interactions stay online?
Technology news - Technology - Virgin.net
A third of children usually surf the internet alone and more than a third think it is OK to give out personal details online.
Jacksonville, Florida police have at least one good lead in a burglary case from September - a picture of the burglar. The burglar knocked on the door at 2 PM on Sept. 16 and after making sure no one was home, pried open the door, entered the house and stole a DVD player. What he didn’t know was that the homeowner had installed an alarm system complete with a video camera.
Homeowners’s Security Camera Snaps Photo Of Burglar
Burglary detectives have released the photo of the burglar and his car, hoping someone will call Crimestoppers at (866) 845-8477 with information that will help police catch the man.
The Washington Post reports that two top security suites don’t work all that well beyond the core antivirus products. In the case of the McAfee suite, it actually opens up problems by setting Internet Explorer as the default browser, turning off pop-up blocking and requiring the use of Active-X controls (which are susceptible to malicious programs) for updates.
While both McAfee and Symantec have excellent antivirus programs, for the remainder of security issues - especially firewall, adware and spyware protection - it’s better to use other alternatives than to use the “suite” products. Safe and Secure recommends Zone Alarm Pro for firewall protection. For adware and spyware protection on Windows systems a combination of programs is best, including Spybot Search and Destroy, Microsoft’s Antispyware beta and Lavasoft’s Adaware.
And remember, whatever your program, regular updates are a must.
Security Suites Are Rife With Problems
For another, the complexity of the Symantec and McAfee suites seems to cause them to fail in ugly and destructive ways, according to readers who have written in to complain about these problems week after month after year.
Most important, the latest McAfee and Symantec suites just don’t work all that well.
