From November 2 to November 18, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued 9 new recalls and one expanded recall.
- Nikon Inc. Rechargeable Battery Packs Sold with Digital SLR Cameras
- Target Tea Light Candles
- Thane International Perfect Air Ultra Air Purifiers
- Pottery Barn Halloween Candleholders
- American Greetings Corporation AFairy Wand Party Favors
- World Kitchen Inc. Immersion Heaters
- Makita U.S.A. Inc. Angle Grinders
- Sycamore Kids Inc. Expands Recall of Mountain Buggy Jogging Strollers
- Cooper Hand Tools Weller® Heating Element used in Soldering Irons
- Various Retailers Waterless Vaporizers and Aromatherapy Diffusers
(more…)
A series of more than 100 burglaries in the San Francisco area have been dubbed the “tunnel burglaries” as the burglars used the tunnel-shaped entryways to the homes to provide cover while they gained access to the front door. The entryways are commonly secured by gates with flimsy locks that can be easily opened in a matter of seconds and once inside the burglars are screened from view as they work on the more secure inner door. The extra barrier to entry ends up helping the criminals in this case. Privacy fences and similar screens can pose the same problem, so homeowners need to consider how to secure these barriers to prevent them being used to a burglar’s advantage.
Authorities said most of the burglarized homes had tunnel-like entryways leading to the front door. The thieves were able to easily break through the tunnel’s security gates and then into the victims’ homes, said Deputy Chief Morris Tabak.
“We held many community meetings to tell residents how to secure these gates,” Tabak said. “These gates flex, and you can force them open with a large screwdriver or pry-bar.”
AP Wire | 11/17/2005 | News in brief from the San Francisco Bay area,
Keyloggers, hidden software loaded on computers, were used to commit over 6,000 acts of theft last year. The average cost per victim was over $3,600 with most victims being responsible for at least part of the financial expense and averaging over 80 hours spent dealing with the thefts.
The iDefense data indicates keyloggers have risen from only 300 in 2000 to 3,753 in 2004 and, more recently, to a record 6,191 this year — a jump of 65 percent since last year. IDefense senior engineer Ken Dunham told TechNewsWorld that advances in attacker techniques and technology are also alarming.
Technology News: ID Security : More Keyloggers Swiping Identity Info
In some neighborhoods in Malaysia, as many as 88 percent of homes have a barrier to keep out intruders before they can even get to the front door. Barriers include gates, fences, walls, guard dogs and even security guards - which are common in condo and apartment buildings. Malaysians also make heavy use of alarm systems, closed circuit television systems and other technological barriers to intruders.
“Our homes really are our fortresses and - unless you are resident - it’s hard to get to most front doors. Gone are the days of being able to pop in unannounced,” he said in a statement.
New Straits Times - Malaysia News Online
Home security expert Frank Fourchalk provides some tips for keeping your garage door from becoming the biggest, easiest entry for burglars to get into your home. Among other tips:
- Use a keyring remote instead of leaving the remote in the car
- Change the codes when you get a new opener or move to a new house
- Disconnect the power to the garage door opener and padlock the springlock on the inside when leaving on vacation.
- Make sure the emergency release is secured.
If you are guilty of leaving your garage door open overnight or forget to close your door on the way to work, you should purchase a monitor that senses when your door has been open for a set period of time. After whatever period of time you set the monitor for, the door will automatically close, assuring your home is secure.
This do-it-yourself product takes about 20 minutes to install and costs about $80.
Keep your overhead garage door safe and secure
Microsoft announced Saturday that its antispyware software and its malicious software removal tool will treat and remove the rootkit program issued on CDs from Sony. Late last week a virus was released which takes advantage of the hidden Sony file to infect host computers.
In December, Microsoft will automate that process through its malicious software removal tool, which is designed to help people clean up infections from some of the most pervasive bots, viruses, worms and rootkits.
Security Fix - Brian Krebs on Computer and Internet Security - (washingtonpost.com)
Holiday cooking and holiday eating mean the danger of food poisoning. General rules to remember include washing food thoroughly, cooking meat to at least 180 degrees, keeping hot food hot and cold food cold, avoiding foods with raw eggs and using pasteurized products whereever possible. When it comes to turkey and stuffing:
Turkey and stuffing: Cook stuffing and turkey separately. The bird cooks from the outside and the inside. When you stuff the bird, it reduces the heat penetration. If you choose to cook them together, make sure the temperature reaches at least 180 degrees F. in the innermost part of the thigh, while the center of the stuffing inside the turkey reaches 165 degrees. Bacteria can survive in stuffing that hasn’t reached that temperature.
And, of course, if holidays are a time to indulge in alcohol, drink in moderation and don’t drive.
Source: The Register-Herald–Child safety expert warns of holiday food dangers
The Albuquerque Police Department provides this excellent advice for parents on safety for kids home alone:
Being home alone can be a scary proposition for kids and parents. Many parents who work all day are faced with the daunting task of making sure their children are safe and protected before and after school. By following the tips listed below, parents can ease some of the anxiety associated with leaving their children home alone as well as general child safety advice.
* Regardless of age, make sure your child is mature enough and can comprehend rules to your satisfaction before leaving them alone.
* Can your child be trusted to go straight home after school, easily use the telephone, locks, follow rules and instructions, and stay alone without being afraid?
* Parents should teach kids basic safety rules and house rules. They should also know where their children are at all times, what they’re doing, and who they’re with.
* Instruct your child to check in with a trusted neighbor or call you as soon as they get home.
* Make sure they know how to call 911 in case of an emergency and post important numbers.
* Do they know their telephone number, address, and directions to the home?
* Establish a pre-arranged code word in case someone has to pick them up for you.
* o they know how to operate all doors and window locks as well as an alarm system?
* Install eye viewers at a level comparable to your children’s height.
* Explain to your children to never let anyone into the home or let them know that they are alone.
* Establish set rules about having friends over or going somewhere without your permission.
* Children should never carry their house/apartment key in full view. Place the key in a shirt pocket, sock, or other secure place.
* Teach them never to go into the home if signs of intrusion are noticed (broken windows, ripped screen, open doors).
* Establish a fixed route to and from school and walk that route with your children. Point out designated locations they can go for help including neighbors.
* Encourage them to walk with friends at all times.
* Avoid danger spots like alleys, wooded areas, construction zones, public restrooms, empty buildings and remain in well lit, active locations. Avoid locations where strangers are present.
* If a stranger (any one they do not know) attempts to follow or grab them, teach them to scream, +Stay away from me” or “This person is trying to hurt me,” and run to an established safe place.
* Regularly communicate with your child about unusual incidents, contact with other people, or any event that makes them uncomfortable.
Source: Albuquerque Police Department
Faced with security concerns and rumors swirling about privacy violations, hotels are exploring alternatives to the magnetic swipe card. Alternatives include fingerprint scanners, smart cards which contain more information but are harder to hack and proximity cards which automatically unlock the door as the card holder approaches. In the meantime, a few precautions will help keep you safe and your personal information secure.
- Use the extra locks whenever in the room
- Store valuables in the hotel safe
- Carry travelers checks or credit cards as an alternative to cash
- Keep an extra card or checks in a separate location (such as the hotel safe)
- Your hotel room is your home for a day, so treat a key card just as you would a key to your home.
- Return the card to the front desk on checkout or dispose of it as you would a credit card
Source: The Embattled Swipe-Card Hotel Key - New York Times
Shorter daylight hours during the winter season, mean increased security risks as many of us leave for work before daylight and return home after dark. Add to that the gift giving holiday season that means prime picking for burglars and security needs become especially important. Adequate outdoor lighting is one of the simplest security measures to supplement stout locks and motion detector lights can be especially effective. Timer lights inside the home can also help create the impression of someone home.
Motion detector lights also have another benefit for people returning home after dark. If you return home and see that the motion light is on, you’ll know that something, or someone, was recently on your property, and may still be there. This makes it harder for a potential attacker to lurk on your property and surprise you.
Source: CamdeNews.org - Other Local News
