BrickHouse Security Blog

The Transport of London (TfL) has announced testing of the Intelligent Speed Adaption system that will monitor the speed of cars from outer space using GPS tracking.  When the system detects a speeding car, it will slow down that car until it is under the limit. This system will make speed camera vehicle tracking obsolete.

It is intended to be used for government and public vehicles such as cab drivers, but people are worried about what this technology could mean for the future of transportation.

Critics worry about vehicle congestion the GPS tracking system may contribute to. However, the TfL says that GPS vehicle tracking could cut accidents down by 10%. The vehicle tracking system offers two modes: voluntary and advisory. In the advisory mode, a screen would display the speed limit and a face that smiles when the driver goes the limit and frowns when they go over. The voluntary mode prevents drivers from accelerating after going over the limit no matter how far the pedal is pressed.

This GPS speed camera could help any driver avoid the unnecessary penalties of creeping over the speed limit and at the same time will save lives,” said Chris Lines, head of TfL’s road safety unit.

The TfL say their tracked vehicle fleet is scheduled to take the streets this summer.

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The safety of a staple of American business is being threatened. As it stands now, fast food restaurants aren’t required to set up security camera equipment. However, robbers use this fact to their advantage and frequently steal from these establishments and now many patrons are afraid to step into these establishments. [...]

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The amount of information stored on a cellphone is staggering. Things like your whereabouts, call times, text message logs, not to mention names and phone numbers can all be accessed from your cellphone. Cellphone Spy Technology allows you to read deleted text messages. Cutting edge software can innocuously turn any smart phone into a GPS Tracker. The fast paced field of consumer surveillance technology may be too fast for tech-hungry spies. As with all technology, spy-gear often overtakes its users, leaving behind a myriad of ethical questions in its wake. The Brickhouse Security specialists are here offer three ways to employ cellphone surveillance that won’t weigh on your conscience.

1. Monitor Your Child’s Cellphone
Strictly speaking your child’s cellphone is actually your phone. You are not overstepping any sort of legal or moral line by monitoring your child’s cellular communications. You never know what kind of trouble your child getting into. Whether it be at school, the park, or local shopping mall, children can be susceptible to stranger danger. By monitoring his or her cellphone activity you can get an idea of where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing. The Brickhouse Security team recomends you be candid with your children about the fact that you know what they are up to. That alone should inspire good behavior.

2. Police Department Investigations
CNN Reports that police detectives have teamed up with private volunteers to try and help allure sexual deviants who prey on children. “Harris, an investigator for the Child Sex Internet Investigations Unit in Jefferson County, Colorado, thought the service could be a new tool for combating sexual predators.” The Cellphone Spy keeps a log of all the SMS messages exchanged so that they can be later used in court.

3. Business Owners
For small business owners Cellphone Spying can be a god send. If you own a business and provide your employees with a Smart Phone with internet access you can turn that cellphone into a GPS Tracker. Make sure your employees are where they are supposed to be. You can also use Cellphone Spy Devices to recover sensitive data that might have been deleted.

“I monitor my employees at the workplace,” said a woman, who owns a small business and asked that her name not be disclosed. “And this is my son. So to me it’s not like I’m wiretapping him. Besides, privacy in my house is earned.”

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The World Health Organization has raised the alert level for the Swine Flu virus from 3 to 4, just two under a pandemic. As the probable death toll in Mexico raises to 152 people, the panic starts to sink in. The fear of sickness is imminent. And our health security is at risk.

Children are being affected as schools in Mexico have closed until May 6th. The outbreak in New York even started with a school in Queens where students were infected after a spring break trip to Mexico. In San Diego, a school was shut down after a 7-year-old was found to have the disease.

Next to be affected is the economy, as stock markets fall and people reconsider travel plans all over the world.

The total possibly infected is 2,080 in eight countries.

Epidemiologists are alarmed with the flu’s ability to spread quickly from person to person. Some people have resorted to wearing masks outside to prevent infection. How does one keep their personal safety when facing an invisible threat?

At this time it is important to be on high alert for any signs of health problems. A good idea for the elderly may be an emergency button in case movement is preventing them from seeking help. Look out for severe flu symptoms that categorize this virus such as breathing trouble or very high fever.

However, officials have stressed the importance of going on with your daily life. “It’s important for children to be in school unless they’re sick,” said Jim Esterbrooks, a spokesman for the County Office of Education. “We want parents to know if their children don’t feel well, they should stay at home. If parents are anxious about their children’s condition, they should see their doctor or (seek) whatever medical care they have.”

Other safety tips from the CDC include: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. These small steps can combat the attack on our bodies and keep us and our children safe.

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KKTV 11 News set hidden cameras to capture what kids do when confronted by a stranger home alone. With summer approaching quickly, and kids not under school supervision, do your kids know how to be safe? If a stranger was knocking on the door, would they run and hide or let the stranger in?

A Colorado Springs mother, who prided herself in teaching her kids well, agreed to participate while an employee agreed to play the stranger. In the videos, the mom leaves as the stranger knocks on the door saying he’s the home security man there to check the alarm systems.

In this situation the kids look out the window twice, but neither opens the door to the stranger. They have listened and averted danger.

One recommendation the police made was this: “If they have the ability to look outside without revealing themselves then that’s probably a good idea. Plus, after a few minutes if an adult doesn’t arrive to the front door then the stranger is probably going to figure out that the kids are home by themselves,” said Officer Wilson.

What about when your kids are approached by a stranger in the park? Do they know what to do?

The news channel has a stranger step in and ask three kids if they will go with him to find his dog. The kids pass the test by ignoring the stranger.

“If there’s other people in the general area then that’s probably not that bad a deal, but if you’re isolated and you’re away from people and it’s just you and the stranger, then you don’t really want to get that close,” said Officer Wilson.

These are lessons you should be imparting to your own children. Let them know that if they feel frightened they can run and yell for help or even call the police. Also, get a GPS child locator for the park. It may not be enough for your child to know that rules. It really doesn’t take much for a small child to be grabbed and taken away in an instant. GPS tracking lets you know that your child is safe.

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Here are 10 tips on how to keep your child’s identity secure.

1. Teach Them About Social Security Numbers
First of all, your kids should know what a social security number is and the importance of keeping it private. Never let your children carry around their social security cards!

2. Talk to Them About Phishing Scams
You know those crazy emails you get from Nigerian Royalty who want to wire you $1,000,000? A lot of kids don’t know about these kind of internet scams. Immediately report these emails as spam and do not download or click any link in the email.

3. Destroy Mail With Personal Information
Sometimes kids get pre-approved credit card offers, or anything with their personal information on it. They need to get in the habit of ripping up their mail before throwing it away. A lot of identity theft happens when thieves go through trash to fish for personal information.

4. Protect Your PC from Viruses and Spyware
Increasing your internet security is an absolute must. Use strong passwords with at least eight characters, including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess. Use a firewall, virus and spyware protection security software that you update regularly. Steer clear of malware. Download free software only from sites you know and trust. And NEVER install anything without knowing what it is.

5. Set Internet Browser Security To “High.”
Teach your little ones never to click on links in pop-ups.

6. Click With Caution
Teach kids about shopping online and to check out a Web site before entering your credit card number or other personal information. An be certain you’re wireless network security uses a strong, secure password. Internet security is far too easy to overlook, always be certain your child is web-surfing responsibly.

7. Stop Pre-Approved Credit Offers
Have your name removed from credit bureau marketing lists right away.

8. You Should Monitor Your Credit Reports and Watch What Your Kids Are Buying
I have just started to check my credit reports and look out for suspicious activity.

9. Get Outside Help
Seek additional help from credit monitoring services and save yourself a load of trouble, and money, if your ever fall victim to identity theft.

10. Additional Security Measures
Here at Brickhouse Security we strongly recommend you take full advantage of cutting edge security technology to maintain your privacy. Using a key logger on your home computer help monitor your child’s internet activity. Use surveillance equipment to keep a watchful eye on your home. And employ a counter surveillance plan if you fear you or your children are being monitored.

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How To Protect Your Identity Online

Some of my past passwords have included Fluffy (my dog’s name), Red (my favorite color), and if I’m feeling really tricky, my birthday.

-Sigh-

I’ve got news for you people. Anyone can guess these passwords! Especially professional hackers that want to steal your identity, your money, and your life.

For those of you who are like me (i.e. make your passwords your pets name… or worse your own middle name), let’s change our passwords… TODAY.

All right, it’s simple. A strong password is made of four parts: uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Don’t worry. It’s not as complicated as you think.

Even if you have 28934758976 accounts online (banks, websites, social sites, dating sites, etc.) you can create a strong password that you will actually remember. Start with ONE strong foundation password. Let’s choose the word symbol, which translates to $y0m801 in password talk.

Once you have this one solid “foundation password” you can build on top of it for all your accounts so no two accounts share the same password.

For example:

Yahoo Mail =  $y0m801-Ym@il
Citi Bank =   $y0m801-Cb@nk
Mastercard = $y0m801-M@ster

As you can see, it’s easy to make a strong password that you can remember AND that will keep your accounts safe and protected.

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April is Child Safety Month. The Brickhouse Security experts are here to offer you safety advice.

1. Home Security

Your home is your sanctuary, it may seem safe but, its easy to overlook the hidden dangers within your own household. You spend the majority of time in your home, so you should be extra vigilant when it comes to your home’s security. Even the most secure locations imaginable have their weak points. Make sure all of your external windows and doors have working locking mechanisms, and be sure to make good use of the home security technology available at Brickhouse Security.

2. Public Spaces

As the summer quickly approaches you and your children will want to spend more and more time outdoors. Picnics in Central Park, play-dates at Chelsea Piers, or even afternoons at a crowded mall, are easy places to loose track of your children. Despite you’re best efforts to stay focused on your kids, a quick peak inside a cute boutique and next thing you know the unthinkable could occur. Make the most of the available technology and consider investing in a Child Locator for that added level of protection.

3. School Safety

Your children spend lots of time at school, not to mention at after school activities. Make sure they know the dangers involved in leaving school grounds, and make sure to get to know the school staff. Do your research on all school related activities and network with other parents to acquire any useful information about clubs, sports, locations, or anything else.

4. Car Safety

Being safe in the car should be obvious. We recommend your car be equip with the proper safety precautions, and that you drive responsibly. Beyond that its also important to never leave a child in your car unattended. Never! It’s tempting to leave little Suzie in the backseat while mommy runs into the bank for a quick deposit, but you may regret it.

5. Stranger Danger!

You encounter strangers everywhere. They occupy you’re favorite movie theater, the bodega on the corner, and even loiter around your child’s school. Strangers are indeed omnipresent, and you should be aware that at least a few of the ones you’ve set eyes on are already registered sex offenders. Next time you and you’re future Yankees all-star go play catch in the park, be on the look out for these park-bench-pedophiles hiding behind the morning paper. To be completely safe make your child carry a tiny GPS Tracker for emergency location and even a panic button that you child can press in case they’re in danger.

What Should You Do?

There are more safety and security products available to the general public than ever before. Take advantage of the technology once only available to law enforcement agencies. Keep your kids safe by increasing your home security with the newest home security products and make sure you’re prepared for all public situations.

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Security cameras caught the craigslist killer in Boston. His friends say that he seemed normal. This brings up the question: How do you really know someone? The perceived notion of anonymity gives comfort to some and fear to others. When one can’t trust their friend or neighbor, how do we give so much trust to strangers?

Top Ten Ways to be Safe On Craigslist

1) Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe
2) Tell a friend or family member where you’re going
3) Take your cell phone along if you have one
4) Consider having a friend accompany you
5) Trust your instincts
6) Go to CraigsCrimeList, a blog that tracks crime on craiglist
7) Research scams online. Do not wire money to anyone
Flag questionable posts to warn others away
9) Report any suspicious activity to authorities
10) Keep information such as your home address out of your craigslist advertisement. Ask people to contact you via telephone or email.

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Kidnappers are motivated by large sums of money. The thought process being, why even bother taking the risk if the target isn’t worth the trouble. Due to SEC disclosure laws, finding out which executives make the most money is now easier than ever before. Your business, or your family may be at risk. Here are four tips on how to improve security.

1. Counter-Surveillance Plan
Successful kidnappings are preceded by a preparatory stage. An effective counter-surveillance program can potentially detect a threat, increasing security and motivating would-be kidnappers to go elsewhere. A good program could include a team that conducts surveillance at a facility, residence, or any given location, and keeps tabs on who is watching the target. This means looking for people who might be walking back in forth frequently in front of a location, taking video or photographs, counting footsteps to determine the measurements of a given location.

A counter-surveillance program might also use a CCTV system in a proactive way, he said. CCTV is primarily utilized once a crime has taken place. But a good counter-surveillance team can use all of the smart CCTV technology available in a proactive way. Particularly if you have the ability to identify cars and license plates to keep an eye out for who seems to be in your area, collecting information about scheduling, comings and goings, and transportation routes. Additionally, just the presence of DVR cameras are enough to deter most criminals. A good counter-surveillance system will help expose the truth.

2. Know How To React
As we mentioned, kidnappings are planned events. Kidnappers don’t often consider what they will do if the victim takes some drastic action to thwart the abduction. We wouldn’t suggest any James Bond type heroics but knowing how to keep cool in these kind of situations will throw your kidnappers off kilter. This kind of reaction to threats is not second nature to people. It is something that has to be learned

Also make sure to touch everything in sight to leave lots of fingerprints and to talk to the kidnappers so they see you as a human, not an object.
3. GPS Tracking Devices For Increased Safety
BrickHouse Security recommends everybody put in place technology to be able to receive GPS transmissions from cell phones or emergency GPS Transmitters.While this technology may only go so far because the device will likely be taken from the victim, in some scenarios, it could still aid in rescue. And as technology advances, GPS Tracking will become even more useful.

4. Utilizing Current Technology

Children, especially those of more prominent parents, are often viewed as easy targets. More often than we’d like to admit, children are prone to the advances of strangers. A stranger might sequester your son or daughter with the intention of releasing him or her only when ransom is meet. Brickhouse Security recommends teaching your children about the dangers of conversing with strangers. But no matter how much you may remind your child about real-life danger scenarios we still recommend your outfit your child with some kind of GPS Tracking device or Child Locator. You can educate yourself and your loved ones about the very real dangers of kidnappers but if that day comes Brickhouse Security recommends that you utilize all the of available safety and security technology available to keep you and your family safe.

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School’s have really amped up their security measures in the past ten years since the Columbine tragedy.

The surprise of the shooting left schools with the motto to never be caught off guard again. It spring boarded the child safety movement with the advance of the school safety research industry, pushing schools to lock doors , install security cameras and mass-notification call systems, and require all staff and visitors to wear ID badges.

It also gave rise to the anti-bullying movement. “These kids didn’t pick the local movie theater to blow people away, and there’s a reason they picked school,” says David Osher, a sociologist and vice president at the American Institutes for Research. This has pushed administrators to crack down on bullies and makes schools a more welcoming environment. Ways to manage anger has also been added to some schools.

These new security measures have heightened safety; however, schools are now finding their safety budget’s slashed. Federal funding for school crisis planning has been cut by 25% in recent years, a loss of nearly $10 million and numbers show that close to 40% of administrators admit they aren’t adequately training their own staff on emergency.

To correct this, administrators are calling for a closer bond between students and adults. the philosophy behind this is that when students are open to sharing their thoughts and feelings, they feel validated and are less likely to hide or let feelings of anger stew inside them.

Schools are mandated to run fire drills, but few run regularly scheduled lock down drills or run tabletop simulations of a crisis with police and paramedics. Perhaps time has lulled us into a false sense of security when it comes to school safety.

There is more we can do to keep kids safe in school. Bulletproof backpacks look like regular backpacks but provide the extra comfort that hopefully will not need to be used. Products like this are not always on a parent’s mind, but perhaps they should be. This information shows that schools can only go so far in protecting our children. The stand against violence starts at home and is something we need to reinforce everyday.

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The explosion of the “sexting” trend has led to some pretty dire consequences. Just recently in Florida, Philip Alpert was arrested after the 18-year-old sent lewd pictures of his 16-year-old girlfriend to friends. He was charged and convicted with child pornography and is now listed as a sex offender.

Some have said that this is taking a step too far. We all are concerned with child safety, but should we punish the mistakes of foolish kids when there are much more dangerous criminal minds afoot?

“You will find me on the registered sex offender list next to people who have raped children, molested kids, things like that, because I sent child pornography,” said Alpert, “You think child pornography, you think 6-year-old, 3-year-old little kids who can’t think for themselves, who are taken advantage of. That really wasn’t the case.”

In light of the many cases like this that have cropped up, Vermont has taken steps to legalize the practice of sexting in order to protect children from stupid mistakes. The bill, which passed in the state senate earlier this month, makes legal the consensual sending of graphic images between two people 13 to 18 years old. Passing them to others would remain a crime. Supporters say they don’t want to condone the conduct, but they don’t feel that consensual acts should be punished. State Sen. Richard Sears, D-Bennington stated, “This isn’t an issue of whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing — I think it’s wrong — but the question is, do we want kids to be prosecuted, called sex offenders, etc., etc., for consensual conduct? No.”

The consequences of sexting cannot be stressed enough. However, overzealous prosecution of some teen offenders has made people question whether the punishment fits the crime. This may be a new high-tech form of courting; however, children still need to be protected. The best approach may be to have an open communication with your teenager about sexting and phone security and the consequences that come with sending graphic images. Many teens say that they didn’t think of what might happen after they sent the pictures. Another option may be to see what your teen is sending by using a Cell Phone Spy that reads deleted texts. Teen tracking gives you the option of talking to your child before things get out of hand. Even though it may be legal, there are still steps we can take to prevent the emotional and psychological consequences of one bad decision.

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Hidden cameras can be hidden virtually everywhere and secretly record the actions of unsuspecting parties. They can capture co-workers slacking off, perverts soliciting prostitutes, drug addicts purchasing from dealers, criminals breaking the law, or a cheating spouse, well, cheating. Perhaps the most popular use of a hidden camera is to keep a watchful eye on your babysitter. Many safety conscious parents secretly tape caretakers, sometimes with horrifying results.

You may even know somebody who uses a nanny cam in his or her own home. It is certainly not unrealistic to assume that most concerned parents have at least thought about installing a nanny cam. But when it comes to the safety of your child there is very fine line between appropriate levels of concern and ethically ambiguous conduct. Hidden cameras do not constitute an illegal invasion of privacy in so far as that there is no corresponding audio recording. That being said, there is still no question that hidden cameras raise a slew of ethical questions. It is completely up to the parent whether or not to disclose the installation of a hidden camera. After all, the parent is leaving their beloved child in the care of another. But the parents should avoid placing cameras in the bathroom or in the bedroom, if the nanny is live-in. These actions do constitute a breach of reasonable privacy.

Although it may not be technically illegal to secretly tape your nanny, Harold J. Krent, dean of The Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology and an expert on personal privacy, questions it for other reasons. “It strikes me as unethical,” he said. “I would suggest that people put the shoe on the other foot. What if a hidden camera were focused on you at work? What would your reaction be if your boss decided to record phone conversations or monitor e-mail? Wouldn’t you want to know about it ahead of time?”

What Harold J. Krent may not know is that Americans do not have a right to total privacy in their lives. Chances are, you are caught on tape everyday, whether it be at your local grocery store, bank, or even your job. Hidden cameras are a large part of our every day lives, it is a reality everybody must come to terms with. Why shouldn’t parents optimize the same technology used by stores, businesses, city planners, and state? You are leaving your child alone with a stranger. So what if your babysitter has a dozen amazing references. How can you be totally sure of anything you don’t see with your own eyes?

But some would suggest a compromise. The installation of a nanny cam can be helpful when interviewing prospective babysitters. Being upfront about the installation of a nanny cam could help you choose the right caretaker during the hiring process. Ask the babysitter is he or she is comfortable working under surveillance. If you choose to disclose the fact that you will be operating a nanny cam chances are the right babysitter won’t mind. You are probably looking for the perfect nanny for a long term position anyway, so if you choose to be candid about your home surveillance system it can help set the tone for a honest and trusting relationship.

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US security experts report that industrial espionage costs businesses over $200 billion per year. Trade secrets are sold from a worker on the inside of the company to competitors for personal gains. It happens a lot more than one would think and the costs are insurmountable.

Spying on companies doesn’t even need to be from an inside employee. A company in London called Target Eye used trojan viruses to infiltrate computers and steal secrets. The perpetrators hoped to sell the software to global and security services, but when they didn’t get a favorable response, they used it to spy on communications and finance companies around the globe.

This particular trojan was sent via CDs that sent out the virus when played on the computer; however, many trojans are being sent through emails, both from outside and inside the company walls.

Computer security has never been more vital in this economic climate where businesses can’t afford to lose any information to competition. Many companies are taking steps to prevent this by installing computer surveillance software. Viewing online activities not only keeps up productivity, but keeps your company safe. Another useful option would be a keylogger to be aware of any suspect emails or documents.

Let’s not forget that files from your own computer can be physically lifted. Imagine the damage that could be inflicted just by stealing a laptop. Prevent this by installing a computer GPS Tracker, which will send an alert and locate both the computer and the perpetrator.

Video cameras also help to deter any criminal activity before it is too late. If someone is lifting “sensitive documents” a well-placed, high resolution cameras will pick it up quickly and clearly.

It may be difficult to spot those that are out for personal gains and one may not want to send a message of not trusting their employees. However, one bad apple spoils the bunch and preventing companies from failing is good for everyone’s job. A strongly secure company can handle anything and weather any storm.

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