Tag Archives: Inside

Secure Your Internet and Wi-Fi

Posted on by

I have touched on this in past articles. Now there are Smart speakers with Alexa, Siri and Google built in I thought I would give you some suggestions on how you can protect and secure yourself.

It is important to recognize that all your smart appliances must go through some type of router before getting to your device. The router will then allow you to connect either through hard wire or Wi-Fi. Hard wire would be faster and more secure; however, Wi-Fi is easier and found in more devices. In either case make sure that your router has a strong password that you created. Make sure that you have the highest-level security for your Wi-Fi such as WPA/WPA2. Also, if your router is more than 5 years old you should consider replacing it with a new modern router. This will ensure that you are using the latest hardware and software security.

Smart speakers are appearing in homes everywhere, they were the highest selling in Amazon this past Christmas season. They are good at playing your favorite music and getting better all the time at following your commands. They can control your alarm system and lock and unlock your front door. Before you allow Alexa, Siri or Google to unlock your front door, ask yourself how secure are they. Can they differentiate your voice form the voice of a stranger? What if you left your house and a stranger came to your front door and said “Unlock the Door” would it unlock? Voice recognition is getting better every day, so test your device before trusting it.

Are smart TV’s tracking what you watch? The answer is yes, they can. I have written another article that explains how they do this and more important how you can stop it.

Do you have cameras inside your house? Many of us do. Ask yourself are they secure and how do I prevent them from being taken over by some smart actor. That could put you into a very embarrassing situation.

It is important to carefully investigate every new smart device that you purchase to determine how it works and what data it collects about you. Then secure that device within your home network. If you are not sure about a particular device disconnect it from your home network. Remember, most every device that you have in your home has to go through your router, secure it!

George Uliano is a security professional with years of law enforcement and security experience. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and Business graduating with honors. George holds three U.S. patents on different locking principles. This combination gives George and His Company Locking Systems International Inc the unique ability to provide its customers with the correct security at an affordable price.

Why Worry About Board Up Services?

Posted on by

Your home or business has been damaged by fire, flooding, or some other natural disaster. There are definitely areas that are exposed, and you’re waiting on your insurance to get started with the restoration process. What do you need to do while you’re waiting to get an answer about everything?

Emergency board up services are something that you may want to consider for the “in between” time. Why would you go through the time and money to get these additional services before you even start the restoration process? Here are some of the benefits of it.

Prevent Theft

One reason to consider board up services is because you don’t want robbers and thieves thinking that they have an easy target to go after. If you leave parts of your home or business open and vulnerable, it’s going to be simple for those people to waltz in there and take whatever they want that is still intact after your disaster. Boarding up your doors and windows, along with any gaps in the walls, can deter potential thieves and keep whatever is left at your property as safe as possible.

Prevent Rain, Snow, and Wind from Damaging the Property Further

All year long, rain and snowstorms can be a bit of an issue if your home or business is left open to the elements. In those cases, it’s going to be in your best interest to connect with emergency board up services as soon as you can. The last thing you need is for your restoration company to get into your home or business to find additional water, or to have to dig out several inches of snow before they start working. It can also prevent wind from going through your home or business, which also prevents additional damage from occurring during that waiting period.

Stop Animals from Getting Inside

Lastly, board up services can easily prevent animals from coming into your home or business. Many animal species are incredibly smart and opportunistic, and they may see your currently empty building as a great place for them to set up a den or shelter. But, if your home or business is boarded up, they will have fewer ways to get inside. Smaller animals may still find nooks and crannies where they can get in, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for them when you move back in. But, at least squirrels and mice are easier and safer to deal with than say, a raccoon, bear, or deer.

If you get professionals to board up your property, you can rest easy and know your home or business is safe, and that’s the bottom line. Many companies that sort out restoration services will also do everything that they can in order to board up and protect your home or business until they can start the restoration process. You just need to get in touch with them and let them know what sort of help you’ll need to take care of everything related to your home or business