I was just looking at The National Neighborhood Watch website. It has a lot of resources which can help a neighborhood establish a neigborhood watch program. Forming a solid neighborhood watch in your area is the first defense against crime. Keeping the program active once it is established is imperative.

Unfortunately we live in a society where people don’t know who lives 2 0r 3 doors on either side of them or even their next door neighbors. While in the Security Alarm Industry, I heard over and over again , ” I don’t need an alarm system because we have a neigborhood watch program”. Most of the time , an inactive neighborhood watch program results in a burglar stealing items from the neighbor’s home unnoticed. We are a busy society and people don’t feel they have the time or desire to get involved with their neighbors. Having a close knit neighborhood makes it safer for everyone.

It was once said that there are three kinds of people, those that make things happen, those that never make things happen and those that don’t even know what’s happening. If you don’t have a neighborhood watch program in your area, start one. If you have one, become active in it. Remember the saying, “there’s safety in numbers”.

Make it your task to know ALL the people on your block including the children. Report anything out of the ordinary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Yes, it takes some of your time, but being active in your community will pay off many times over.

You can order materials and information to form your area program from The National Neighborhood Watch Organization.

Choosing the right security alarm system and company for your home can be very confusing. In some market areas, there can be numerous alarm companys listed in the yellow pages. Here is some informatiom to consider in choosing which security alarm system will meet the needs of your family.

The company is the first and most important consideration:

* Is the company a local company that will be in business for the duration of your ownership or is it a national company in business for years. Ask how long they have been in business. I have seen some alarm companies go out of business and leave their customers without protection. Ask if the company you are reviewing is a dealership or the parent company. Some dealerships have different policies than the parent company.

* The personnel is as equally important. You need to ask if the company: Does background checks on ALL employees. What kind of training is given/required by the installers. Do they keep up with the latest technology and how it is implemented into existing securitiy alarm systems.

* Most states require the alarm company to be licensed. This means every person working for the company must be licensed. Ask to see the salesperson and technician’s license before the sale and installation.

* Ask how the system will be monitored. Is it their own monitoring company or do they contract with another company. Understanding how the monitoring company handles an emergency is extremely important.

* Good planning of your system must be addressed. An alarm sytem is not a “one size fits all”. Each family and home are different and it should fit into the family’s lifestyle . Ease of operation should be a concern. If it’s too difficult to operate it won’t get used.

* Ask your friends about their company and system. Do they receive fast and reliable service. Did they feel comfortable with the technicians that installed or repaired their system.

* Be careful about any “long term” contract they might require. If you are unhappy with the company or the system after installation, they could have you obligated with a non-cancellation contract. Getting out of the contract could be very expensive. Ask about their warranties.

* Get two or three quotes to compare the equipment as well as the prices. Be sure you understand what equipment you are getting. A good alarm representative could spend as much as 2 to 3 hours to design your system. This means looking at both the outside and inside of your home.

Topwebsite lists four of the best alarm companies.

More and more Americans are purchasing vacation homes. In most cases, this means it is vacant a good portion of the year. What can you do to keep your property secure?

Many alarm companies, especially ADT, are now providing a way to protect and monitor your property almost any where in the world!

The systems have several video cameras integrated into the security system. These cameras can be full color or even infa-red. That can video record your property in poor lighting conditions. Many users are getting these sophistcated systems for their main residence as well.

These cameras can be set so any movement will start the DVR, (Digital Video Recorder), recording the event. Many DVR’s will keep this information stored for several weeks or months. The DVR can also send this information to your home, work, cell phone via the internet. It also can send an alert signal to any of these locations the instant an ocurrence is happening. When you hear this “alert signal” you will be able to view your property as the occurence is taking place .

You can observe your property at any time from work or any other remote location that has an internet connection. Now you can see if your chilldren have returned safely home from school. Know who’s ringing your door bell without opening your door. The applications are unlimited. Imagine, being able to check in on your main residence as well as your vacation property from home or work.

An ADT Security Professional will design a custom system to meet your needs.

According to an article in the BBC, hackers are at it again. In Decmber 2007, a new virus dubbed Mebroot came on the scene. Since it’s introduction, it has infected over 5,000 computers worldwide. It attacks computers using Windows Operating Systems. The reason it’s so dangerous , it can bury itself deep inside windows programs to avoid detection.

Previously, I warned you about “booby-trapping” websites. This is the most common way it effects the computer. It has a rootkit which tries to overwrite part of your hard drive called the Master Boot Record (MBR). When your computer is turned on this is where the computer gets it’s information about your operating system to boot up.

The virus sometimes downloads other malicious programs such as, keyloggers. These can steal your confidential information from your computer.

It is thought to be based from a Russian virus writing group called the torpig family of viruses.

Although it can be detected by some virus protection programs, most commercially bought programs will not detect it. Computers running Windows XP, Windows Vitsa, Windows Server 2003, and Windows 2000 that are not fully patched are especially vunerable.

It is important to keep all your computer protection programs updated. As hackers introduce new viruses, security software is being developed to detect and delete them.

Viruses are designed to Replicate themselves. In order for it to do this it must be permitted to execute a code and it usually is written into your memory. They quite often attach themselves to a file that may be a part of one of your programs. When the user starts this program, the virus code is executed and infections takes place.

Most viruses can be broken down into two groups; Nonresident and Resident. A nonresident virus seaches for a host that it can infect. After infecting these targets it transfers control to the program it has infected. A resident virsus dosen’t look for a host but loads itself directly into your computer’s memory. Every time you try to rid your computer of this virus, it will reoccur the next time you re-start your computer because it’s still lodged in your memory. It can also infect new hosts when some files are accessed by another program or operating system.

The Nonresident virus has a finder module has a finder “finder module” and a “replication module”. The finder module finds a file to infect and the replication module does the infecting.

The Resident Virus also has a replication module very similar to the nonresident virus but is not called a finder module. This virus loads the replication module directly into your memory so it will be executed every time an infected operating system is executed. It may infect several programs in your computer.

In conclusion, some viruses tag along looking for a host which would be some program or attachment you downloaded. It will then trigger some data file on your computer to trigger the execution of a code that is hidden within a data file.

I was reading howstuffworks blog. They have a good article on viruses. Check it out here.

Computer Viruses” are one of the most confusing problems of the average user. People tend to lump together all sorts of computer malfuntiions and call them a virus. In fact, the term “virus” can refer to several types of malfunctions of your computer and each has a specific name. This piece is the first of several articles in which I will discuss various malfunctions that can effect your computer and how to deal with them.

“Viruses” can be broken down into different catagories. Each has it’s own way of effecting your computer and may be gotten in a different way. Some of the computer malfunctions are really not, per say, viruses like Trojan Horses, or Worms. However, whether it is a virus, a Trojan Horse or a worm, most of the time it comes onto your computer over the internet.

What exactly is a Virus? Simply stated it usually is a program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowlege of the user. They can even mutate the more they infect additional computers. This is why some viruses are hard to block or guard against. Hackers develop programs which can by-pass the type of virsus blocking software that you might have on your computer. Most true viruses need a host to be transfered where as Worms and Trojan Horses can be spread without being part of a host. No matter what it is, a virus, a worm, or a trojan horse, they initially seem harmless.

First Rule of Thumb, don’t download any attachment in an email or World Wide Web Messeage from someone you don’t know. Some viruses can damage your computer and it may take a professional to remove it. Some can even look into your personal data and can gain access to your personal files to steal your identity.

Pc Magazine has an interesting article on the I Luv You virus. With Valentines Day coming up…..it’s a good one to review. We always tend to think….this won’t happen to me…but check out what happened to this company which has lots of computer engineers working for them.

Next blog we’ll discuss ways of prevention. Until then, watch what you download to your computer.

Quite often calls or mail comes from “pre-approved” credit card companies. Every time you respond to one of these offers, it can lower your credit score. Credit Bureaus have a toll free number of 1-888-5-optout (1-888-567-8688). Contacting them at this number will prevent these offers for two years. Be sure to tell them that you do not want them to disclose your personal information. The three largest Credit Bureaus contact sites are:

Equifax, Inc. Options
P. O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

Experian, Consumer Opt Out
701 Experian Way
Allen, TX 75013

Trans Union LLC, Name Removal Option
P. O. Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328

If you are bothered by unwanted telephone offers call or write to:

Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P. O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

Tell them to put your name and phone number on a “do not call list”. You may also tell a telemarketer that calls you to put you on a do not call list. This might only limit the amount of calls you get. A lot of charities do not use Direct Marketing lists. Some charities can bypass a do not call list because they are a non-profit charity or if you have donated to them in the past.

There is National “do not call” list. Here again, some non-profits are not required to go by this list. To put your name on this list, call 888-382-1222 or log on here.
Several states are working on laws to reduce unwanted mail and phone calls. You may want to call your state’s consumer protection agency. Be patient with some charities that may call you. Your contact might have been by mistake and the best charity with all it’s limitations can call you in error. Give them a chance to correct their mistake.

The following are tips to reduce unwanted mail.

1. Be selective in the charity you are giving to. Even some of the more “well known” charities sell their list of subscribers. It dosen’t make any difference the amount you give. Even the smallest donation gets you on their list of donors.

2. Always include a statement with your donation making it clear that all future donations will be predicated in not giving out your name to other organizations.

3. If you are getting a large amount of mail from certain charities, write to them. Tell them they are wasting their money sending you multiple mailings. Ask to have your name removed from their list. This might not happen because the mailing you received might have come from a “bought list”. Often they do not keep these lists after a mailing.

4. Contact the Direct Mailing Association and request your name be removed from all of their direct mailing companies they are associated with. You can also write to:

Mail Preference Services
Direct Marketing Association
P. O. Box 642
Carmel, NY 10512

How many times have to got an email from some charitable organization that seemed so legitimate? It seems some charities are not what they appear to be.

Recently, Daniel Borochoff, of the American Instiute of Philanthropy, made a testimony to the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on Veteran Charities. It will amaze you when you read about the poor performance of some of these charities. The institute grades charities in several different catagories. The worst two performing charity catagories are Veterans & military, and Crime & fire.

No matter what your stand on the current involvement of our military, our troops are getting wounded. Moms and dads are getting killed. They deserve more than they are getting. It seems a lot of supposed “veteran charities” are becoming wealthy playing on peoples sympathies. You would be suprised at how little of your donations actually get to help our veterans. So check out the charity you donate to before giving.

You can go to AIP’s (American Institute of Philanthropy) website and find a rating for the charity you may be giving to. Charitywatch.org

Your Mail Box is one of the most neglected places of the home. There are several things you should check to see if it is in compliance with your local Post Office. You want to be sure you mail gets delivered and insure the safety of your mail as well as your carrier. Many carriers have been injured by improper mail boxes. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts.

* Keep it free from hornet and wasp nests. Be sure the lid closes properly.
* Be sure the lock is in good working order if it’s required.
* Don’t have anything delivered to it that is not actual mail ( news papers, anything that dosen’t have postal stamps, common carrier deliveries ie: fedex-ups etc.)
* The box must be kept clear so the Postal Carrier can get to it.
* Be sure it’s installed in the proper area and side of street.
* Be sure it’s secured firmly and weather resistant.
* Have the box size coincide with the amount and type of mail you receive.
The carrier can refuse to deliver mail if he/she feels they could be injured by doing so. Sometimes mean dogs or unsafe sidewalks can be an example of this. Remember, that when the mail is placed into your mail box it the becomes your property. The liability of the postal service ends when it is delivered. Always have your mail held if you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time.

If you have any questions or problems, contact your local Postmaster. They will be happy to assist you in any way.

THINK ABOUT IT