This article is the second of a series devoted to helping the common person install a DIY Self-Monitored Home Security Alarm. The instructions that we provide throughout this series of articles will be focused on the security systems listed below but you will find that our tips and tricks can be utilized with just about any DIY Home Security Alarm available on the market. In the end, it really does not matter where or what kind of security alarm that you get, the important thing is that you get a security system that you feel comfortable with and that it provides you with the peace of mind that you are seeking.

• $99 Basic Security System
• $199 Gold Series Home Security Solution Package
• $249 Platinum Series Home Security Solution Package

Window & Door Sensors

How They Work

Before we being the installation process it is probably best if we give you a basic understanding of how the window/door sensors operate.

Most window/door sensors consist of two parts. The first part is the “brain” of the sensor and it is a small box-like device that is typically no larger than a standard bar of soap. In the olden days, the sensor was usually hard wired to a main security console located in a remote part of the house or business. However, with technological advances, most window/door sensors eliminate the need for wiring all over your home and now communicate via encrypted radio frequency with the security console. This makes installation so much easier for the Do-It-Yourselfer. The wireless window/door sensor operates off of 2 AA batteries. If you utilize an alkaline battery you can be assured that your sensor will operate flawlessly for 5+ years before needing to replace the batteries. It is amazing how very little voltage is required for these sensors.

The second part of the sensor is the pair of magnetic contacts. These are very small in size but play a crucial part in the proper operation of your sensor. One side of the contact houses a magnet and the other side of the contact holds a small diode like instrument. When the contacts are next to each other, the magnet causes the diode to remain in a closed state allowing a small current to be circulated from the brain of the sensor through the contact and back to the sensor. Once themagnet moves away from the diode, the circuit opens and the sensor is triggered.

Ok… now that you know how the window/door sensors work, let’s look at how to install them.

Installation

By this point you have already decided which doors and windows you want to secure with a sensor. Installation of the sensors can be as difficult or easy as you want it to be. If you don’t care about aesthetics and just want the sensor to work you can probably slap them up with the included double sided tape and call it a day. However, if you are one of those meticulous types and want everything to be perfect with not only function but also with looks, it may take you a little longer to install your sensors. Most people probably fall somewhere in between these two extremes. What I can tell you though, is that it is worth taking the extra time now to ensure minimal problems later. But ultimately, the choice is yours.

Each sensor includes double sided tape for those that want to do a quick install. The double sided tape is effective in holding the contacts in place and even mounting the sensor on the wall above the window or door jam. If you decide to just use the double sided tape for your install, you will want to make sure that you are applying it to a clean surface. The best way to insure this is to prep the surface by cleaning it with rubbing alcohol. If you live in a hot humid climate, you may want to reconsider installing the sensors with the included screws. One of our customers recounted a story to us of how their alarm was triggered because one of the sensor contacts fell off because they only used the double-sided tape and they did not have the air conditioning on so the temperature in their house reached the high 80’s… Again.. the choice is yours on which approach you want to take when installing your window/door sensors.

When installing the contacts, you want to make sure the little arrows are facing each other. In addition, you don’t want them to be more than a half inch apart. You may be able to go a little further in the distance between the contacts but it may have an adverse impact on the operation and effectiveness of your alarm.

And You Thought They Were Just For Windows & Doors!

Over the course of the years that we have been selling these alarm systems, we have heard from many customers that have thought outside of the box and have come up with some ingenious applications for these window/door sensors. Here are a few:

• Wired the sensor to a smoke alarm so that when the smoke alarm went off, it triggered the window/door sensor which activated the alarm.
• Put a sensor on a gun cabinet.
• Wired a sensor to a glass breakage detection device.
• Hooked up to a garage door (not a side one..the one you drive your car through)
• Put one on a fridge (this had to do with some weight watcher thing a couple was going through and one of them could not keep away from middle of the night snacks)
• Put it on a closet (apparently they had Christmas presents in there that they were keeping guard from their grand kids..)
• Wired to a temperature sensor or water sensor (water sensor was by the hot water heater in case it sprung a leak)

Visual Aids!

The following are some pictures of different installation jobs from over the years. Enjoy!

This is an example of how you can wire your sensors in a series and only use one sensor to cover multiple windows.

Simple Door Installation

Window Installation

Sliding Doors

Side Garage Door

Example of how NOT to install a door sensor. See the hinges? You never want to install a sensor on the hinged side of a door because the door has to be opened really wide before the sensor will be triggered.

Another Window Installation

Another Door Installation (Steel Door)

ok..let’s summarize once again.. You have picked the alarm system that is right for you and now you have successfully installed all of your Window/Door Sensors. So what is next you ask? Well, the next article in this series will be touching upon Motion Sensors. They are a great compliment to your window/door sensors and a must have for any alarm system. As always, we enjoy hearing from our readers. If you have additional installation tips that you would like to share, please feel free to do so below in comments.

This article is the fourth in a series devoted to helping the common person install a DIY Self-Monitored Home Security Alarm. The instructions that we provide throughout this series of articles will be focused on the security systems listed below but you will find that our tips and tricks can be utilized with just about any DIY Home Security Alarm available on the market. In the end, it really does not matter where or what kind of security alarm that you get, the important thing is that you get a security system that you feel comfortable with and that it provides you with the peace of mind that you are seeking.

• $99 Basic Security System
• $199 Gold Series Home Security Solution Package
• $249 Platinum Series Home Security Solution Package

SIRENS

Sirens can operate a number of different ways depending on the alarm system that you are utilizing. The most traditional of security systems include a single siren that is built into the security console while the more advanced ones provide the opportunity for multiple sirens with remote placement around your home or business.

When an alarm is triggered, the siren is activated and it should result in a large blaring sound that will scare or intimidate any potential intruder from breaking into your home. In addition, your siren should be loud enough to wake even the heaviest of sleepers when it is activated. If it is loud enough for a neighbor to hear then you really are in good shape with your siren set-up.

The siren is probably one of the most important components to your home security alarm. Without good siren coverage, your alarm will be mediocre in its results of deterring burglars from breaking into your home or business.

The good news about the security systems that we provide here at SmartSecurityPeople.com is that you can have as many sirens as you have electrical outlets. What this means is that you can have comprehensive siren coverage throughout your entire house, garage, pole-barn, tool shed, basement, etc… As long as electric is running to these places, you can quickly install a siren.

How Do They Work?

The security systems that we provide all have a siren built into the console. This works perfect for a small home or condo but for a larger residence you will want to make use of extra sirens. All of our security systems include at lest one external siren to compliment the built-in console siren.

The external sirens can be plugged into any standard electrical outlet around your home. When the security console is triggered, it will send a signal over your electrical wires that will activate any external siren plugged into your home wiring. For example, we recently installed a security system in a customer’s pole barn. They wanted to have sirens out in the barn but they also wanted a siren in their house so that they could be notified when the alarm was triggered (The pole barn was located about 100 feet off of the back of their house). So, we put a siren in their dining room and since the pole-barn used the same electrical supply, when the alarm was triggered, it activated the siren in the dining room of the house.

Where and How Do I Install Them?

It is surprisingly simple to install additional sirens. They will plug into any standard electrical outlet. What you want to do though is try to space them out around your home to provide excellent coverage. When we are installing these security systems, we typically install a siren in the hallway, one in the family room, one in the garage, and if it is a multiple story home, we try to make sure a siren is located on each level of the home (including basement).

The key is to install the siren anywhere that you think it will have the greatest impact if your home security alarm were to be triggered.

Any Tips and Tricks?

Of course, we always have great tips and tricks! It is not very common for home security alarms to have external sirens anymore. Our only guess for this change is that they are an expensive option and require additional wiring to operate. The sirens that we have can work outside if you have an electrical outlet on the exterior of your home. However, they are really designed for interior use so they may not provide consistent coverage for you if exposed to the elements over the years. So, we have had customers remedy this by getting a simple alarm horn/siren from Radio Shack and wiring it to the siren included with our security systems. They had a basic understanding of the circuitry in the siren to make this happen so it is not a tip or trick that we recommend for the average person but it certainly shows the creativity of some of our customers.

Visual Aids!

We know that you always enjoy seeing pictures, so we are happy to oblige. The following pictures show a couple of the sirens installed and ready to go when the alarm is triggered.

This is the loudest of sirens that we offer with our security packages. It is a Super PowerHorn siren. As you can see, it just plugs into an outlet and you can optionally screw it into place with the included hardware.

This is the Compact Powerhorn siren that comes with every security package that we offer. It is small in size but puts out some large sound. It also plugs into any standard outlet.

ok..let’s summarize once again.. You have picked the alarm system that is right for you, you have successfully installed all of your Window/Door Sensors and your Motion Sensors, you now have your sirens in place. So what is next you ask? Well, the next article in this series will be touching upon Lamp Modules and Remotes! They are certainly not the most exciting aspect of a home security alarm but they come in very handy and can be extremely useful!

Anyway, we hope that you are finding these articles useful. We appreciate all of our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com. If you have additional tips and tricks you would like to share, please feel free to do so by leaving a comment below!

This article is the fifth in a series devoted to helping the common person install a DIY Self-Monitored Home Security Alarm. The instructions that we provide throughout this series of articles will be focused on the security systems listed below but you will find that our tips and tricks can be utilized with just about any DIY Home Security Alarm available on the market. In the end, it really does not matter where or what kind of security alarm that you get, the important thing is that you get a security system that you feel comfortable with and that it provides you with the peace of mind that you are seeking.

• $99 Basic Security System
• $199 Gold Series Home Security Solution Package
• $249 Platinum Series Home Security Solution Package

Remotes and Lamp Modules

With each of the security alarm packages that we offer, you will see that we provide not only Key Chain remotes but also a Master Security Control remote. These remotes are very useful in that they can turn your alarm off and on at the push of a button. The best part about these remotes is that you no longer have to remember any pin numbers or security codes to activate/deactivate your alarm. This feature is very handy because if you accidentally trigger your alarm, the stress of your alarm going off quickly renders your memory useless for remembering any codes. You can program up to 8 remotes for each security system.

In addition, all of our alarms include at least one lamp module. These lamp modules help to bring home automation functions to the lighting in your home. They can turn any standard incandescent light into a dimmable light and all at the push of a button.

The KeyChain Remote

The Key Chain remote is fairly small and does not weigh down your key chain even with the 2 AAA batteries installed. It measures at 2 1/2 inches long, an inch and a half wide and about half an inch thick. In our testing we have found the Key Chain remote to have about a 200 foot working radio frequency range. This means that as long as you are within a couple hundred feet of the main security console, it should have no problem communicating with your alarm. Most people just utilize the Key Chain remote after they have left their home or right before they are about to enter.  So..the 200 foot range should be more than enough for most.

The Key Chain remote features 4 buttons: ARM, DISARM, LIGHTS ON, LIGHTS OFF

• The ARM button does simply that, it arms your security system which causes the console to ding once and a light (connected to the lamp module and assigned to the same House Code as your security console and UNIT 1) to flash once.
• The DISARM button will deactivate your security alarm and will cause the console to ding twice as confirmation of the alarm be turned off.
• The LIGHTS ON button will turn on the same light mentioned above (connected to the lamp module and assigned to the same House Code as your security console and UNIT 1). This feature is sought after by many because it ensures that you will never have to enter a dark home again. By a simple push of the button, you can always have your entry way lit up before you enter.
• The LIGHTS OFF button is somewhat self-explanatory but it just turns off the same light that is turned on by the LIGHTS ON button.

If at anytime you find yourself in a panic situation and want to trigger your alarm, all you have to do is hit the ARM & DISARM buttons on the Key Chain Remote at the same time and it will trigger your alarm. The Key Chain remote also features a low-battery indicator light to notify you if the batteries are getting low.

The Master Security Remote

The Master Security Remote is about three times the size of the Key Chain Remote. This extra size is to be expected though since it is packed with a lot of features and is not intended to be strapped to your key chain! The purpose of this remote is to keep it somewhere in your house that is convenient for you. Some of our customers prefer to keep it in the living room while others have it located on their nightstand.

The Master Security Remote boasts a wireless range of 100 ft from the manufacturer. However, we have found it to work up to at least 150ft. It may work at greater distances but we have never had a need to test it further. It requires 4 AAA batteries to operate. It measures 4 1/2 inches by 2 3/4 inches and has a depth of about 3/4 of an inch.

The Master Security Remote has a lot more buttons and features than the Key Chain Remote. It has 9 rocker type buttons, a House Code dial and a Min/Max toggle switch.

• Starting from top to bottom, the first button is the PANIC button. If for some reason you need to trigger your alarm, you can push this button and it will set your siren off, the lights will start flashing, and the auto-dialer feature will begin calling to the preset phone numbers that you have registered in the console.
• The second button is the ARM HOME/DISARM button. This arms your alarm but only the window and door sensors. It does not activate the motion sensors (since you are supposed to be home and probably walking around your home).
• The next button is the ARM AWAY/DISARM button. This arms your alarm and all the sensors (motion sensors included).
• The SECURITY LIGHT button is used to control the lamp module that is set to the same house number and unit number as your security console. It can turn the light on and off at the push of a button.
• The next four buttons are used to control lamp modules in your home. These buttons turn any lights on and off that are connected to the corresponding lamp module.
• The last button is the DIMMING SWITCH. Any of the lights that you have plugged into a lamp module are now dimmable just by hitting this button up or down.
• The House Code Dial should be set to the same house code you have selected on your security console. This helps to make sure the security console and the remote control are in sync with each other when operating the home automation features (remote control lights).
• The MIN/MAX button allows the remote to set the alarm instantly (MIN) or after about 30 seconds (MAX). We encourage all of our customers to keep this set at MIN because if you set it to MAX, it will ding for 30 seconds before arming. If you are like us you would prefer the instant gratification of having your alarm armed right away as opposed to the 30 second delay.

The Lamp Module

The Lamp Module can turn any ordinary light into something extraordinary. It gives you the opportunity to control that light remotely from across the room and also makes it dimmable.  The Lamp Module works with incandescent lights and lamps (i.e. with a regular light bulb, not halogen or fluorescent). Plug the lamp into the Lamp Module, and plug the Lamp Module into any normal wall socket - it’s that easy! Ideal for controlling bedroom, living room, and family room lamps.

The Lamp Module receives it commands over the existing wiring in your home. When you hit the button on your remote, it send a wireless signal to your Security Console and then the Console sends an instructional signal over your electrical wiring to the Lamp module. With your remote you have the ability to turn lights on and off and dim them at the push of a button.

The Lamp Module has 2 dials on it. One is the Unit Code and the other is the House Code. The House Code(A-P) will need to match the House Code that you have set on your Security Console and Master Security Remote. The Unit Code should probably be set to 1-4. If you set it to 1, that means that this light can be turned on and off with the Key Chain remote and the Security Light button on the Master Security Remote. If you set it to 2,3, or 4, it can be controlled by the extra light buttons on the Master Security Remote.

The Lamp Module is about 2 3/4 of an inch tall, 2 1/8 inches wide, and 1 1/4 inch deep. It can plug into any standard electrical outlet and is rated to handle incandescent lights up to 300 watts.

Tips & Tricks

Over the years we have done a number of installations and provided enough support for our customers to be able to pull together some of the “best practices” that are being utilized with different aspects of our security systems. the following represent a couple of the best practices adopted from our customers in regard to remotes and lamp modules.

• Key Chain Remote In The Garage: We have gotten this tip from quite a few of our customers. What they do is hide a Key Chain remote in the garage and only share that location with a few close family members or friends. Then they install an electric keypad garage door opener outside of their garage. They give these same close friends and family members the code to the opener. By doing this, they have set up a secure method to get friends and family members into their home without triggering the alarm. This saves them on passing Key Chain remotes out to everyone and it appears to be much more convenient.
• Alarm Set/Lamp Module Notification: (This is another garage tip!)As you learned above, you can set a lamp module so that it flashes a light every time you ARM your alarm. A good number of our customers say that they have set up a light in the garage with the lamp module so that before they back their car out they can hit the ARM button on the remote and if the light flashes, then they know that everything is “good-to-go”. If the light does not flash, then that means that they may have left a window or door open and they need to double check the house.

ok..let’s summarize once again.. You have picked the alarm system that is right for you, you have successfully installed all of your Window/Door Sensors and your Motion Sensors, you now have your sirens in place. you know how to work your remotes and lamp modules. So what is next you ask? Well, the next article in this series will be getting to the heart and brain of your security system… the Security Console! We will be covering the role of the Security Console but more importantly, we will discuss how you install it and tie it in with your other security components.

Anyway, we hope that you are finding these articles useful. We appreciate all of our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com. If you have additional tips and tricks you would like to share, please feel free to do so by leaving a comment below!

This article is the last in a series devoted to helping the common person install a DIY Self-Monitored Home Security Alarm. The instructions that we provide throughout this series of articles will be focused on the security systems listed below but you will find that our tips and tricks can be utilized with just about any DIY Home Security Alarm available on the market. In the end, it really does not matter where or what kind of security alarm that you get, the important thing is that you get a security system that you feel comfortable with and that it provides you with the peace of mind that you are seeking.

• $99 Basic Security System
• $199 Gold Series Home Security Solution Package
• $249 Platinum Series Home Security Solution Package

The Security Console - “The Brain of your System”

The security console is the backbone of your entire security system. Without the security console, you do not have a security system. For this reason, it is crucial that you install and program your security console with great accuracy. It is also important for you to know how it works and functions. The good news is that once you have invested the initial set-up time with your alarm, you should be able to experience years of problem free functionality from your security system.

This article is dedicated to walking you through the proper steps to set-up your security console. In addition, as we move along through the set-up process, we will describe all the features associated with the security console. So.. here we go!!

Installation of the Security Console

You will want to find a good location in your home for your security console. It is designed to be able to sit on a counter top, shelf, or maybe at the bottom of an end table. However, we do have some customers that prefer to hang them on the wall and we have special bracket made just for that. The location you choose should be centrally located in your home and have access to a standard electrical outlet. If you are using the auto-dial calling feature of your alarm, you will want it to have easy access to a standard telephone line as well.

The following is a step-by-step process for programming your Security Console. These steps have been tested again and again and we have found that using the following sequence during set-up will insure that you don’t have to hassle with your alarm ever again. So.. don’t skip any of the steps and make sure you follow them in entirety.

1. Go around your home and install the batteries in all of your window and door sensors and also in your motion sensors. (For best performance, make sure you use alkaline batteries. We have found that alkaline batteries last for at least 5 years in the sensors before needing replacement)
2. Push the test button on each sensor for 2 seconds. When you lift off of the button the sensor light should flash a couple of times. (This resets the sensors and gets them primed and ready for programming to your security console)
3. Turn your motion sensors to face the wall and make sure all windows and doors are shut. (This is a critical step because it will keep you from registering a single sensor onto multiple zones.)
4. Gather all of your remotes and have them located by the security console and ready for programming.
5. Plug your security console in and flip the switch to INSTALL
6. Your alarm is equipped with a 9 volt battery back-up system. This back-up battery can provide limited operation of your security system for about twelve hours in case of a power outage. Once you have your alarm plugged in and ready for programming you will want to install the back-up battery.
7. To register your sensors to the console you will need to go around and hit the test button on each window/door sensor and motion sensor. (You should hear only one ding per sensor - also you may want to write down which sensor is registered into which zone for future use)(Important- if you ever hear more than one ding for each sensor, you will need to RESET your console-See RESET INSTRUCTIONS BELOW).
8. To register your remotes you will need to hit the ARM button on each one (you should hear a single ding for each remote programmed)
9. Flip the console to RUN1 or RUN2. You should see the record light come on for a minute or so. This shows that the console is putting your settings to memory.

Ok.. Your alarm should be good to go at this point for basic functionality. If you want to program it to dial out when triggered, you can follow theses additional steps:

1. The auto-dialer can call up to 4 phone numbers. Most customers just put their cell phone number in all 4 slots but you can program it to call anyone that your prefer. It will call the first number and if no one answers or if it gets voice mail, it will move onto the next number and so forth.
2. You will want to turn the alarm to INSTALL
3. Press the PROG button and enter the first phone number that you want to be called in the event your alarm is triggered. (if the phone number is long distance, be sure to include a 1 and the area code with the phone number)
4. Press the MEM and press “1″ (This will store this number in the 1st memory location)
5. Press PROG, enter the second number (can be the same as the 1st one) and hit MEM and then “2″
6. Press PROG, enter the third number and hit MEM and then “3″
7. Press PROG, enter the fourth number and hit MEM and then “4″
8. Flip the switch to RUN1 or RUN2 and it will record to memory the information that you just entered(You can repeat the above process at anytime to change a phone number as well

Now we need to program a message into your security console so that it can play it whenever it reaches someone at any of the above phone numbers.

1. Flip the switch to INSTALL
2. Press the RECORD button (a light should turn on)
3. Speak clearly into the microphone with your message. (Most customers usually say the following: The alarm has been triggered at “your address” press zero to listen in..) You have up to 15 seconds of recording time so you will want to repeat this message as many times as you can during that 15 seconds. When the light on the console turns off that means that you are out of time.
4. Flip the switch to RUN1 or Run2 and now your message will be transferred to the memory of the security console and you are all set!

If you ever need to RESET your security console due to a programming snafu or just because you want to set something up differently, you can follow the following steps to accomplish this:

1. Turn motion sensors to face wall and make sure all doors and windows are shut.
2. Unplug the console and remove back-up battery for 30 seconds
3. Gather all your remotes and have them located by the console
4. Plug Console back in
5. Flip switch to INSTALL
6. Go around and hit the test button on each window/door sensor and motion sensor. (You should hear only one ding per sensor - also you may want to write down which sensor is registered into which zone for future use)(Important- if you ever hear more than one ding, you need to start over at step 2)
7. Hit the ARM button on each remote (you should hear a single ding for each remote)
8. Flip the Console to RUN1 or RUN2
9. You should be good to go and you can follow the steps above if you want to program the auto-dialer feature of your security system.

You may be asking yourself what the difference is between RUN1 and RUN2 on the security console. If you have it set to RUN1, everything operates as normal. If you have it set to RUN2, everything operates as normal with the exception that every time a window or door is opened, the security console will chime once to let you know. This is commonly referred to as a “babysitting feature”. Regardless of where you are in your home, you will know if someone comes in or leaves at anytime. Most of our clients like this feature but those with pets (or maybe kids as well) that constantly want to go outside, the chime tends to get annoying after a while.

ok..let’s summarize once again.. You have picked the alarm system that is right for you, you have successfully installed all of your Window/Door Sensors and your Motion Sensors, you now have your sirens in place, you know how to work your remotes and lamp modules and you have now installed the brain of your security system, otherwise known as the security console. YOU should feel very accomplished!

This brings our installation article series to an end. We hope that you find these installation articles helpful and informative. Should you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you have additional installation tips that you would like to share with others, please feel free to do so below in the comment section.

Tips From A Loyal Customer On Installing Your Home Security Alarm

These tips and tricks are for the following security systems but can probably be used for other D.I.Y security alarms. Enjoy!

• $99 Basic Security System
• $199 Gold Series Home Security Solution Package
• $249 Platinum Series Home Security Solution Package

1. As others have said, it is comprehensive and everything you need to do the install is included in the box (except the screwdriver..) Each window/door sensor can be installed with the double sided tape however I recommend that you take the time to install these with the screws that are included in the box. I made a mistake of just using the tape and one hot humid summer day the magnetic contact fell off and set the alarm off. Since then, I screwed each contact in for a more permanent solution. If you feel compelled to just use the double sided tape, make sure you clean the surface with alcohol prior. That was something I did not do as well.

2. Buy alkaline batteries. The batteries have a very long lifespan in the sensors. Over the years that we have had the system, we have only had to replace our keychain remote batteries. All the sensor batteries are still holding strong. The technology that is being used must operate on very little voltage…

3. When you are first “registering” your sensors with the console, be sure to turn the motion sensors to face the wall. Otherwise, you will find that your motion sensor will be registered in multiple zones as it detects you walking around the house setting all the other sensors.

4. Another sensor suggestion during the registration process is that you be careful not to close the window/door sensor lid too hard. It has a test button under the lid and if you press too hard you may register the sensor twice.

5. If you have a lot of windows, I recommend that you utilize a motion sensor in that area as opposed to putting a sensor on each window. It will save you lots of time (and sensors) and provide comprehensive coverage.

6. Get an extra siren or two.. You can add as many sirens as you have electrical outlets but if you really want to scare someone away, stock up on the sirens and put them around the house. The louder the better, right?

7. The motion sensor is not pet sensitive but I fixed that real quick. I took a piece of medical tape (white color matched the sensor) and put it across the bottom of the IR sensor. It simply eliminated the sensor from detecting anything under 3 ft tall. Our dog is small so it worked for us. If your dog is taller than 3 ft then you probably don’t need a security system…

8. I would set all of the window/door sensors and remotes to arm instantly (min). If you have any of them set to (max), the console will ding for 30-60 seconds before arming. It was actually quite annoying. With everything set to arm/disarm instantly you get immediate gratification and can forgo the countdown. We just arm and disarm our alarm after we leave or before we enter the house with our keychain remote.

9. When you arm the alarm, the motion sensors will not activate until after 60 seconds of no movement being detected. This allows time for you to get out of the house. It took me a while to figure this out as I armed the system and jumped up and down waiting for them to be triggered.

10. Try to centrally locate your console in your house (especially if your house is huge). Ours is not centrally located and we have not had any issues with sensor or remote control range but you never know. Actually, we have tried turning our alarm off from the street before hitting our driveway and it worked.

SmartSecurityPeople.com appreciates receiving these installation tips from our customers. We are pleased to share them with you. If you have additional tips that you think may be helpful for others, please forward them onto us via our Contact Page.

A German security expert, Karsten Nohl, has collaborated with researchers to expose the security flaws with GSM technology that is widely used by cell phone companies across the world. Not only have they exposed the flaws, they have created and posted on the web a code book containing instructions on how to get past standard GSM encryption that is being utilized on over 3 billion mobile phones to keep conversations secure from eavesdropping. GSM technology is used by several cell phone carriers in the U.S., with the largest being AT&T and T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint users have nothing to fear since they use a more secure CDMA technology.

Nohl said the purpose was to push companies to improve security. The collaborative effort put the information online through file-sharing sites.

“The message is to have better security, not we want to break you,” he said of the move. “The goal is better security. If we created more demand for more security, if any of the network operators could use this as a marketing feature … that would be the best possible outcome.”

Nohl states that “carriers should now do the security patch that is overdue 15 years by upgrading to a new encryption function. I suspect they will only do so if customer demand is significant. Hopefully the customers will make it clear to their provider that they want 21st century security for their phone calls.”

So.. what do you think of Mr. Nohl’s approach to bringing this information to light? Do you think he is justified in releasing this code breaking information across the web to the masses or do you think there is a more structured approach that he could have taken. Regardless, it appears that he has gotten the attention of the cell phone carriers and they are probably falling all over themselves to upgrade their technology…which is probably a win for the consumer in the long run.

As our readers are aware, this is National CyberSecurity Month. In order to pay tribute to the month, Google has recently released the top 5 security tips that should be utilized by those of us that use Gmail as our free email service provider.

The tips below are directed specifically for Gmail users but they can be applicable for most any free email service provider. If you find that your email service provider can not provide similar security features as our friends at Google, you may want to consider shifting your email to Gmail. We hope that our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com find this information helpful as we continue to celebrate National CyberSecurity Month.

1. Remember to sign out. Especially when using a public computer, be careful to sign out of your Google account when you’re finished. Just click the “Sign out” link at the top right corner of your inbox. If you’re using a public or shared computer and want to be extra thorough, you can also clear the browser’s cache, cookies and history. Then, completely close the browser. On your personal computer, you can also lock your computer with a password-protected screensaver if you need to step away momentarily. Learn the best ways to lock your screen in Windows or in Mac OS X. Forgot to sign out? Open up a new Gmail session on another computer and use Gmail’s remote sign out feature to close any sessions that might still be open elsewhere.

2. Be careful about sending certain sensitive information via email. Once you send an email, you’re no longer in control of the information it contains. The recipients, if they so choose, could forward the email or post its contents in a public place. Even if you know and trust the people you’re emailing, that information may become exposed if their accounts become compromised or they get a virus on their machines. As a rule of thumb, should you need to provide a credit card number or financial account number to respond to a message, provide it over the phone or in person - not over email. And never share your password with anyone. Google does not email you to ask you for your password, your social security number, or other personal information - so don’t send it!

3. Enable “Always use HTTPS.” Any time you visit a webpage, your computer needs to send and receive information across the Internet. HTTPS is used to encrypt data as it is transmitted between computers on the Internet, so look for the “https” in the URL bar of your browser to indicate that the connection between your computer and Gmail’s servers is encrypted. We use HTTPS on the Gmail login page, and you can choose to protect your entire Gmail session with HTTPS as well. HTTPS can make your mail slower, so we let you make the choice for yourself. Open Settings and choose “Always use HTTPS” on the General tab if you want to turn it on.

4. Be wary of unexpected attachments.To help protect you from viruses and malware, Gmail automatically scans every attachment when it’s delivered to you, and again each time you open a message. Attachments you send are also scanned. That said, no system is foolproof, so if you happen to get an email from a friend with an attachment you didn’t expect, don’t be afraid to ask the sender what it is before you decide whether to open it.

5. Make sure your account recovery information is up-to-date. Your account recovery information helps you regain access to your account if you ever forget your password, or if someone gains access to your account without your permission. We currently offer several paths to account recovery. Every Gmail user must select a security question and answer - be sure to choose a combination that is easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess or come across by investigating. Don’t choose a question like “What is my favorite color?” as others may easily guess the answer. We also encourage you to provide a secondary email address and/or a mobile phone number, so we can send you a link to reset your password if you lose access to your account.

October marks the sixth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. The theme for this years awareness month is “Our Shared Responsibility”. The point that Homeland Security is trying to drive home is that computers users, as well as government and corporate entities, should be responsible for promoting good “Cyber Hygiene”. It is a shared responsibility that relies upon all of us to be vigilant in safeguarding ourselves and our families from cyber criminals.

The following are simple tips provided by the Department of Homeland Security to help all of us stay safe while being online and promote cybersecurity:

Take Action - There are many things businesses, schools, and home users can do to practice cybersecurity during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond.

• Make sure that you have anti-virus software and firewalls installed, properly configured, and up-to-date. New threats are discovered every day, and keeping your software updated is one of the easier ways to protect yourself from an attack. Set your computer to automatically update for you.
• Update your operating system and critical program software. Software updates offer the latest protection against malicious activities. Turn on automatic updating if that feature is available.
• Back up key files. If you have important files stored on your computer, copy them onto a removable disc and store it in a safe place.

Endorse - Demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity.

• Show your organization’s commitment to cybersecurity and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month by signing the online endorsement form at www.staysafeonline.org.
• Create a section for cybersecurity on your organization’s Web site. Download banners at www.staysafeonline.org and post them on your organization’s home page.
• Add a signature block to your e-mail:
  “October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Stay Safe Online! Visit http://www.staysafeonline.org for the latest cybersecurity tips.”

Educate - Find out what more you can do to secure cyberspace and how you can share this with others.

• Participate in the National Cyber Security Alliance Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education (C-SAVE) Program and help educate elementary, middle, and high-school students about Internet safety and security. For more information or to download the C-Save curriculum, visit www.staysafeonline.org/content/c-save.
• Review cybersecurity tips with your family.
• Print and post these cybersecurity tips near your computer and network printers.
• Use regular communications in your business-newsletters, e-mail alerts, Web sites, etc.-to increase awareness on issues like updating software processes, protecting personal identifiable information, and securing your wireless network.

For more information on Awareness Month and for additional material, please visit www.us-cert.gov and www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam.

We hope our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com find this information helpful as you are surfing the world wide web.

According to police, a man was robbed in the Shadyside(the name alone should probably make you cautious) district of Pittsburgh and relieved of his wallet, cell phone, and ATM Pin number. The thieves held him up by gunpoint, which was later found to be a BB gun, and threatened him to hand over all his stuff and then instructed the victim to “get out of here”.

The victim quickly reported the crime to the police and utilizing the GPS feature of his Apple iPhone, he was able track the path of the robbers after the armed robbery incident. It appears that the robbers spared no time to head to a Wal-Mart and spend the victim’s money in his bank account. After their shopping spree, they stopped by an Eat-n-Park restaurant to grab a bite to eat. Obviously all their festivities from earlier in the day had caused them to build up quite an appetite.

Utilizing the GPS tracking, the robbers were quickly detained by local authorities at a BP station as they were trying to put gas in their 2004 gray Dodge Caravan (sounds more like a family mobile than a get-away car!).

The good news about this article is that the thieves were apprehended and the victim is safe and sound and his property is back in his possession. What is really amazing about this story is the victim’s use of current technology to aid police in the capture of the robbers. How ingenious to use your cell phone’s GPS capability for tracking purposes after it has been stolen.

So.. what the writers of SmartSecurityPeople.com are wondering… If you are ever robbed of your wallet, cash, purse, etc.. would you volunteer to give your phone to the thieves as well if you knew it could be potentially used to track them down? Our initial response is no way, we would use the phone to call for help. However, given the positive outcome of the story above.. we are not sure. What would you do?

With the warm summer season upon us, auto owners across the nation are being exploited by car thieves. It hard to believe but apparently leaving our windows open in our cars does not only help to keep our black leather seats from turning into branding irons on our legs but it also serves as an invitation for thieves to steal our belongings …or worse… our entire car.

July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and in good SmartSecurityPeople.com fashion, we would like to celebrate by providing you with the following tips for keeping your cars and belongings safe during the summer months.

• Lock and Load - Always lock your car when your vehicle is unattended, and remember to set alarms or other anti-theft devices every time you get out. Close windows tightly, and don’t forget the sunroof.
• Watch Those Wheels - Thieves are targeting tires and rims. Invest in locking lug nuts and park in your garage whenever possible.
• Out of Sight - Keep all personal belongings, including a GPS, iPods, cell phones and other valuables, out of sight. (Also, don’t forget your change…)
• Kill-Switch - Protect your vehicle from being started by a thief by having a mechanic install a concealed kill-switch.
• Double Duty - Add a second layer of protection to your vehicle by using a steering wheel locking device, a steering column protector or an alarm with a visible indicator.
• Keep Watch And Report Crime- Help your neighborhood by noting and reporting any suspicious activity and writing down descriptions, license plate numbers and other helpful information. If you know anything about auto theft, chop shops, carjacking or insurance fraud report it day or night to your local police department.

For those that are curious to see what the top ten stolen cars were in 2007 (as reported by National Insurance Crime Bureau), the following list may be helpful:

1. Honda Civic (1995)
2. Honda Accord (1991)
3. Toyota Camry (1989)
4. Ford F-150 (1997)
5. Chevrolet C/K 1500 (1994)
6. Acura Integra (1994)
7. Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
8. Nissan Sentra (1994)
9. Toyota Pickup (1988)
10. Toyota Corolla (2007)

The NICB study confirms that theft of older model vehicles has remained constant for the past several years.  Thieves continue to target these vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts. So, if you own one of the models listed above, you may want to think about trading it in or being extra cautious about leaving your car unsecured. However, if you don’t like your car, I guess leaving the keys in it and parking it in a sketchy part of town may help jump start your path to a new/used car.

NICB also tracks car thefts by state. You can see the top ten car models being stolen in your state by clicking here.

We hope our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com enjoy this information. If you have other car safety tips that you would like to share, please be sure to do so in the comments section.