Monday, May 21, 2007

DIY Home Security System: the Wireless Touch

DIY Home Security System: The Wireless Touch

Installing an ordinary home security system yourself can be both challenging and effective. It is challenging because you will have to deal with drills and cables—even for the wireless ones. But it is effective because doing it yourself means no one else knows about the workings of your security system, much less the weak points where one can bypass your alarms.

The easiest type and also currently the most recommended kind of home security system is the wireless security alarm. While the conventional wired ones complicate installation by requiring much drilling and tedious running of cables throughout the house, the wireless alarms commonly confine installation tasks—which are already easy--over a single wall.

Using a wireless alarm, you can definitely install your home security system all by yourself. A wireless home security system involves a process that starts with simply buying your wireless security system kit from your neighborhood hardware shop and ultimately linking up the parts. Most do-it-yourself wireless home security systems should be installed while observing the following tips.

Control Panel Installation

Think out the place where you can conveniently and securely position the control panel of your security system. Ideally, you install the control panel near the door that is most often used; and remember that an electrical outlet should be close by. It helps to keep the control panel inconspicuous from the outside so that potential housebreakers can't scheme to outflank your alarm system.

The control panel should be fastened to the wall in such a way that you can easily access the keypads and view the display instrument. As this is the only part of the wireless system installation that you actually drill a hole and use a cable, ensure that the power cable to the electrical outlet runs through the wall not on the surface; this prohibits burglars from doctoring up your security system.

Setting Up Sensors And Buzzer

Decide on where to set the security sensors and the alarm buzzer. Like the control panel, these parts should be hidden from the view outside. And make sure that the alarm buzzer will be in a place where it can sound off clearly and loudly. A battery-operated buzzer is effective even during power failures.

Be extra careful when installing the sensors, which are commonly consisting of magnets and transmitters. A strong bump could smash up these devices. Basically, transmitters are placed on window and door frame edges and magnets are fastened to the window or door itself.

Always consult the product manual to know specifications and learn programming procedures. Always check your home security system to know if they are still working.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Wireless and Security

Wireless computing gives us freedom of getting online without any restriction in time and space. Now you can take your laptop and get connection to the Internet wherever is offered wireless service. It can be a library, café or even beach.

Wireless computing gives us freedom of getting online without any restriction in time and space. Now you can take your laptop and get connection to the Internet wherever is offered wireless service. It can be a library, café or even beach. You can also purchase a wireless base station, called a router, for your home so you can get online anywhere in the house or in the immediate vicinity outdoors. But from information security awareness side, you need to do some thing to employ these options safe.

What is Wireless network and how it’s work?
Wireless (Wi-Fi) or 802.11 networks is a method of connecting a computer to other computers or to the Internet without linking them by cables.
This network uses radio waves, just like cell phones and radios do. This communication, across wireless network, is similar two-way radio communication.
1. Routers collect the signal and decode, and then send information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.
2. Wireless adapter on your laptop translate data into radio signal and transmit it using antenna.
3. And vice versa… (http://www.howstuffworks.com)


Why this kind connection is so unsafe?
Because these transmissions occur in one frequency and mostly they don’t have protection against unauthorized access. So, that’s means that anyone in range can pick up the signal or transmit on the same time.


From what wireless network are at risk?


From peoples who listening transmitted information – eavesdroppers.

From anyone in the range who can connect to your network – hackers.

From unauthorized users who use your broadband internet connection without your permission.

What can protect your wireless connection?


Encryption – use encryption to scramble over the network. Better use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), because it is stronger.

Anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall – these things should be on every computer independent wireless network using or not.

Caution - turn off your wireless network when you know you won't use it and also turn off identifier broadcasting on your wireless router. So your computer won’t send a signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence.

Limitation – allow only specific computers to access your wireless network and modify your router’s pre-set password for administration to something only you know.


Article source: information security awareness

http://www.articles-hub.com/Article/134113.html