The Four Rules of Home Computer Security

Computer security is on a lot of peoples' minds. And there are lots of companies out there offering all sorts of ways to stay hack proof. Most high-end products are geared toward large enterprises. This makes sense since they are worth millions or billions of dollars. Security companies go where the money leads. But what about the typical home computer user? How can novice users traverse this brave new world? Let's take a look at my four rules for home computer security.

Let's face it, the internet can be like the wild west. You never know what you're going to find and it's hard to trust anyone. But a little caution can go a long way. The first rule to keep in mind is the rule of the low hanging fruit. What's fruit have to do with computer security? Well, actually it has a lot to do with computer security. People tend to go after the path of least resistance. If you were to pick fruit off a tree, which fruit would you go after? Would you go after the fruit at the top of the tree or would you go after the one hanging in your face? Of course, you would go after the low hanging fruit. Hackers are no different. They will tend to exploit the targets that promise the biggest bang for the least effort. If you require more effort to hack, most hackers will pass you by.

The second rule is the rule of the front door. You never, ever want to hook your computer directly up to the internet. A caveat to this rule is if you know what you're doing and set up a firewall directly on that computer. There are other considerations, but I'm going after straight-forward solutions for you. What I mean is that you never want to hook a DSL or cable modem directly into your computer. You always want to put some type of router between the modem and your computer. This can be a simple dsl/cable router from someone like Linksys. This helps to segment a private network from the public internet network. Let me use an analogy. If you hook up your computer directly to your modem, it's like opening your front door and letting anyone into your house. There is no barrier between you and the outside world. However, if you put a router between the modem and your computer, it's like closing that door on the front of your house. Now, only certain, trusted people are allowed in.

The third rule is the rule of pest control. Please don't run a computer without virus protection. You can have the best front door in the world, but if you let the back door open it's useless. Anti virus programs help control loopholes in trusted communication lines. A friend of mine got a floppy from a friend. He then quickly copied a presentation for a corporate client on it. He went to the client, inserted the floppy, and was greeted by an obnoxious virus alert. The client was furious, my friend was highly embarrassed, but the software did its job. Never run a computer without virus protection. And these days, you need spyware protection. There are some great free ones out there like Spybot Search and Destroy. I also like SpywareGuide's Xscan for interval scanning.

The fourth rule is the rule of sewing. Ok, I'm not talking about sewing in the traditional sense. I'm talking about putting patches on - on your operating system that is. If you are using Windows, you need to make sure windows update is set to automatically download updates. Security patches regularly come out and you would be less than wise to ignore them. And be warned, in this day and age, some security issues involve simply visiting malicious websites to breech your security. Don't be a victim, be prepared.

While this certainly won't fend off the most hardened hacker, it will keep most at bay. It's sort of like home security. Is a thief going to target the home with lax security or the one with great security? I'll leave that answer to you.

For more great technology tips, visit PaulTech at: http://www.gopaultech.com

Is a Dummy Home Security Camera Economical?

A home security camera is one way to protect your home against would be burglars. A home security camera system is essentially one or more small cameras that are mounted, usually, on the exterior of your home to deter would be burglars. A home security camera typically works in conjunction with a home security system. In many cases the home security camera is activated by motion and can swivel to begin filming in the direction in which motion is detected. The home security camera will transmit the images that it views to a monitor where it can be viewed and recorded. Purchasing a home security camera for several locations on your property and the monitoring and recording equipment can be quite expensive. A home security camera has been proven to be an effective burglary deterrent and for these reasons some homeowners opt for a dummy home security camera to deter burglars without the high price of a real home security camera.

The question, however, is whether or not a dummy home security camera can really be an effective way to protect your home from burglary. There really is no simple answer to this question. A dummy home security camera that is very convincing and can be difficult to distinguish from a real home security camera might be effective. The more the dummy camera looks like the real thing, the more likely it is to fool burglars. The problem with this is that the more realistic the dummy security camera looks, the more expensive it will be. The price may still be lower than a real camera but it may be close enough in price that a real home security camera might be a better option. There are many dummy home security cameras that can be purchased for very little money but when the price is lower so is the quality of the replication. A dummy home security camera that is clearly a fake will not be effective when it comes to deterring burglars.

For many determining whether or not a dummy security camera is an economical choices has more to do with effectiveness than it does with finances. A dummy security camera may certainly be an affordable home security option but if is not effective, it will turn out be very costly. A real home security camera will more than pay for itself if it prevents you from losing valuable or irreplaceable pieces of property. A real home security camera not only acts as a burglary deterrent but in the event that the burglars do enter your property, a real security camera can record valuable evidence that might be useful in regaining your property.

Warning! selling your home is a security and preparation issue

Location, central heating, air conditioning, double glazing, good neighbours, good schools and a long lease these are just some of the factors that buyers consider when buying a property. So it was some surprise when we learnt that that new UK research commissioned by the Homebuyer Show revealed something completely different.

The survey reports that 72 per cent of home buyers say good security is rated as being more important when making a buying decision than a home overall condition and size.

Home buyers also ranked security above other key house buying factors such as the quality of the neighbourhood and local facilities.

Less important when deciding on a property is the state of the interior decor, 51 per cent regarded this as irrelevant.

One in three buyers are unconcerned by the provision of lack schools and a similar amount were indifferent of the size and state of a property's garden.

Security Security, Security!

The study also looked at the improvements and gadgets in a home. Security again topped the list with homebuyers regarding a state of the art security system as being more desirable than kitchen gadgets and plush designer furnishings.

Nick Clark managing director of Homebuyer Events said "Home Security has been moving up the homebuyers' agenda for a number of years but it has now become one of the main priorities."

Despite the findings of the study it is clear that to sell your house it requires a great deal of preparation. Those sellers who feel that they are wasting money improving their homes before they sell will not sell their home fast. In fact this lack of preparation could cost them thousands in price reductions. A broken fence or damaged guttering will only serve to add negotiating power to the buyer.

Price and presentation are critical to sell your home

First impressions count, buyers will have already formed an impression before they step into your property. A well-kept garden, pathway and fence, plus a freshly painted front door are immediately appealing, whereas a scruffy outdoor space with a litter bin outside the front door may turn many prospective buyers away.

De-clutter - don't underestimate the appeal of a tidy property. Throw out the junk - use moving as a good excuse to get rid of old, unwanted and unused items.

Clean - dust and clean the whole house thoroughly, from cobwebs on the ceiling to crumbs and stains on carpets and rugs. Remember to wash down paintwork and clean windows.

Natural Colours - research shows that, most buyers prefer natural, earthy colours to bright, bold shades. Although there is a wide range of paint colours available, magnolia is still the top-selling colour.

Add a bit of colour - to prevent rooms looking too bland, use strong colours for accent walls or cushions and accessories.

De-personalise - remove personal items, such as family photographs and children's drawings, which may distract potential buyers. It may sound harsh but it really helps sell property

Maintenance - Complete all minor repairs. Major Jobs- If you don't spend out on home improvements to complete major repairs it could have a disproportionate affect on the value of the property.

Lighting - the right lighting can improve the mood of a room. A room looks cosier with a few table lamps rather than bright general lighting. Create a scent - it may be a bit of a clich? to bake bread or grind coffee beans just before the arrival of a potential buyer, but scent does plays an important role in creating the right impression.

Open windows - most buyers like the smell of a freshly cleaned and aired room. Open the windows every day to let fresh air into the house. Avoid strong food odours - don't cook foods such as fish or curry before a viewing as the smell will linger.

Take pets out - ask friends or family to look after pets during viewings. Fresh flowers and fruit - flowers and a bowl of fruit will brighten up a room and provide a pleasant smell.

Define your rooms - a property will be more appealing if rooms have a specific purpose and this allows buyers to see the full potential of the property.

Seasons - the best time for selling property is spring and autumn; the market slows down during late summer and over Christmas/New Year. If a property is sold while the market is buoyant, it's much more likely to attract the asking price.

So if you want to sell your home quickly preparation is crucial and upgrading your security arrangements is a must.

Nicholas Marr is a lifetime proiperty investor. His UK based overseas property marketing company Marr international Ltd has one of Europes fastes growing property web sites at http://www.homesgofast.com

Home Security Tips For Your Personal Safety

The subject of home security is very important and should be given plenty of advance thought regardless of whether you live in an apartment or house that you own. You want to be sure that your possessions and personal safety are well protected at all times. All of the best home security measures in the world cannot help you after a crime has been committed. They can only be of use to help prevent the crime in the first place. So here are some simple ways to help increase your own personal safety:

* Install a home security system that can monitor all of the entry and exit areas of your home and sound a loud alarm if someone breaks in. If you happen to live in an apartment where you are not allowed to run wires through the walls, you can get a wireless home security system instead that will still do the job and has the advantage of being able to be removed and taken with you when you find a new place to live. Because of being wireless, these kind of security systems can also be very easy to install by the average person and they are inexpensive as well.

* Get a watchdog that will bark when someone they don't know approaches the home. It doesn't even have to be a big or ferocious dog at all, just one that makes noise when it feels threatened by a stranger. This one simple tip can be incredibly effective in protecting your personal safety as most criminals that have bad intentions do not want to have to deal with the loud noise and attention that a vocal dog can cause. They would rather choose an easier target instead.

* If you have valuables that are very expensive, it may be wise not to keep them at home at all. You can rent a safety deposit box in a bank instead for such high dollar or high value items. For other valuables you may want to consider a home safe as this lessens the possibility that a burglar can get at your valuables quickly and leave undetected. Speed and stealth are very important to home burglars and anything that you can do to slow them down improves your chances of protecting your valuable items.

* Lastly, always keep home security in mind. The best home security system won't help you if you forget to turn it on. Likewise, you are only inviting trouble if you forget to lock your doors and windows at night. Hiding a key in close proximity to your front door is a way to allow intruders easy access to your home. So just try to think about home security as much as possible and make it part of your routine to actually use the home security equipment that you have, and practice safe home security measures as part of your daily life.

If you plan in advance for increasing your personal safety and then carry out your plans on a daily basis you will greatly improve your chances of keeping both you and your possessions safe and protected.

Find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website.

Home Security: Exterior and Interior Lighting

Home Security Exterior and Interior Lighting

It is a well-known fact, that satisfactory lighting is a very valuable deterrent to crime. Whatever lighting might help reduce your risk of becoming a victim, the right lights, utilized properly will be the effective deterrent to burglars and other intruders and improve your home security.

Exterior:
Outside lights are critically important, especially near doorways and at the rear of your residence, where break-ins typically occur. All round security lighting that is set-up high out of reach, and is tamper proof, will greatly improve your home security and help to protect your home.

Lighting in carports and garages is critical. An automatic garage opener is the best choice. All the best garage door opener fitted today use a light that operates when the opener is activated, lighting the garage interior. In carports, it's best to leave a light on permanently, have a light on a timer, or use a motion sensor to activate the light.

It is best to use a motion detector on all exterior lights that are not left switched on. The principal benefit of this for home security, especially in the backyard, is that the light warns you that someone is in your yard. When there can be some problem that dogs, cats, or even birds will trigger off the sensor and cause the lights to come on, if you set the sensitivity of the sensor right this will not be a issue. In the front yard, any type of lighting will be efficient, but make sure that the lighting design covers the entire front and sides of the home. Sensors can be utilized however they will be prone to "false alarms" induced by things like people walking down the sidewalk, or also kids playing.

Inside:
Whenever you go out for the evening, I suppose that like most people you leave a light on, the Police call these lights "burglar beacons". A burglar beacon is a single light that is left on so you do not return to a dark home when you get back.

Regrettably these lights are a sign for the burglar that you are out. When you go out for the evening or away on holiday make certain several lights are left on, in different parts of the home, and furthermore a radio, put them on timers, from the exterior your house should look as if someone is home at all times to improve your home security.

That's it for this time; in the next article we will look at sorting out the doors on your home.

Roger Overanout

For more vital home security tips and information about how to protect your home and family please visit www.homesecuritynews.info