Geoff Kohl

  • Valentines and Guns
    by Geoff Kohl - Friday February 10, 2012
    Next Tuesday is Valentine's Day. I don't know that I can put any sort of security-related significance on that, other than to say that those of you working long hours at the security office or installing video systems better remember to get your sweetie something special. But wait, there is actually a security aspect to this year's Valentine's day. It turns out that Starbucks Corporation is going to face a boycott because the company has decided to accept state laws. If that sounds ridiculous, it's probably because it is. The National Gun Victims' Action Council (NGVAC) is saying it's going to boycott Starbucks on Tuesday because Starbucks accepts state laws regarding guns. The way it works is that states make laws about carrying of...

  • Do security pros have to use Miranda rights?
    by Curtis Baillie - Friday February 10, 2012
    "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."  These very powerful words were mandated in 1966 by the United States Supreme Court (384 U.S. 436). In March 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested for a petty theft and questioned by the Phoenix police for approximately two hours without an attorney being present. During that interrogation, Miranda admitted to the theft and also to the kidnapping and rape of then 18-year-old Patricia Ann Weir. In my consulting business, I'm often asked about the need...

  • Technology would protect hotel staff
    by Geoff Kohl - Wednesday February 8, 2012
    If a proposed contract for New York City hotel staffers is approved, personal panic alarms (panic buttons) would be part of a measure to improve safety for those staff members . The proposal between the Hotel Association of New York (the association of hotel owners) and the New York Hotel Trades Council AFL CIO (the union of hotel workers) specifies "devices to be carried on their persons at work that they can quickly and easily activate to effectively summon prompt assistance to their location", in addition to pensions, health coverage and raises. Such devices are already part of personal safety at other locations. In fact California State University at San Marcos began testing a similar unit for students late last year, which used...

  • Friday Funnies: Social media from the grave; stupid criminals; Onion victim
    by Paul Rothman - Friday February 10, 2012
    I'm starting a new tradition in The Executive Suite, the Friday Funnies! It's a quick collection of a few humorous stories I've compiled each week -- sometimes security-related, sometimes just something funny as we head into the weekend. For the inagural edition of the Friday Funnies, I will start with the ultimate in dedication for any social media guru (hopefully, like yourself). I received an e-mail this week from an enterprising company that has created an app that enables you to post to your Facebook wall from the grave ! That's right, set up this app before you kick the bucket, and you can fool people into thinking you are still alive and kicking! First, the pitch..."Maxelerator Ltd. has launched Immortum (www.immortum.com...

  • Humor can Combat Security Ignorance and Apathy
    by Paul Rothman - Wednesday February 8, 2012
    I'm sure every security executive out there knows of at least a few people in their organization who are just plain terrible at protecting themselves – they fall for phishing scams and give out personal tidbits like moms giving out candy on Halloween. They are either ignorant of the risks and the security procedures to mitigate them, or they just don't care.   For many, the way to deal with these people from a security standpoint was through fear. You would probably be thinking something along the lines of, "we will scare them into protecting themselves by showing them all the bad things that can happen."   The CISO at U.S. Bank has taken a different approach to informing his "security constituents" – ie., regular banking...