Blog Archives
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Beware of the office creeper
By Joel Griffin - Thursday September 2, 2010Imagine this scenario as a security manager. You've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the latest access control and surveillance equipment. You think you've pretty much covered all your bases as it pertains to ensuring that only authorized personnel are entering and exiting the building. Later, you discover that a slew of laptops, purses and other personal gadgets have been stolen from the building. How could this have happened? You have card-controlled access throughout the building and you have cameras monitoring the facility. Initially, you think this was an inside job of some sort. Perhaps it was a building technician or a member of the cleaning crew. Then the thief hits your office yet again. If this has happened at... -
Rethinking door-to-door sales
By Joel Griffin - Monday August 16, 2010In an age where the avenues available for companies to reach consumers are virtually limitless, some businesses still feel the need to market their products and services door-to-door. There was a time, of course, when the practice was fruitful for both consumers and businesses and many salesmen built relationships with customers that would continue for years to come. Nowadays, most people place door-to-door salesman in the same category as the telemarketer, viewing them more as an occasional irritant than someone with a quality product to sell. I didn’t think door-to-door sales were even that prominent anymore. Usually, when there is a knock on my door (when my dog doesn’t scare them off), it’s someone that wants to give me the... -
New security rules on the way for cruise ships
By Joel Griffin - Thursday July 8, 2010Cruise ships may soon be required to strengthen their existing security measures if legislation passed by Congress last week is signed into law by President Barack Obama. In addition to new rules that require ships to carry rape kits and have personnel onboard that are experienced in dealing with victims of sexual assault, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act mandates that ships upgrade their security infrastructure by installing peep holes on passenger doors and maintain a working surveillance system. The bill also calls for the installation of acoustic hailing or warning devices. In a statement posted on its website, the International Cruise Victims Association called the passage of the legislation a victory for passenger's... -
Final thoughts on ISC West 2010
By Joel Griffin - Monday March 29, 2010After taking a weekend to recover from what was a very busy ISC West, a few thoughts on where the industry is headed technology wise struck me today. Having talked with a number of alarm system manufacturers at the show, it's apparent that they're all taking the so-called "sun setting" of POTS lines quite seriously. Everyone I spoke with had a panel that could communicate an alarm signal using either IP or GSM technology. Honeywell executives even noted the shift in alarm signal communications as one of the biggest trends affecting the industry moving forward. "Essentially, we are becoming a mobile world," said Ron Rothman, president of Honeywell Security Group. In its request late last year to the Federal Communications... -
Cell phone 'Bloodhound' holds potential for corporate, correctional applications
By Joel Griffin - Thursday February 11, 2010
Berkeley Varitronics Systems, a New Jersey-based developer of wireless solutions, recently released a new cell phone detector dubbed the "Bloodhound." The Bloodhound has the ability to pick up cell phone signals from as far away as 50 feet under the right conditions and could be the type of solution that businesses and prison institutions need to fight the ever growing problems of illicit cell phone use. "The industry had a need for a hand-held device that could detect on and locate wireless cell phones," said Carmine Caferra, eastern U.S. and Canadian regional sales manager for BVS. According to Caferra, the Bloodhound doesn't transmit a signal to try and find wireless devices; rather it has a receiver that listens for the... -
Thieves employ new credit card skimmer
By Joel Griffin - Friday January 15, 2010It seems that more often these days, thieves are coming up with ever ingenious ways to gain access to our personal data. Whether it's hacking into a business' sensitive files to retrieve personal information for identity theft or fumbling through the garbage to find account numbers, there are numerous methods criminals are using to drain our bank accounts and ruin our credit. Now word comes from retail loss prevention firm Agilence that a new credit card skimming device has hit the streets. The skimmer was reportedly discovered by a customer using a Citibank ATM in Woodland Hills, Calif. It was designed to fit over the existing credit card slot and contained both a card reader and camera. Click here to see a PDF containing pictures... -
Perimeter security goes green
By Joel Griffin - Wednesday December 2, 2009Earlier this week, Delta Scientific, a manufacturer of various perimeter security devices, announced that it is now offers over 50 solutions that can either be operated manually or with the help of FDA-approved vegetable oils. These "green" solutions include everything from hydraulic barriers and barricades to bollards and crash gates. According to David Dickinson, senior vice president for Delta Scientific, green solutions, specifically manual barriers, are not only beneficial to the environment, but also allow users to save money in the long run by not having to run electricity. "Sometimes it costs more to run electrical power to where the barrier is than to actually buy the barrier," he said. Dickinson added that some of the... -
Serious security flaws at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
By Joel Griffin - Wednesday October 28, 2009For the second time this month, a person has reportedly been allowed to pass through security at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and board a plane with a deadly weapon. On Monday, a man who had two hunting knives in his carry-on luggage , which were 3.5 inches and 5 inches long respectively, boarded a flight to Denver. A TSA screener reportedly noticed something on the X-Ray machine, but checked the wrong bag. The unidentified man was questioned by authorities when he landed in Denver, but was later released without charges after it was determined there was no criminal intent. Earlier this month, an American man was detained by authorities at a Japanese airport after he allegedly flew from Dallas Fort Worth International... -
ESA creates video RMR 'wiki'
By Joel Griffin - Friday October 9, 2009SIW recently had a chance to catch up with Keith Jentoft, president of RSI Video Technologies, about a new Wiki that has been setup for members of the Electronic Security Association. Wondering what exactly a "Wiki" is? Well, according to Wiki.org, it's a piece of server software that allows users to create and edit the content of a Web page using any Web browser. The Wiki that most of you are probably familiar with and have used from time to time is Wikipedia.org, which is usually a good source of information on just about any topic. According to Jentoft, when the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association changed it's name to ESA, one of the things the organization wanted to embrace was technologies outside the traditional "burg and... -
Female shoplifters targeting security guards, retail staff?
By Joel Griffin - Friday September 4, 2009If you’re a member of the retail security industry, you may want to take a look at a story from our friends across the pond this week about female shoplifters attempting to catch security guards and other male staff members in compromising positions. In this incident, the suspect reportedly conducted a striptease in front of a convenient store manager, who later let her go fearing repercussions. Apparently, this is a common tactic among female thieves in the country, trying to frame male staff members for sexual assaults as a way to finagle themselves out of a jam. It wouldn’t surprise me if shoplifters in the U.S. began to mimic the actions of their English brethren. Luckily, word of these women’s actions have begun to spread...
