Best Security Products blog

On more than one occasion, parents have been horrified to learn that strangers have been hacking into their baby monitor, spying on the child, speaking into the room and even controlling the camera.

According to this story in the San Francisco Globe, a Washington discovered someone had hacked their baby monitor. Their son had been telling his parents that he was afraid at night because someone was talking to him. They didn’t understand, until one night they heard the voice.

Sarah, the toddlers mother, walked into the baby’s room and hear someone speaking through the monitor. She also realized that someone was controlling the night-vision camera and following her.

The SFG reports that this type of crime is becoming more common, evidenced by the same kind of story reported here by ABC News. In this account, a Houston family heard a man cursing in their daughter’s bedroom. This hacker had a British-sounding accent and was also controlling the camera. This family has decided that they may never use the monitor again.

Click the video below to watch the story of an Ohio family whose camera was hacked as well:

With so many baby monitors in use, it is understandable that parents are nervous about this happening to them. What is the solution?

Parry Aftab, a lawyer specializing in internet privacy interviewed by ABC News has some tips:

1. Keep a password. Without a password, anyone can use the Wi-Fi and gain access to the monitor too.

2. Guard your computers and passwords from people who may have access, particularly babysitters and housekeepers.

Dave Hatter is quoted by FOX19 news as suggesting that another safeguard is to make sure the password on your Wi-Fi is different from the password on your camera. In addition he suggests keeping current on updates for the camera. This can be done by checking the product’s website frequently.

At Best Security Products, we are experts in Home Security Systems. Please call or email for a consultation: 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com

The holiday season is wrapping up.  This can be a relief after weeks of family, friends, food, shopping and joy.  While these activities are pleasurable, they can also be exhausting, and it is nice to return to a normal schedule after the holidays have ended.

Of course, with the holidays ending comes putting away all those Christmas decorations until next year. And just as it is a big job to unpack the décor for the season, so is it a big job to package it all back up again and store it. 

There are some tips that can make this process safer.  The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has compiled a list of steps and measures you can take as you wrap up this holiday season.

We have pulled a few highlights from the article below.  Please click here to read the full article and to visit the website of the Electrical Safety Foundation International:

1. Don’t leave your decoration up beyond the holiday season. They are meant only for temporary use.  Using them for too long may shorten their shelf life and cause them to pose an electrical hazard.

2. Your live tree is drying out a little each day.  This is normal, but combined with the electricity generated by the lights on your tree, the drying out is accelerated. Soon after the New Year, remove your live tree from your house and find a local program that will recycle your tree for you.

3.  Now is the time to ensure a safer holiday season next year.  You can do this by carefully inspecting your electrical lights for wear and tear.  If you see frayed areas, exposed wiring or cracked areas in the cords, dispose of them and buy new lights next year.  Worn-out wiring can post electrical and fire hazards. ¹

^{1 http://www.esfi.org/resource/wrapping-up-the-holiday-season-353}

At Best Security Products, we specialize in fire protection systems that are customized for your unique needs.  Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.

For your commercial fire security needs, the IntelliQuad™ may be the perfect solution.

The IntelliQuad™ Advanced Multi-Criteria Fire Detector continually monitors all four major elements of a fire enabling it to quickly identify true fire events with highest immunity to nuisances. It can be used with standard intelligent bases and sounder bases. This detector is ideal for areas that are prone to nuisance alarms.

Features of this advanced fire detector include:

- Superior nuisance alarm rejection
- Unique ability to detect all four major elements of a fire - Most accurate fire detection 
- Six levels of sensitivity
- Twin LED indicators providing 360˚ visibility 
- Automatic drift compensation of the smoke sensor and CO cell¹

This data sheet offers answers to frequently asked questions. We’ve pulled a few from the sheet. Please click here to view the sheet itself.

What is the advantage of having a multi-criteria fire sensor?

Multi-criteria fire sensors use at least two fire signatures to verify an actual fire and reduce nuisance alarms.

Why is it important to reduce nuisance alarms?

Nuisance alarms carry a great risk and cost in buildings such as surgical centers, intensive care units, financial trading centers, high security facilities, and research and development laboratories. An unnecessary evacuation could result in severe consequences.

Which elements of a fire are detected by the fire sensor?

Carbon monoxide (CO), smoke (photoelectric), heat, and infrared (IR) light are detected by the sensor. All of these elements are common to most fires.

How long does the CO cell last?

The CO cell has an expected lifetime of approximately six years. The detector sends a signal to the panel when the CO cell is approaching its end of life and then again when the end of life has been reached, leaving the CO cell fully expended.

Is the CO sensor life span timer activated on first power up or from date of manufacture? 

The CO sensor is activated on first power up. It measures accumulated time from the moment it is powered up and operating. If it is disconnected for any period, the timer stops until it receives power again.²

¹ http://www.notifier.com/solutions/bysolution/Pages/ADV-IQ.aspx
² http://www.notifier.com/solutions/bysolution/Documents/IntelliQuad_FAQs.pdf

At Best Security Products, we specialize in fire protection systems that are customized for your unique needs. Give us a call or email us at 1-800–988–2378 sales@bestsecurityproducts.com.