Avoiding The AppTrap

You've probably seen the ads or news stories for the new Smartphone Applications or "Apps" that allow you to monitor and control your alarm system remotely.

Are apps fun? Absolutely! Are they 100 % fail safe? Unfortunately No.

Apps can take time to load and run, some by nearly a minute to connect. At the edge of your phone coverage area calls my be dropped and apps may not work.
Alarm system apps typically run through communication and processing links, any of which can cause the app to run slowly or even fail to load.

Currently only about 30% of cell phones today have the ability to run and use apps.

But almost everyone who has a cell phone, whether it is a smartphone or standard phone, shares one tool in common - Text Messaging.

With Text Messaging, customers can connect to their alarm panel in seconds and begin interacting immediately. Text messages are simple and conpact and easy for anyone to understand and use.

DMP Alarm Systems skip the app trap and allow you to easy access to control and monitor your alarm from any location. With a text message, you have a direct, cellular link to your panel. This means fewer opportunities for security breach and less chance for communication problems.

Text Messaging is faster, more secure, more reliable and compatable with every cell phone in use today.
What's better than that?

Call SAS Security Alarm Service today and let us show you how we can give you peace of mind and security for your home and family.

McAfee's 12 Scams of Christmas - 2010

Before you head out to the malls on this upcoming Black Friday or log on to your computer on Cyber Monday, take a quick minute to check out McAfee Inc.'s recently released "The Twelve Scams of Christmas" -- the 12 most dangerous online scams this holiday season.

“Scams continue to be big business for cybercriminals who have their sights set on capitalizing on open hearts and wallets this holiday season,” said Dave Marcus, director of security research for Santa Clara-based McAfee (NYSE:MFE) Labs. “As people jump online to look for deals on gifts and travel, it’s important to recognize common scams to safeguard against theft during the busy season ahead.”

1) iPads: With Apple products topping lots of shopping lists this holiday season, scammers are busy distributing bogus offers for free iPads. McAfee Labs found that in the spam version of the scam consumers are asked to purchase other products and provide their credit card number to get the free iPad.
In the social media version of the scam, users take a quiz to win a free iPad and must supply their cell phone number to receive the results. In actuality they are signed up for a cell phone scam that costs $10 a week.

2) Help me! This travel scam sends phony distress messages to family and friends requesting that money be wired or transferred so that they can get home.

3) Fake gift cards: Cybercrooks use social media to promote fake gift card offers with the goal of stealing consumers’ information and money, which is then sold to marketers or used for ID theft.
One recent Facebook scam offered a “free $1,000 Best Buy gift card” to the first 20,000 people who signed up for a Best Buy fan page, which was a look-a-like. To apply for the gift card they had to provide personal information and take a series of quizzes.

4) Job offers: As people seek extra cash for gifts this holiday season, Twitter scams offer dangerous links to high-paying, work-at-home jobs that ask for your personal information, such as your e-mail address, home address and Social Security number to apply for the fake job.

5) Smishing: Cybercrooks are now “smishing,” or sending phishing SMS texts. These texts appear to come from your bank or an online retailer saying that there is something wrong with an account and you have to call a number to verify your account information. In reality, these efforts are merely a ruse to extract valuable personal information from the targets.

6) Holiday rentals: Cybercrooks post fake holiday rental sites that ask for down payments on properties by credit card or wire transfer.

7) Recession scams: Scammers target vulnerable consumers with recession related scams such as pay-in-advance credit schemes. McAfee said it has seen a significant number of spam e-mails advertising prequalified, low-interest loans and credit cards if the recipient pays a processing fee.

8) Greetings: E-cards are a convenient and earth-friendly way to send greetings to friends and family, but cybercriminals load fake versions with links to viruses and malware.

9) Price traps: Shoppers should be cautious of products offered at prices far below competitors. Cyberscammers use auction sites and fake websites to offer too-good-to-be-true deals with the goal of stealing your money and information.

10) Charity scams: Common ploys include phone calls and spam e-mails asking you to donate to veterans’ charities, children's causes and relief funds for the latest catastrophe.

11) Downloads: Holiday-themed screen savers, jingles and animations are an easy way for scammers to spread viruses and other computer threats especially when links come from an e-mail or IM that appears to be from a friend.

12) Wi-Fi: During the holidays many people travel and use free Wi-Fi in places like hotels and airports. This is a tempting time for thieves to hack into networks hoping to find opportunities for theft.

McAfee advises Internet users to follow these five tips to protect their computers and personal information:

• Stick to well-established and trusted sites that include trust marks (icons or seals from third parties verifying that the site is safe), user reviews and customer support. A reputable trust mark provider will have a live link attached to its trust mark icon, which will take visitors to a verification website of the trust mark provider.
• Do not respond to offers that arrive in a spam e-mail, text or instant message.
• Preview a link's web address before you click on it to make sure it is going to an established site. Never download or click anything from an unknown source.
• Stay away from vendors that offer prices well below the norm. Don't believe anything that sounds too good to be true.
• Make sure to use trusted Wi-Fi networks. Don't check bank accounts or shop online if you're not sure the network is safe.

Read more: Full Story at Biz Journal

THANKSGIVING SAFETY TIPS

Thanksgiving....A day full of good food, family and friends and the chaos that goes with trying to feed and entertain a large gathering. In addition to your cooking and entertaining, remind your families and loved ones to take a minute to focus on safety so that your holidays are happy ones.

• Cooking fires are more than three times as likely to occur on Thanksgiving Day than on any other day of the year.
• An estimated 2,000 Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings are reported to US Fire Departments each year. These fires cause an average of 5 deaths, 25 injuries and $ 21 million dollars in property damage and loss.
• Smaller confined fires account for 71% of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings.
• Thanksgiving Day fires occur most frequently in the afternoon hours from 12 to 4 p.m. with the peak time from noon to 1 p.m.
• Cooking is the leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings at 69%. Nearly all of these (97%) are small confined fires with limited damage.

SAFETY TIPS FOR THE KITCHEN:
Although you get busy with the preparations, make sure safety is still a top priority:

• Keep the cooking range free of clutter. Even though you have multiple dished to prepare, don't overload a cook top with too many pots and pans. Grease can be more easily spilled onto a range and cause a fire.
• Do not try to hold children while cooking. Holding a child while cooking is an open invitation for a burn for either the child or the parent or both. It's best to keep children out of the kitchen while all of the cooking is going on.
• Never put a glass casserole dish or lid over a hot burner. If it gets overheated, it can explode and send shards of glass in all directions.
• Evaluate all appliances and look for the UL mark. When purchasing electronic appliances such as slow cookers, warmers or electric knives, be sure to look for the UL or Underwriters Laboratory mark. The UL Mark is one of the most widely recognized and trusted symbols among consumers.  Manufactures use it to indicate that their products have met specific safety standards and passed rigorous testing procedures.
• Avoid using Turkey Fryers. Turkey fryers pose a number of distinct safety measures, not limited to burns and fire hazards. For those reasons, Underwriters Labs does not currently certify any turkey fryers. If you choose to use a turkey fryer for your Thanksgiving feast, be sure to take all recommended precautions and check the UL website for turkey fryer safety tips here.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it. Make sure the extinguisher is UL listed and rated for grease and electrical fires. Read the directions carefully and know how to use it *BEFORE* an emergency occurs.
• Remember, P.A.S.S or Pull the pin, Aim the spray nozzle low at the base of the fire, Squeeze the nozzle to spray the contents, Sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.
• Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy while doing any cooking.  If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on a flame resistant mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and do not remove the lid until the pan and food has cooled.
• Never wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.  Long, open sleeves can easily ignite and catch fire from a gas flame or hot burner. Wear short, close fitting garments or tightly rolled sleeves. Remember to wear long hair pulled back from your face.
• Keep smoke detectors connected while cooking. Smoke alarms save lives. Make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries and that the unit is working.
• Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Most kitchen fires occur because food is left on the store unattended.
• Turn pot handles away from the edge of the stove. Make sure that pot handles are not hanging over the front of the stove. Pot handles can be to easily bumped or grabbed by small children. Turn all handles toward the back of the stove for safety.

By keeping the above tips in mind, not only on Thanksgiving but everyday, you will keep your family and loved one's safe. Don't become a holiday fire statistic - Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Keep Kids Safe and Happy this Halloween

Costumes, candy and scary things, can it get any better for a kid?

To make sure your little witches, goblins, scarecrows and princess' are safe this Halloween, Nationwide Children's Hospital offers these quick safety tips.

COSTUMES:
 Be sure your child's costume is large enough to be worn over warm clothes, if needed, but not so large that they could trip. Bright colorful costumes that reflect light and can be seen by drivers are best.
Add reflective tape to costumes or trick-or-treat bags. Reflective tape can be found in hardware or sporting good stores. Choose costumes and accessories that are flame resistant. Shoes should be comfortable for walking. Choose face paint or make-up over wigs or masks as they can interfere with a child's vision. To be seen more easily, have your child carry a flashlight.

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY:
Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older responsible child. Walk from house to house and use the sidewalk. Cross streets at crosswalks or well lit intersections. Remember, don't walk between parked cars and avoid crossing thru lawns or yards where ornaments, furniture or objects present dangers.

SAFE HOUSES:
Children should only go to homes where the residents are known and who have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.  Never enter a home or an apartment unless accompanied by an adult. If you are expecting trick-or-treater's remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches. Candlelit jack-o-lantern's should be kept away from landings or doorsteps where costumed children could brush against the flame. Never leave a lit pumpkin unattended. One option for your jack-o-lantern is to use a flameless candle. Leave both indoor and outdoor lights on if you want visits from trick or treaters.

POISON PREVENTION:
Check your child's treats and throw away anything that is not securely wrapped. Do not allow your child to eat any candy until you or another adult check it for tampering. The  wrapper should be intact on all candy.
Fruit should be undamaged, washed and cut before eating. Do not allow your child to eat homemade treats unless you know and trust the person who made them. Young children should not have gum, nuts, seeds, hard candies or other choking hazards such as toys with small parts. If you suspect tampering with any of your candy or treats, contact the police.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Have an EXIT strategy - Work, Live, Play

Imagine you are in a crowded place and a fire breaks out.... do you have an exit strategy?

Many people overestimate the amount of time they might have to escape from a fire. Many mistakenly believe they have at least six minutes to escape before a fire becomes life threatening. Fire and toxic smoke spread much quicker than you might think.

A small fire can grow in a matter of seconds into an inferno, creating thick toxic smoke. Temperatures can quickly soar to 800 degrees or more. Flashover, the point in a fire when superheated gases cause everything in a room to ignite, can kill occupants within 2 - 4 minutes.

In any fire, seconds count. Once a room becomes thick with smoke, it is difficult to see. In the panic, people rush to the only way they know out, the entrance. However, that may not always be the best or quickest way out.

Whenever you enter a building, any building, be it a mall, your child's school or day care, the local post office, plan an exit strategy. Notice at least two different exits that you can use in the case of an emergency.

Why two exits? Any one exit can become blocked in the event of an emergency, so having at least one and preferably two alternative exits, can save your life.

EXITS: Make a mental note of where they are located. Not just doors with lit exit signs, but windows as well, if you are on the first floor.

DOORS: Take notice. Are they blocked or locked? Sometimes, restaurants or retail managers lock doors to keep people from sneaking in or out. In a club, bands may stack their equipment off stage. Trash or boxes may be stacked in front of a door. If you ever see a door blocked, bring it to the attention of the owner/manager and local authorities immediately. Objects in exit ways (halls leading to an exit), boxes, stacked merchandise, equipment, trash, can impede the exit pathway in case of an emergency.  Keeping exit pathways clear of any obstacle enables people to exit a location, quickly and safely.

CROWDS: Clubs, restaurants, public establishments have capacity limitations put in place by the local authorities for your safety. If people are jammed in to a location like sardines, move close to an exit. If doors or halls are also packed, report it to the local authorities. Often times like new year's, birthdays, weddings, Fourth of July - when people get together to celebrate, especially if alcohol is involved, safety is forgotten.

Keep a level head, don't panic and be confident that you have an exit strategy in place.

** The Have a Exit Strategy was the result of a study conducted by the Texas State Fire Marshall's office in 2004. They conducted fire safety inspections of bars, nightclubs, lounges and dance halls in eight Texas counties. Of the 189 establishments that they inspected, 182 of them had means of egress violations. For more information and resources, visit Texas State Fire Marshall - Have an Exit Strategy.

The Future of Alarm Communications

With today's ever changing technology, cell phones are typically replaced every 12 to 24 months. Have you given any thought to your alarm panel? The days of using the same panel for 15 to 20 years is over.

According to a recent study, one in every four homes in the United States has no landline, or standard phone. They use a cellular phone as their primary means of communication. Just under 25 percent reported mobile phones only in their household at the end of 2009. That means that some 52 million adults and 19 million children live in a home with no landlines and that number has been steadily increasing.

Alarm companies are installing more and more cellular systems every day and the GSM Network is growing at an unprecedented rate. How is the new cellular technology going to effect you and your alarm system?

HISTORY OF GSM NETWORK (AT&T & T-MOBILE)
1G or AMPS was deployed in 1973, however the alarm industry did not start using it widely until 1992. 1G (AMPS) was sunset (or made obsolete) in 2008. AMPS had a "shelf life" of 35 years but was only in use in the security industry for the past 16 years.

2G or GSM was deployed about 1990 and had a shelf life of approximately 25 years. 2.5G or EDGE was a software upgrade to GSM deployed in 2002. Both GSM and EDGE will be turned off at the same time. This will be done slowly, tower by tower as economics and equipment repair necessitate. Although everyone is in agreement that this will happen, no one can or will say when this will happen. Conventional wisdom says that the GSM Network will be replaced in the next 5 to 10 years.

3G or HSPA/UMTS was widely deployed in 2005 and uses totally different hardware from 1G and 2G. It has an expected shelf life of 25 years.

4G (LTW or Wi-Max) is currently being deployed as two different technologies, depending on the carrier. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobil are all using LTW which is a 700Mhz band product. Sprint is rolling out what they call 4G using a Wi-Max technology from Clearwire. Sprint may move to LTE in the future.

CURRENT ALARM HARDWARE
Today's wireless alarm panels are using 2G (GSM) modules because the 3G (HSPA) modules have only become available in the past few months. The current love of Smart-Phones have driven the technology to move towards the 3G networks and higher. Hardware manufactures focus on building handsets for the first 2-4 years of deployment of a new technology in order to cash in on a short lifespan product, typically 18 months. Once most of the profit is extracted from that space, they design and deploy modules for use in the Market-to-Market applications. 

3G (HSPA) modules are just now starting to become available as they are still cost prohibitive. 3G Modules are available on Cell Communicators to the security industry today however they are 3x the current price of standard modules. In 12-18 months, as volume increases, the costs will come down. At that time, you can expect panel manufactures to be able to offer cellular products that operate on 3G Network and have a life expectancy out towards 2025-2030, approximately 15 to 20 years.

4G Network (LTE on AT&T and Verizon) will be deploying in late 2011. Once that starts, we should see the same effect as the 3G Network. Security Communicators will start to become more affordable and available approximately 4 to 5 years from now and will have a life expectancy up to 2040, again approximately 15 to 20 years.

CDMA Networks (Verizon & Sprint) Sprint has publicly stated that they are planning on maintaining the 2G (1XRTT) and 3G (EVDO) network until at least 2020 or another 10 years. Verizon has stated it will maintain the 1XRTT for at least 5 more years and EVDO for another 10 years.

Currently, IP looks to continue to dominate commercial alarm communication and cellular is becoming the choice for residential. However as the cellular market continues to grow and mature, and local Fire Authorities allow for UL864/NFPA72 approved GSM Fire Communication with No other technologies required, you can expect the trend for commercial to move more toward Cellular Communication.

As the industry migrates from 2G to 3G and then on to 4G, cellular communication will become a more affordable option for residential and then on to commercial applications. Even if communication panels are changed out every 10 - 15 years, using a panel that is forwards and backwards compatible will allow you to stay up to date on the latest advances.

Cellular enabled panels allow all kinds of possibilities that are not available on a panel that is 15 to 20 years old. The ability for a user to arm or disarm their system from their cell phone, check current status of their system, monitor who is using their system (guests, children, deliveries etc) gives you a peace of mind that currently is not possible with an older model panel.

Don't get left behind on the latest technology. Contact SAS Security and let us help you navigate this new world of Cellular Communication.

Cellular Communication for today's technology driven world

SAS SECURITY ALARM SERVICE
(972) 312-1700

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Advantages of Using SAS Security for your Alarm Needs

* SAS Security Alarm Service offers you customized security, fire and CCTV systems designed for your residence or business. We keep your needs and concerns in mind to design and install a system that works best for you.

* SAS Security Alarm Service is locally owned and operated. No worries about your alarm monitoring going down because there is a hurricane or snow storm on another coast.

* SAS Security Alarm Service utilizes a local, U.L. listed 24-hour a day/7-days a week/365-days per year Monitoring Station.

* SAS Security Alarm Service's false alarm average is well below the national average.
* SAS Security Alarm Service technicians are available 24-Hours a day/7-days a week/365-days a year for any situation.

* SAS Security Alarm Service techicians are professional, experienced and educated in their field. We perform background checks, criminal checks and drug screens on employees.

* Each phone call to SAS Security Alarm Service is personally handled by one of our professional office staff and your needs are taken care of immediately. We handle every client with the one on one attention that they deserve.

Call us today and let us show you how we can take care of your home and business security and alarm needs.

SAS Security Alarm Service

Phone: 972-312-1700

SAS Security Alarm Service

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Sparky's Safety Spots - Smoke Alarms

We're coming to the end of Fire Protection Week. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: A Sound you can live with!".

This is a great time to think about your home or business and your fire protection.

This year the emphasis is educating people about the importance of smoke alarms.

Take the steps necessary to update and maintain your home or business' smoke alarm protection.

Contact SAS Security Alarm Service for an inspection or maintenance of your home or business Fire Detection System.

Smoke Alarm Facts:

* Smoke Alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half.

* 96% of all homes have at least one smoke alarm (2008 - telephone survey)

* Each year nearly 3,000 people die in U.S home fires.

* In more than half of the reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate (even though the fire was large enough), batteries were missing or disconnected. Nuisance alarms were the leading reason for disconnected alarms.

* Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Only 12% of the people surveyed in 2008 knew this.

*In fires considered large enough to activate a smoke alarm, hard-wired alarms operated 91% of the time; battery powered smoke alarms operated 75% of the time.

Planning a remodel? Re-arranging your furniture for the fall?

Before you re-arrange your furniture... Before you hang those new drapes....take a moment to think about your alarm system. Your alarm system? How is hanging a set of drapes going to affect my alarm system?

When making any changes to your environment (rearranging or moving furniture or aquiring new items), think about the following:

* Ensure nothing is placeing in the path of the motion detectors which can cause false alarms. New drapes look good, but does the Air Conditioning unit or Heating unit cause them to move and set off the motion detector?

* Do not move items such as plants or accessories in the path of the motion detector. Plants or other hanging objects can sway and cause movement which is picked up by the motion detector.

* Make sure that newly placed items or decorations, expecially around the holidays, that are hung near doors or windows, do not interfere with the door or window contacts or motion sensors.

* Don't forget about pets. Was your alarm system designed and installed before you got Fido or Fluffy?
Call your alarm company immediately so that they can review your system and insure that your newest family memeber won't cause any false motion alarms.

Moving any furniture, painting or remodeling is bound to uncover or create dust and debris. The sensors in your alarm system (Motion Sensors, Smoke Detectors, Heat Detectors etc.) must remain dust and bug free.
Make sure to include checking for dust and spider webs around sensors when making any changes to your living space.

And always before undergoing major changes to your home, check with your alarm company about how it might impact your system. It would also be a great time to schedule a routine maintenence check-up of your equipment.

Password Tips for Alarm Users

What is a password?
When an alarm occurs and the alarm company calls, the operator will ask "What is your password?" Can you answer this on the first try? Few customers will. Usually they give their secret "entry/exit" code and the continuing dialog with the operator will delay any action on the alarm.

The "Secret Code"
When your alarm was installed, the installer asked you to select a secret exit/entry code. A sequence of numbers (usually 4-digit) that you enter on the keypad to arm or disarm your system. Like most people, you probably selected something that was easy to remember. When the alarm company calls, this might be the number you think of first because you use it so frequently.

Authorized Users
This secret code cannot identify you to the alarm company because it is not on file at the alarm company. Remember, this is a secret code that only you  (or your authorized users of your alarm system) know.

One word, Many names
Depending on the alarm company, you might have been asked to setup a password, a Personal Identification Code, a Passcode....No matter the name, it's purpose is always the same. To identify you to the operator when an alarm has occurred. It's used to identify you as an authorized user who can verify or cancel an alarm. This code IS stored and maintained in your data file at the alarm company. If you don't remember your passcode, contact your alarm company and setup a new one right away. Use something simple that way it's easy to remember.

Know the difference
Remember the difference between your secret code and your passcode and you can save precious time in an emergency situation.

Recorded Video Surveillance

Recorded video surviellance pays for itself. Its like having a paid security guard that never sleeps.

New GSM radios all the rage

Be carefull out there in the new communications world of alarm monitoring. There are a number of technologies that will provide service now but are a 3-5 year fix. That may fit your needs, if so not to worry. If it does not ask for a differnt option.