There is one simple rule of telephone security: Never say anything on the telephone that you would not want your worst enemy to hear. Landline telephones are pathetically simple to tap. Almost all mobile phone systems utilize security systems which have been compromised. VoIP telephone calls can be tapped by anyone with access to the network. In addition, you don’t know the environment of the person on the other end of a telephone conversation. Perhaps someone is pointing a gun at them, or perhaps they are talking on a mobile phone while standing in line at a bank, or maybe […]

Common door locks fall into one of three categories: cylinder locks, rim locks, and mortise locks. Cylinder locks are the most common type of door lock.  They are designed to fit into pre-cut holes in standard doors. Rim locks are an older type of lock that is seldom seen anymore.  They can sometimes be useful to add an additional layer of security to an existing door lock. Instead of going through a hole in the door like a cylinder lock, rim locks are screwed onto the interior surface of the door. Mortise locks are similar to cylinder locks in that […]

Steel security doors are superior in most ways to wooden doors, but they are not always practical.  Your existing wooden door may be decorative, it may be a non-standard size, or it may simply be already paid for.  When you can’t replace a wooden door, you can sometimes augment it with steel reinforcement. You’ll need to buy a large steel plate and then drill holes for the doorknob, the peephole, and the mounting screws. The thickness of steel plate depends upon the strength of your door hinges and door material. Here are approximate weights for an average 3′ x6′ 8″ […]

Barbed wire is both inexpensive and durable, but it’s security value is often overrated. Traditional barbed wire may be cut with small wire cutters, or breached by throwing a carpet or board over the wire. More determined attackers may place a ladder or truck next to the fence and jump over — or may simply drive a truck through the fence. Nevertheless, barbed wire and related products can play a useful role in a complete security strategy. Improving Barbed Wire Barbed Tape is a steel tape punched into a barbed shape.  It is more difficult to cut through than regular […]

Floor safes have several advantages over other home safe designs.  In combination, these advantages often make floor safes the best option for protection of your valuables. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider. Advantages Concealment Flood safes are very easy to conceal, mostly because few people look for floor safes.  A large stand-alone safe is obvious.  A small safe hidden under a bed or in a closet will show up in any routine search.  Even wall safes will be revealed after most searches — because people are accustomed to looking for wall safes. A floor safe can be hidden […]

Home storm shelters are becoming more common, due to numerous examples where they have saved peoples lives. These stories have come from across the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Threats Storm shelters are designed to protect against high winds from natural causes — hurricanes and tornadoes. Shelters for protection against NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) and home invasions have different requirements. Terminology FEMA uses the term “safe room” to refer to constructions which meet FEMA 320 and 361 criteria; they use the term “shelters” to refer to constructions designed to meet the ICC 500 criteria. Section 442 of Florida Building […]

Real estate agents quip that the three most important things in real estate are location, location, location.  In a lot of ways, this is more true for security than for real estate in general. Weather and Geology There are many ways in which Mother Nature can ruin your day: Earthquakes Floods Hurricanes Typhoons Tornadoes Volcanos The presence of each of these items can be, and should be, researched before you choose a location as your home base. Earthquake information can be found at the U.S. Geological Service Earthquake Center.  Most of the other events can be researched by searching through […]