If you’re looking to beef up your home’s security in order to increase your family’s safety, protect your possessions, and even lower your homeowners insurance, then you are probably researching many of the alarm systems out there. All the options and features can be pretty daunting. Should consider a monitored system or not? Should you get a system that’s hooked up to your computer and can be checked on over the Internet? Do you need video surveillance cameras? Do you need biometrics? Wait a minute, what is biometrics anyway?

This article can’t cover all the different features, options, and equipment related to burglar alarms and home security systems, but we can get you up to speed on biometrics.

First off, what is it?

Basically, biometrics is a way of controlling access to a system (whether your computer, your car, or your home) by comparing some physical aspect of a person (i.e. fingerprint or handprint or–in more expensive systems even eyeball retina scans) with information stored in an electronic file. When a match is made, access is granted.

In short, biometrics tests who you are instead of what you can remember (codes, passwords, etc.).

When it comes to home security systems, you’re most likely to see fingerprint readers. For example, fingerprint activated door locks are becoming popular replacements to the typical lock and key systems. (A fingerprint door lock can be great even if you’re not thinking about security and you just want to be able to get into your house when you’ve lost your key or have your arms full of grocery bags!)

How is biometrics used in home security?

As we’ve mentioned, biometric fingerprint door locks ( http://www.homesecurityinformation.com/fingerprint-door-lock-information.htm ) are becoming more and more common. Other places in your home where you may use biometrics include safes, computers, and to access the panel of your security system.

If you’re familiar with the systems that require you to enter a numeric code after stepping into the house (and if you don’t remember the code in time, then you’re in trouble), then imagine just pressing your finger or thumb to a reader instead of having to punch in a code. This can be particularly helpful for children who might have trouble figuring out codes. When you get the security system, you simply program the control panel to recognize the fingerprints of everyone in the family (or everyone you want to have access to your home), and arming and disarming the alarm system becomes a snap.

It’s generally easy to change access too. If you want to give your nanny or house sitter access to your home while you’re away, then you can just add their fingerprint to the file. When you don’t want them to be able to arm or disarm the security system any more, it’s a simple matter to remove their access.

What about advantages or disadvantages to biometrics?

We’ve already touched upon some of the advantages of this technology. With biometrics, you increase convenience, eliminate the annoyance of remembering PINs and passwords, get rid of the need for keys, and in many cases increase security since biometrics are extremely hard to forge (no more worrying about if some unscrupulous visitor might make a copy of your key).

Disadvantages of biometrics are relatively few, but expense may be considered one. For example, a fingerprint door lock will cost you at least a couple hundred dollars while you could pick up a new key-and-lock set at the home improvement store for $20.

As you can see, however, there are many reasons why you might incorporate biometrics into your home security plan. As long as you are going through the expense of installing a burglar alarm system, this might be something to consider.

About the author

TC Thorn maintains several home improvement websites, including one on home security tips and home security systems.

Locking the doors of your business at the end of the day allows you to go home and to enjoy other aspects of your life. When you turn that key in the lock, you expect for your business to stay safe until you return. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for many business owners. There are professionals out there that know how to get a door unlocked and they slip in undetected.

It is often necessary to give keys to the building to some of your employees. Occasionally those keys are lost or stolen from such individuals. There is also the issue of disgruntled employees with keys to your business that have walked out on the job or they were fired. It is very expensive to have to re-key all of the locks to prevent any issues from arising due to these types of issues.

You can have peace of mind though if you invest in high security key systems for your business. They can’t be duplicated and there are five different levels of security that you can choose from. These changes can be implemented immediately so you won’t have to breach the security of your employees or your business. You also won’t have the high expense of replacing several locks and making new keys all the time due to various issues that do routinely take place in the work place.

You can install high security key systems to fit one or two locks or for a building that has multiple sources of entry. The keys can also be designed based on levels of security. For example you can have one employee with a key that gives them access to particular areas of the business. That key won’t work in the locks for more secure locations of the business. Another employee can have a key that will gain them access to all of the different parts of the building.

Having such levels of security in place prevents individuals from being in locations where they shouldn’t be. It also gives you the best way of tracking who may have compromised a particular area as you will have a list of who has keys to the various locks on the building.

High security key systems are installed by professionals. Make sure you take the time to look into their credentials. Find out how long they have been in business and what their reputation is with consumers. Ask what they know about other businesses in the area that they have installed high security key systems for. Don’t be afraid to ask them for references so you can be sure you are dealing with a business that has your best interests in mind.

While high security key systems are going to cost you more than just paying for traditional locks, they are virtually impossible to penetrate. This means all of your business items inside are secure from the outside world. You have worked too hard to make your business a success to allow such security breaches to take it away from you. This is one investment that will really be a benefit to any type of business you may have. .

Pat Andarton is a professional writer specializing in door frames and Door Hardware To learn more about Door Kickplates visit RimDoor.com

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As recently as two years ago the term was barely in its’ infancy; hardly a soul had heard of it. By way of explanation “home invasion” is a term coined by police departments to describe a home burglary when the occupants are home. As you may know most burglaries happen when the occupants are gone.

Since the possibility of a confrontation is drastically heightened, the odds of injury or death to the occupants go way up. Not to mention the old saying of ‘man’s home is his castle’ the occupants are violated by the perps in a home invasion.

That’s what is so scary about these crimes-the very real possibility of assault, injury, rape, or even death to you and members of your inner sanctum-your family.

Believe it or not 90% of all home invasions are preventable according to police experts. Of all crimes 17%, or one out of six a home was entered by the bad guys. A burglary happens every 15 seconds. AND perhaps the most important stat is this: The average burglar will spend no more than 2 minutes trying to get in.

Just think about it. If you can find a way to keep the bad guys out for two minutes chances are pretty good they’ll find another target.

NOW THE SHOCKER! Most home invasions happen right thru the front door. Seriously! Either the occupants open the door or the door is forced open. No matter-THE FRONT DOOOR. I mean c’mon what is the peephole for?

Are you one of those trusting folks (like I used to be) that when you answer the doorbell or a knock at the door you automatically open it? Be Honest. Once you open the door an inch or two it doesn’t take much to force it open all the way.

Make sure you have a peephole, deadbolt locks that you actually lock and if possible solid hardwood doors. And last but not least your home should have at least two maybe three locations (one by the front door) where you keep non lethal self defense weapons such as pepper sprays, stun guns, or maybe even a Taser.

Remember that the home intruder, like the burglar, has three big enemies light, sound, and time. The more obstacles you can put in his way the safer your home will be. For sure keep your front door locked and don’t open it until you know who it is.

Jack Krohn is the #1 author of Home Security Articles in the country. He owns SECURITY SOLUTIONS a one stop resource that provides solutions and answers for all your self defense and home security problems.

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Most of us take the usual practical steps to reduce the risk of being burglarized such as locking doors and windows and leaving a light on even when there’s no one home, etc. Such precautions may prevent opportunist thieves but professional and seasoned burglars know how overcome the simple barriers that we erect. After all breaking and entering is their job and most of them are good at their jobs!

Home Security has become big business in countries like the United States. In fact the American peoples’ faith in home security systems seems to be justified. According to results of the ongoing National Crime Victimization Survey carried out by the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice, burglary rates have pretty much stabilized over recent years. This trend can be attributed to the increased attention given to such crimes in the media resulting in more and more homeowners making sure that their homes are protected by some form of security system such as burglar alarms and/or security cameras. These systems are designed to reduce opportunities for burglars and increase their risk of being caught and brought to justice.