man with santa hat decorating house outdoor carport with christmas string lights

5 Security Tips for the Holidays

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

man with santa hat decorating house outdoor carport with christmas string lightsThere are thousands of fires during the holiday season each year. These accidents are primarily caused by trees, candles, outdoor lights, and cooking. Yet, fires aren’t the only security risk during the holidays. Burglaries, package theft, and more happen at increased rates during this time of year. 

New England residents are less likely on average to be victimized by crime than the rest of the country. However, the rates are still high enough to warrant extra caution, especially during the holidays. Keep these five security tips in mind this year to enjoy a safe and happy holiday.

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Shot of a young man using a laptop and credit card at home

Online Christmas Shopping Security for Safer Holiday Gifting

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Shot of a young man using a laptop and credit card at homeMany of us will be gifting from afar this year by purchasing and shipping our gifts online. The uptick in online shopping thanks to the pandemic means that there are more opportunities for fraud, ID theft, phishing, and other harmful scams. 

With holiday fraud attempts already growing each year, it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe. Avoid these bad actors by employing some key online shopping security tips this year.

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Turkey being placed into a deep fryer

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for a Happy Holiday

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Turkey being placed into a deep fryerThanksgiving is a time for food, family…and fires. The holiday boasts more home cooking fires than any other day of the year. Turkey fryers alone account for more than 900 destroyed homes and over $15 million in property damages annually.

Fires aren’t the only cause for concern during Thanksgiving weekend. Break-ins are just as likely during this time as any other season. Keep your family protected by following a few simple safety procedures. These tips will ensure that your family can enjoy a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

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Internet network. Nice serious male programmer looking at the laptop screen and checking the work of Internet servers while standing in the middle of the data center

Benefits of Using a Quality Local Security Company

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Internet network. Nice serious male programmer looking at the laptop screen and checking the work of Internet servers while standing in the middle of the data center

Security is about more than alarm systems and surveillance products. Many companies provide these resources. However, only quality security companies offer the high-level service and intangible benefits that create a true feeling of safety in your home or business.

Nationwide security companies may initially seem more reliable than smaller, local companies due to their name recognition, but don’t be fooled. The impersonal nature of these companies lowers the quality of service you will receive. They also tend to outsource their installations and service calls to local contractors who are not always the most reputable. A name doesn’t keep you safe.

Quality local companies must earn your trust through years of service and a commitment to excellence in their industry. They want to work harder for you. This is to your benefit, as you can always count on them to show up for you – no matter what. 

Let’s take a look at some of the other key reasons why a quality security company is a better option than a large enterprise security company.
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Man taking notes and looking at laptop, at home office, portrait.

Increase Work from Home Productivity with Smart Home Technology

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Man taking notes and looking at laptop, at home office, portrait.The uptick in work-from-home positions due to the pandemic (from 7% to 62%) has caused many to question how they can make their workday more productive. Kids at home, pets, endless chores, and sometimes a considerable lack of space can inhibit work productivity and create unnecessary stress. These distractions have a lingering effect. Studies show that it takes almost a full half hour to refocus after a distraction at work. 

Smart home technology has become an answer for many who are seeking an end to remote work distraction and a more streamlined, healthier, and happier at-home working experience. Smart home technology allows your devices to communicate with each other and with you via a remote control, smartphone, tablet, or voice command. They save time, energy, and – usually – cost. These days, it seems like almost anything in your home can become “smart.” Refrigerators, coffee makers, speakers, alarm clocks, thermostats, smoke alarms…the list goes on. 

Here are some pieces of smart tech you can use to boost your on-the-job productivity from home.

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Snow storm in United States with residential home and dark sky in background

How to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Months

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Snow storm in United States with residential home and dark sky in backgroundBurglaries are a threat all year, but studies show a spike in home invasions during wintertime. Beyond break-ins, the holidays bring the added risk of stolen packages. Roughly one third of Americans are victims of parcel theft each year, and that number spikes significantly during the holidays.

Combine harsh winter weather with an increase in theft, and you have two good reasons to secure your home this year. Let’s take a look at some important actions you can take to keep you, your family, and your home safe this winter season.

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Young girl is reading alone on her laptop late at night

Cyberbullying and Remote Learning | National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Young girl is reading alone on her laptop late at nightWhether they are the perpetrator, victim or witness, the majority of today’s schoolchildren will be involved in cyberbullying in some way. Now that most schools have moved online, instances of cyberbullying are likely to rise even higher. Access to the internet and their cell phone during remote learning hours will inevitably increase the risk for real-time cyberbullying. 

The negative effects of online bullying can be severe. Victims are far more likely to use and abuse substances, skip class, and receive failing grades than their non-bullied peers. They are also at a greater risk for serious mental health issues such as depression, chronic anxiety and suicide ideation. Parents and teachers need to take particular precautions during this season of online schooling to make sure their child’s health and wellbeing are protected.

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A shot of a young man in a server room with hi-tech supercomputers on display, LED lights are surrounding the equipment he is using.

6 Ways Employees Might Compromise IT Security

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

6 Ways Employees Might Compromise IT Security

A shot of a young man in a server room with hi-tech supercomputers on display, LED lights are surrounding the equipment he is using.October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so what better time to bring up the topic? Company owners want to be able to trust their staff. Yet, 52% of employers have noted that employees pose the greatest risk to company security. Considering that nearly 68% of businesses admit that their security risks are growing year after year, it is imperative that employers be able to rely on their staff to uphold security measures – even when no one’s watching.

Consider these six common ways employees compromise IT security. Once you understand where your employees need more guidance, you can offer it to them in a way that makes them feel valued and supported – a win for them and your company. 

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A Hanging Birdhouse

How to Disguise Hidden Home Security Cameras Indoors and Outdoors

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

How to Disguise Home Security Cameras

A Hanging BirdhouseApproximately 67% of all burglaries occurring in the United States target residential properties. This results in nearly 3.5 billion dollars in homeowner property losses each year. Of those burglaries, 15% occur in homes in the Northeast, and nearly half of those take place while the resident is at home.  

This makes security cameras a very important tool for both the safety of the home and the homeowner. Yet, an effective camera isn’t enough. You also need effective camera placement. 

In some cases you may not want your cameras right out in the open where they can be tampered with. Instead, you want to ensure that they are well hidden, yet still placed in prime position to capture any would-be intruder.

Here are a few great places to hide your indoor and outdoor cameras to ensure that they are as useful as possible while remaining undamaged by potential burglars.

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Two Security Cameras (dirty and cobwebs)

Keep Your Security Cameras Free of Insects

/by American Alarm Blogging Team

Keep Spider Webs, Bugs or Insects From Security Cameras 

Two Security Cameras (dirty and cobwebs)High resolution surveillance cameras are key tools in protecting our New England homes and businesses from thieves and intruders. However, as reliable and proven as these solutions are, they require maintenance — and that includes preventing the camera lenses from being obscured by such obstructions as spider webs or insect nests.

Spider and insect interference may be a bigger problem than you might realize, particularly for homeowners with exterior camera-based security systems. Spiders do in fact habitually spin webs across lenses, as this industry blogs notes. This can create blind spots in your surveillance system, in effect disabling it. 

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