Experience Smart Home Automation in Rochester | Your Future Now
How Does Smart Home Automation Make Life Easier? Homeowners are increasingly embracing smart home automation because it offers unparalleled convenience. This technology becomes more practical with every new product or capability released. Take the smart thermostat, for example. It now adjusts to your family’s comfort needs while using less energy. You can control the thermostat from anywhere, which saves both time and money. This also gives you peace of mind; for instance, you can ensure the thermostat is turned down or off when you’re away. You no longer have to worry about leaving the thermostat too high or a door unlocked when you go out of town or head to work. Smart Home Products Have you ever driven a mile or so away, then turned back, unsure if your door was locked? That frustration is now history. Now, simply pull over and use your smartphone to check your door’s status. If it’s unlocked, you can lock it remotely. Plus, if a neighbor needs to enter your house, you can unlock the door for them from anywhere. Even appliances are a part of Rochester NY smart home automation solutions. You can do this by monitoring and controlling a specific smart power plug. If you go out of town and forget to turn off an appliance, you can simply switch it off from anywhere in the world, as long as your mobile device has an internet connection. You can also control lights. Controlling your lights remotely works great when you’re out of town or at work. You can turn one light off and another on to make it look like someone is home. This simple trick helps keep burglars away. Remote Video Surveillance Even if burglars don’t stay away, video surveillance offers huge value. You can view your live video feed from anywhere to see what’s happening at home. Install cameras inside or outside. Outside, you can easily monitor your home’s exterior. Inside, you’ll see everything going on, and you can even check in on your pets. You can also easily keep track of your alarm system. If the system triggers, your monitoring center will notify you. However, being remotely connected to your system also means you’ll get direct notifications yourself, giving you immediate updates. Many Home Automation Options Many home automation options exist today. You can control practically anything from anywhere, which simply makes your life easier. Home automation can also benefit the elderly or disabled, allowing them to turn a light on or off while sitting down. Ultimately, it’s all about making life easier and safer for you and your family. Rochester NY Smart Home Automation Installers If you’re ready to automate your home, SPS Fire and Security offers a range of home automation products that can make your home work for you. You’ll save energy, money, and always have peace of mind when you’re away. Call us today at 585-770-0348 to learn more!
The Most Common Phone Scams and How to Outsmart Them
Identifying the Most Common Phone Scams Scammers are everywhere. We deal with door-to-door, email, and internet scams. Now, scam artists use new tricks to cheat people over the phone. These common phone scams can even lead to robbery. Scammers might be checking to see who is home, if you have a security system, and other important details. Despite technological advances, the most common phone scams are getting more and more popular as a way to steal someone’s identity. Scammers find this type of fraud easier and safer for them. Unfortunately, it’s harder to catch a phone scammer because there’s no paper trail, unlike on the internet. Plus, they can manipulate caller ID systems to show false information. Can You Hear Me Now? Recently, a new phone scam called “Can You Hear Me Now?” has emerged. With this trick, the scammer tries to record your voice. After they ask, “Can you hear me now?” and you say “yes,” the scammer then claims you’ve agreed to something. As you talk, the scammer gains access to your personal information or anything else on your phone. They may also use many other questions to gather your information. Some other questions they might ask include: Are you the lady of the house? Are you a homeowner? Do you pay the household telephone bill? Scams like this are becoming more popular and there are many ways that you can protect yourself from them. Protecting Yourself From Theft Through Common Phone Scams Don’t Recognize Phone Number: If you ever see an unknown number calling, or if it says “restricted,” chances are it’s someone you don’t know. When this happens, simply let the call go to voicemail. Scammers never leave messages. If it’s a legitimate caller, they will leave one. Act Slowly: Don’t always rush to answer your phone. If you quickly pick up, thinking it’s someone you know, you could become the victim of a targeted scam. Always look carefully at all calls before answering. Let unknown numbers go straight to voicemail. Don’t Answer Any Questions Over The Phone: Answering questions over the phone often leads to information leaking to scammers. Even the smallest details can help a scam artist get your personal information. Never Give Out Information: No matter what, never give out your information when buying anything over the phone unless you initiated the call. If a company calls you about an item you’ve bought, you can ask questions to verify they are truly from that company. Don’t Pay: If you’re ever ordering anything over the phone, the company normally won’t call you to ask for payment. You, as the customer, always call them to pay for your purchases. Never give out your payment information or Social Security number to an unknown number. Scammers often ask for wire money transfers. If you ever hear the words “wire transfer,” you can be sure it’s a scam. Contact Your Rochester Security Company and Protect Yourself More! Take action now to be safer when answering the phone. You never know what scam artist is going to be calling next. If you have any questions on how to stay safe contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Ultimate February Home Safety Checklist: Stay Warm & Secure
A Home Safety Checklist You Can Use Year Round Every year, we make resolutions like helping others or losing weight. However, some people forget about home safety. This is an important resolution, and it’s not too late to make it, as the year is still early. With a good home safety checklist, you can get through even the harshest part of winter. Below, you’ll find a home safety checklist you can use in February and year-round to make your home as secure as possible. Bedrooms and Other Living Spaces Practice an emergency plan with your family and create escape routes for everyone. Run through this escape route at least once a month so everyone knows it well. Make sure you have flashlights with working batteries in every storm kit. This way, you’ll be ready if snow or a general power outage knocks out your power. Hallway Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. If you have a home security system, remember that many include built-in detection for both. This means authorities are alerted even if you’re not interacting with the system when these dangerous elements are sensed. Make sure your fire extinguishers are full. The needle must point to the green zone. If it’s not, it’s time to replace or service the extinguisher. Also, check that the hose isn’t cracked and that the handle and locking pin are in place. Kitchen Keep a contact list on your refrigerator. Include all important numbers like Poison Control, your doctor, emergency services, and close family members. Check your range’s hood fan for grease buildup. This can cause a fire, so clean it regularly to ensure it works properly. Also, check your kitchen fire extinguisher to confirm the needle is in the green zone and that nothing is broken or out of place. Give your oven and range top a deep clean. For your garbage disposal, use vinegar, baking soda, ice, hot water, and some lemon or lime to clean it thoroughly. Basement Make sure you clean your circuit breaker to avoid outages and power surges. Also, cover your pipes properly to prevent them from freezing. If your basement temperature drops below 32 degrees, you risk frozen pipes. Remember to change your furnace filters every four to six weeks. Furthermore, dust your air vents regularly. Inspect your basement for cracks, leaks, or mold that could cause health hazards or other dangers. Finally, ensure any outside doors to your basement are secure. If you’re installing a security system, put a sensor on the outside basement door. This helps even if a thief would also need to go through an interior door to get into your home. Bathroom Make sure your first aid kit is full. Make sure windows have locks and that they are locked. This is something you should check throughout the entire house. Outside Check your outdoor lighting. Good outdoor lighting helps you and your visitors see where you’re walking. It also deters burglars. If you don’t have outdoor lights, get some installed. Motion lights are excellent additions. If you lack outside video surveillance, consider adding it. You can see everyone who comes to your home. This helps you identify unwelcome visitors. Additional Home Safety Checklist Items You can make your home safer with many steps, but checking fire extinguishers or cleaning garbage disposals won’t keep thieves away. Unfortunately, burglars break into homes daily across Rochester and all over New York, often because those homes lack security systems. This not only means losing belongings but also losing your sense of personal security. Contact Your Rochester Security System Installer and Finish Your Home Safety Checklist To make your home more secure, SPS Fire & Security offers a full suite of solutions. Just call us and ask about the best option for your home and your needs. Call us today at 585-770-0348 to learn more!
Children and the Internet: Another Type of Home Security
Children and the Internet: How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online You might not typically link children and the internet with home security, but they are connected. Recently, a very disturbing video of a young girl ending her life circulated online, and many young children across the nation accessed it. Because of this, many schools sent letters to parents. They stated they are doing everything possible to protect children by controlling what they see online. As parents, we can’t be with our children every minute. However, you can take many steps to ensure your child’s online safety during computer use. This helps prevent them from ever seeing another disturbing video. Children and the Internet: Teaching Children about Online Safety Online safety is another measure in home security because of the information that can be relayed on the internet. The most important rule for online safety for children is to set up a time with how long that children can go online. Your children should never give out personal information to anyone or at anytime. Giving out any information should be the decision made by the parent. Never give out your passwords to any one other then parents. Never allow children to post pictures without approval from the parents. It happens and people find a way to use pictures as a source to find out where you or your children are at. If messages come across the computer and you don’t know who the person is, don’t respond. Your child should close the opened app or window and tell an adult. Before downloading any software that might damage the computer, children should ask parents first. What Parents Can Do with Children and the Internet’s Risks If you have young children that are using the computer ,you want to do the following things to protect your children and the computer: Set up security guidelines (block all sites your children can not go on) on the computer. Your children should only be on age appropriate websites. Set up a timer to measure the length of time your children is on the computer. Some software programs have a timer that will allow the computer so shut off after a certain length of time. After your children has been on the computer, always be sure to check the browser history to see where your child went to. If you are not home and you don’t want your children to have access to the computer until you get home, there are ways to add a password to the computer. Make the password something that your children will never figure out. Contact Your Rochester Home Security Company This article gives you tips on how to deal with children and the internet. We, however, can make your home safer. Contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348 to find out how you can make your life more secure.
10 Innovations in Home Security
New Innovations in Home Security Gone are the days of simple locks and keys. New innovations in home security change how we protect our homes. For example, old garage door openers were basic. However, today you can open your garage from an app. Therefore, you can let a neighbor in even when you are far away. This gives you much better security while you are gone. Innovations in Home Security that Enhance Safety Here is a rundown of the latest home security innovations: Remote Home Monitoring This is becoming an increasingly popular request among homeowners because remote home monitoring systems allow you to remotely keep tabs on the inside and outside of your home. You can keep an eye on your child when they return from school, your pet, or can see if someone breaks into your home. If someone breaks into your home, you are notified by the app. The security system notifies authorities so that the break-in can be immediately addressed. Smart Doorbells New innovations in home security help fight theft at your doorstep. Workers fit a camera with a motion detector inside. This gives you a clear view of your front door. What’s even better is that you can access the camera from an app on your smartphone. Remote Home Lighting Imagine being able to remotely control the lights in your home. This is part of home automation. When you are away on vacation or at work, you can turn on different lights at different times. This can deter a thief from entering your home. They think someone is home! Access Code Home Locks If you don’t like old-fashioned keys, a keypad lock might be just what you need. This special lock saves different codes. This lets you set it up for different people. You won’t worry about losing keys anymore. Just punch in a code, and you’re done. So, this is a great safety tool for older people who live alone. It also helps anyone who wants to open their door faster. You get in quicker, and your door stays safe. Emergency Notification Necklace This technology is helping the disabled and elderly. If something happens, a person pushes a button and they can receive assistance. Police, fire, or ambulance can be notified, depending on what event is occurring. Any Time there is a problem, the person has immediate access to assistance. Many lives have been saved with this technology. Smart Appliances Smart appliances are very convenient, but are helpful for elderly people. These appliances can detect overheating and prevent fires by shutting themselves down. If you forget that an appliance is running, a smart appliance can give you peace of mind. Fall Detection Fall detection is like the security necklace but different. There are sensors that can detect when a person passes out or loses their balance. This is ideal for people with medical conditions or elderly adults that are living at home who need to be monitored. When a fall is detected, a warning is issued to the right authorities. Some devices can now monitor other bodily functions. Remote Garage Door Opener Garage door openers have been around for a long time, but not like the ones you can open from an app. Now, you can open your garage door remotely from anywhere in the world. So, if your neighbor needs to enter your home, you can let them in. This adds great security when you’re away. Voice Activated Home Regulation This is also becoming a popular security option because it is controlled remotely through an app on a smartphone. A person can shut off the water to their home, change temperature settings, watch video cameras, and do so much more. When there is an issue in the home, this technology sends out a notification. Security Gates Security gates have long helped keep unwanted guests out. They give you monitoring and protection. You can also let guests in or out easily. This system is now popular with Americans everywhere. That’s because it has become more affordable and simpler to set up. Contact An Experienced Rochester Home Security Company So You Can Have the Latest Home Security Innovations Home security is everything because you need peace of mind that you, your family, and your belongings are safe. To find out how you can make your home more secure, call SPS Fire & Security today at 585-770-0348.
What a Security System for School Safety Can Do for Students
Take It One Step Further with a Security System for School Safety Every school should consider Raptor Check-In. It’s a key access control system for school safety. Schools nationwide are using more high-tech security. Many schools are upgrading their systems. They want to keep children and staff safe. For instance, a Wayne County, New York school uses the Raptor system. It boosts their security. This new system tracks visitors. It also monitors the whole school. This helps both students and staff. The Raptor system offers many other benefits too. Having a security system for school safety is a must. What is the Raptor Access Control System? Raptor is a visitor system. It also helps keep schools safe. This system reads driver’s licenses. Then, it checks a sex offender list. If it finds a match, it will tell staff right away. However, if there’s no match, the system prints a visitor badge. This badge then shows visitor details. What is the purpose of the Raptor System? The main purpose of this system is to keep the school, facility, and children safe and providing access control. With this Raptor System, it tracks unsafe visitors to the school before the visitor is able to make contact with any children. The system can do several things: The visitor coming in the school should have either of the following forms identifications: drivers’ license, military card, gun licenses, or passport. The system can read pretty much any kind of license that has your name, address and photo. If a visitor does not have any of the following, they should bring something with their name and date of birth recorded on it. The Raptor system checks visitors. It uses an online sex offender registry. This makes sure visitors are safe. It also confirms they can enter the school. If Raptor finds a match, it sends an alert. This alert goes to a staff member. It can be an email, phone call, or text. Then,the staff member meets the visitor. They will then escort the unwanted visitor off school grounds. However, if there is no match, Raptor prints a badge. This visitor badge shows the visitor’s name and picture. It also includes the date, time, and their destination. Finally, the system records all this information. This helps track visitor hours. It also answers any staff questions. Once the visitor is done at the school, they would sign out by telling the facility member in charge and they will sign out the visitor on their computer system. This is a way to provide entry and departure from the school building. Scanning ID information each time Each time a visitor comes to the school, the school has the ability to either have the visitor scan their ID or just have them print off a sticker badge. Some schools will have the visitor scan their ID each time they visit the school for safety precautions. This is due to the fact that the visitor’s information might change from the last time that they have been to the school. Having upgraded access control security systems like the Raptor System can ensure parents that their children are safe at school. Rochester Security System for School Safety Not only is this system good to use at schools but also any company or buildings that have high volume of visitors. If you have any questions regarding this type of system or any security system for home or business, contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Funeral Burglary Spike: Secure Your Home Now
Don’t Be the Next Victim of Funeral Burglary Breaking into and robbing someone’s home has always been a very low thing to do, so there is no such thing as an honorable burglar. However, there is a such thing as a burglar stooping to the lowest of lows and that’s when they break into someone’s home during a funeral. This is referred to as “Funeral Burglary” This is a terrible crime. It happens all around the country. Burglars look at obituaries. Then, they find names of family members. Next, they target their empty homes. For example, one woman went to her mother’s funeral. When she returned, burglars had broken into her home. Her electronics were missing. Straight from the Burglar The victim regretted her lack of security. She wished, “I had a home security system.” She explained that her neighborhood was always quiet. Break-ins were not common there. Therefore, she never thought about a security alarm. She lived there her whole life. So, cameras or motion detectors were never important. Many of the once safe communities around the Rochester area have noticed an uptick in break-ins, which takes away the sense of security that many people once had. What burglars are doing is going through the obituaries and looking for spouses, children, or grandchildren of the deceased. They can identify them on social media where they can find out their age. By simply knowing a person’s age, they can do a people search on the internet and find an address. It is that simple. Obituaries give out a lot of information. They tell burglars about family members. This includes where people live and who they married. It’s also easy to spot their children. Thus, burglars can easily find the right person from the obituary. Burglars know these people will be gone. They won’t be home for hours during the funeral. So, burglars watch the house. Then, they plan how to break in. Preventing Funeral Burglary It is important to do what you can to avoid a funeral burglary during a funeral. In just a matter of minutes, a burglar from go from the obituary to looking at your home via Google Maps to find vulnerabilities. Here is what you can do: Invest in surveillance cameras. Not only will they help you when you are at a funeral, but also while you are at work, out of town, visiting a friend, or doing anything away from home. With remote access, you can keep an eye on your home while gone. When a burglar arrives, you can capture their face. Have a security system installed. When a burglar accesses the home, the alarm will sound and the authorities will be alerted. Most of the time, an alarm runs a burglar off very quickly. Have someone watch the home while you are gone. It is good to have a friend come by to keep an eye on things if you are going to be gone for a while. If a burglar sees someone is there, they aren’t going to come inside. If someone can’t house sit for you, tell your neighbors you’ll be gone so they can keep an eye on things. When your home is under surveillance or has an alarm, make it known. You can post notices or alarm signage outside of the home, which tells burglars that they don’t have a chance. Contact An Experienced Rochester Alarm Company Don’t become a victim. Burglars target funerals. You might think your neighborhood is safe. But, someone might still break in while you’re away. This bad trend is happening more often. However, you can stop burglars. Call SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348. They can show you how home security keeps you, your family, and your property safe.
Home Security Systems and the Elderly
Home Security Systems Protect the Elderly As we get older and our children grow up and move out, we may decide to downsize our home or make other changes. When this happens, our home security needs often change too. The alarm system that works for your family today might not work as well in the future. Whether you’re spending the winter in a warmer place for comfort or health reasons, or staying home year-round, it’s important to have home security systems at all of your residences. Older adults and security alarms go hand in hand throughout life’s stages — from health needs to daily routines to having a second home. As time goes on, three types of alarms become especially important for seniors: a medical alert system, home automation, and remote control access. Home Security Systems for Elderly Individuals’ Homes Medical Alarm As people get older, they often face more health problems. Some of these issues can’t be controlled and can cause falls. A medical alarm system can’t stop health problems, but it can help in an emergency. This type of alarm is easy to use. The person just needs to push a button. Because of this alarm, many seniors can live on their own longer. It helps them feel safe and less afraid. Home Automation Young people and older people have different habits. Older people are usually better at keeping a routine. Seniors who like a daily routine can benefit from a home automation alarm. With this alarm, they can set it to match their schedule. If they wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, they can set the alarm to turn on and off at those times. Home automation is also much more convenient for people of all ages because you can keep track of what is happening at all times. The technical things become a bit easier. Remote Control Access Older people are like birds. When it gets cold, they head south. While they are away, they might not want anyone in their home. An alarm system with remote control access lets them manage their home from anywhere. Whether they go south for the winter, visit family and friends, or go on vacation, they can feel safe knowing their house is protected. Seniors need special alarm systems to stay safe and healthy. But they also need to make sure they get the basics. When setting up a security alarm, they should choose all the features that will help them the most. Contact Your Rochester Home Security Company If you or any elderly homeowner you know may be looking for a security alarm system, contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Home Security in the New Year
Make Home Security Resolution The new year is almost here and so is the long list of New Year’s resolutions that you want to commit to so you can improve your life. One of the ways you can improve your life is through your level of home security. These are resolutions that can be applied to business security as well, such as adding surveillance cameras where they need to be or upgrading existing cameras to ones that have better picture quality. Regardless of whether you need improved security for home or business reasons, here is a list of home security resolutions that you can use to make life a bit safer for you, your family, your belongings, your business, or all your interests: Improve Your Habits Make sure doors are locked, the security system is set, batteries are changed in smoke detectors, and that lights are on when they need to be. Install timers for lights, especially before going on vacation, and make sure you have good outdoor security. A home or business that is lit up is one a thief is more likely to stay away from. Consider Adding Extra Home Security It may not be enough to have an alarm because thieves can strike other parts of your property. Surveillance cameras can capture who is outside. If someone breaks into an outbuilding or tries to break into your house, you can acquire footage that will help authorities catch the culprits. Replace Outdated Home Security Systems Homeowners and business owners should replace outdated security systems. If you have an old system, you can do better. Today, systems include fire and carbon monoxide detection. You can also add motion detectors and more sensors. Many possibilities exist. Just talk to a security company specializing in advanced systems. You can even turn your home into a smart home. This makes your life more convenient. In fact, home automation is very popular now. You can remotely arm your security system, unlock doors, turn lights on and off, and even adjust your thermostat. You can do all of this from your smartphone. Change Your Passcode If you already have a security system, it is good to change your passcode. Having the same passcode all the time is a security risk. In fact, it is good to change it a couple times a year. Now is a good time to change it for the first time this year. Make sure you give the new code to everyone who needs to have it and remind them not to share it with anyone. Lock Outside Buildings Lock your outside buildings. Add outside video surveillance for better security. You also want motion lights that turn on when someone enters your property. Light always helps defend against burglars. Buy a Fireproof Safe If you haven’t already, you need a fireproof safe. While the security system, motion sensors, video cameras, and window and door sensors are all designed to keep thieves out, having valuables in a fireproof safe can give them even more protection in case someone does get in. One of the first places a thief visits when inside a home is the bedroom. When inside a business, they will go to the office in hopes they can find money, catch a cash register on the way, or break into the safe. Call Your Rochester Home Security Company To make yourself safer this year, consider investing in a modern home security or business security system. If your home or business is ever broken into or someone attempts to do so, you will be very glad that you protected everything you care about in this way. Call SPS Fire & Security today at 585-770-0348 to learn more.
