Surveillance
ADI Appoints Michael Flink New President
The US-based wholesale distributor ADI has named Michael Flink as president of ADI Global. ADI, part of the Honeywell Security Group (HSG), will operate globally, and Flink will lead all ADI businesses across the Americas, EMEA, and India. Flink, pictured, has been president of ADI Americas since 2010.
Gov Perry Approves $86 Million Budget for Border Security
Texas lawmakers on Monday approved a plan by Gov. Rick Perry to increase spending on border security.
How to Secure the Budget for a Video Surveillance Upgrade in Retail Organizations
While loss prevention is a valid reason from a security perspective, it is often much easier to get the budget signed off when colleagues from other departments can be convinced to support the proposal. Examples of cross-functional use of network video include dwell time analysis to allow store managers to alert their team when extra customer assistance is needed. The heat map function can be set up to proactively alert the staff about low-traffic in campaign areas so they can quickly rectify the situation. Lastly, people counting is useful for conversion rate and sales planning.
Honeywell Brings Wireless Access Control to More Doors
Honeywell announced enhancements to its Pro-Watch security management system that allow integrators to cost effectively accommodate virtually any access control need through expanded support for wireless locksets and biometric readers. Pro-Watch 4.2 is now compatible with multiple biometric reader options, along with added support for several brands and types of wireless locks – including options from Allegion (AD-400 Series), Assa Abloy (Aperio Line), and Salto (Sallis and SVN) – that enable the system to protect previously hard-to-reach doors and locations.
NJ Bill Calling for Police Registry of Security Cameras Coming Into Focus
When a bad guy abducted a woman off the street in Philadelphia a few weeks ago and she was rescued when his car was located in Maryland, I marveled at the black box technology that found the vehicle. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Essex, NJ, was even more impressed with a nearby store’s video camera that recorded the entire incident and identified the car. So he crafted bill A-3843 permitting a municipality to enact an ordinance establishing a private outdoor video surveillance camera registry, requiring owners of such cameras to register them with police.
ACLU Urges More Public Debate on Surveillance Technologies
The ACLU recently released a report regarding how security and surveillance cameras and recordings are beginning to erode at civil liberties. The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California recently launched a statewide campaign to ensure that public debate, oversight, and accountability precede the acquisition of surveillance technologies by law enforcement agencies. Counties and cities across California have spent in excess of $60 million on invasive surveillance technology, and only five of 90 communities studied held a public debate each time they introduced a new element, according to the ACLU report released Nov. 12.
NYCHA Screwed Up Application, Missed Out on Federal Funds for Security Cameras
NYCHA lost out on funding for more security cameras at housing developments because the application was bungled. NYCHA lost out on hundreds of thousands of federal dollars for security cameras because it bungled filling out the proper paperwork, the NY Daily News has learned. Early this year, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department offered $3 million in “emergency safety and security grants” to housing authorities. More than 330 agencies nationwide applied, but NYCHA officials sent in an application that “was not complete and did not meet the minimum threshold requirements,” according to a HUD document obtained by The News.
Swann Bets Home Security Trumps Automation in the Internet of Things
he Swann security system supports its own hardware, but also third-party products such as the Philips Hue Lighting system and the Nest thermostat (as well as its own). When the chief executive of Swann Security popped into see the chief technology officer a year or two ago, the resulting conversation changed the strategic direction of the company.
Swann sold security cameras and other sensors through retailers such as Harvey Norman and Dick Smith. It was a good business that was enjoying a period of sustained growth.
Michigan House Commerce Committee Members: NO on H.B. 5189
[EDITOR’S NOTE: It appears that many are still uneducated as to the realities of the value and preventive realities of video surveillance installations.] The Michigan House Commerce Committee will be hearing testimony this morning regarding HB 5189, the Jessica Heeringa law, which requires 24-hour gas stations to install costly surveillance equipment and maintain a minimum of two employees during overnight hours.
Eagle Eye Networks Announces Availability of Interactive Cloud Security Camera Mapping
Eagle Eye Networks, Inc. announced the immediate availability of interactive cloud security camera mapping as part of the Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera Video Management System (VMS). The new global mapping offers users the ability to view or record video directly from a map or physical layout.
Website Views Over 70,000 Unsecured Security Cameras via Default Passwords
One of the major vulnerabilities of these network IP-cameras is that unless the purchaser of said network IP-caemra changes the default username and password of the camera, it can be viewed by anyone in the world. SecurityHive.com has come across a website that streams video from unsecured video cameras that employ default usernames and passwords.
Costar Tech Inc (CSTI) ? Comments & Business Outlook
Costar’s Reported Second Quarter 2014 Results Revenue for the second quarter of 2014 totaled $8.3 million as compared to revenue of $6.2 million for the second quarter of the prior year, an increase of 33%.
RADWIN Wireless Video Surveillance Solutions Secure Border of Texas & Mexico
Every year tens of thousands of illegal crossing attempts are made over the border from& Mexico to the U.S (e.g. immigration, drugs, and human trafficking). Mahwah, NJ-based RADWIN, a provider of sub-6GHz broadband wireless solutions, has announced that its RADWIN 5000 Point-to-Multipoint systems were chosen by the local Port Authority in Texas& to help secure ports-of-entry into the United States.
Genetec President Wins Entrepreneur Award
Pierre Racz, president of Genetec has been& named EY’s 2014 Québec Entrepreneur of the Year in the Technology and Communications Category. The Canadian program is in its 21st year of honoring the country’s most impressive entrepreneurs from all areas of business.
Netgear Arlo HD Smart Wireless Home Security Camera System Unveiled (Video)
The Arlo wireless home security camera is capable of recording high-definition footage from anywhere on your wireless network and its battery-powered requiring no wires to be installed for installation. The Arlo Smart Home Security Camera offers many desirable capabilities and benefits that will make remote monitoring hassle-free, day or night, indoors or out.
Guardly Enterprise E911 Solution Is First to Improve Active Shooter Response Using New Indoor Positioning Systems
Guardly announces that its Enterprise E911 solution for smartphones can now be used to enable faster, more effective response during active shooter incidents. The solution is geared towards large private enterprises and uses indoor positioning and mobile apps to detect active shooters earlier, locate people and shooters indoors and streamline communication between people around the shooter and a security operations center.
Eye-in-the-Sky Blimp Boosts Singapore?s Spying Ability
An unmanned helium-filled balloon the length of an Olympic-size pool will be held down by fortified ropes to float 600 meters (2,000 feet) above ground – more than twice the height of Singapore’s tallest building, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on its website.
WD Purple Now Shipping 6-TB Capacities to Excel in IoT ?Fog? Surveillance Environments
Video surveillance is a highly data-rich application within the “Internet of Things (IoT)” ecosystem. WD Purple hard drives excel in new and existing home and small business security system environments with up to eight hard drives and up to 32 high-definition (HD) video cameras. WD Purple hard drives are being offered in capacities from 1-TB up to 6-TB.
Pelco by Schneider Electric Strengthens Relationship With Avaya to Deliver IP Video Surveillance Solutions
Pelco by Schneider Electric recently announced that they are strengthening their relationship with Avaya to deliver superior performance and simplicity to IP video security and surveillance customers. This global alliance partnership will enable deeper collaboration on technology development and interoperability, providing customers with an easy-to-install, easy-to-scale network platform optimized for demanding video surveillance systems.
Kastle Systems, DC Real Estate Leaders, and Washington Met Police Department Launch Capital Shield
Kastle Systems, Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and prominent Washington area real estate firms launched Capital Shield, a partnership that allows MPD direct access to an interconnected network of private security cameras, floor plans, and other critical information in business locations across the city. Enabling MPD with direct access to a large new pool of video cameras and building information in times of crisis allows first responders to quickly gain the situational awareness required for responding to serious threats.