September 2014: Security- Home, Personal & Group

One thing which surprises me is the lack of security my neighbors have. I can see their big screen TV through their front window while I'm out walking the dog. One would think they would close the curtains after dark.

Note: I do not make a habit of peeping into other people's houses.
But I do observe what is going on in my neighborhood while I'm out.

 

do not be predictable. humans are creatures of habit. (myself included) Don't drive the same way to work everyday, vary it if possible. vary times, vary routes, and be vigilant. watch for patterns (seeing the same car following you several days) etc.

 

Keeping a hard copy of vital information. Problem, having account numbers included. Sometimes simple, add one or 2 to each number. If your account number is 12345, and you have a +2, then record the account number as 34567.
Having a list of SSN is also problematic, solution- add a digit to the front or end to format it like a phone number and label it "Fax" or "Cell Phone 2"
SSN 123-45-6789 - 912-345-6789.

We (wife and I) have documentation packets that have this information in it. I made a copy for each vehicle, home, close family members that are points of contact in an emergency, etc. All packets are identical, and can be used in an emergency, but the full contents of the packet may be best discussed in another thread.

Most monkey's already know this, but posting to social media can reveal more about you than you think.

 

I'm always amused by the big honkin cutouts of a cheerleader bullhorn or a football with their kid's number on it. Because to me, that says "We'll be at the game for at least 2 hours Friday night!" That may be a Texas thing tho...

 

Parents post their kids names on their houses, declaring them to be great athletes of such and such school. While the bills in the mail box give the last name. Then crooks take out lines of credit based off the kid's name and address.
Don't post private info in plain sight. Don't use addresses, birthdays, or kid's names or phone numbers as access codes to houses, accounts or alarm systems. These things can be looked up by anyone.
@BTPost , this is the backup method I use. This is one of two versions of key lockboxes. Mine has no shackle, and mounts directly to the foundation of the house, with tapcon screws. (4 X2000lbs shear each)

Master Lock 5400D Combination Key Safe | Portable :: Keyless Entry Door Locks from GoKeyless

 

New Thread as in not here in this thread.

Got it.

 

I had a stalker once, a psychopath i had stopped from beating up a defenseless old man, or at least he was threatening to. I learned opsec quick. He was very good at harassment, would take it to the legal limit. Learned many ugly things about this person in the course of investigating him. It was life changing. I have lived in many rental units and my first consideration is security. There are many items that can be purchased cheaply that run on batteries, for example; motion activated alarms, window sensors, baby monitors, etc. I have a set on cameras with monitors by my bed, installed locks on the garage doors, barred the side door into the garage, window locks, beefed up strike plates. With the exception of the cameras, everything will work if the power goes out. I plan on working on the power for the cameras soon enough. These are all things that can be done cheaply and a little at a time. I have thought about upgrading my cameras, buying a system instead of the piece here piece there way it is now. A friend of mine, who was twelve at the time, gave me a christmass gift one year , a book, called sneakier uses for everyday things by Cy Tymony. It really opened my eyes to things i could use for security. I dont use any of the ideas in the book but it open up my brain bucket to ideas i would not have otherwise thought of. I really dont think a security is really a security if it is dependent on the electrical and phone grid. But security does not end when i leave the house.

 

I went to Hawaii for six months a couple years back and secured the house by pilling everything heavy in front of the closed and locked doors, blocked out all the windows so no one could look in and climbed out a second floor window when I left... Chained the ladder to a tree with a lock and chain sawed a few trees onto the road .. Someone would really want to get in to clear all that..

 

The U.S. Government Can Brand You a Terrorist Based on a Facebook Post | Alternet

A commentator who is better known for his science videos observes: The Problem With Facebook.
His cogent arguments are just a few more reasons to avoid Facebook and other social media.

Yet another reason to avoid social media: Invasion of Privacy? App Matches Strangers’ Photos to Their Online Profiles

I keep warning you about social media, folks! Now we learn: Facebook can see what users type even if status is not posted.

Secret Service Requests Software To Track Social Media Trends, Detect Sarcasm « CBS DC

Another peril of using social media: Two million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack. [JWR's Comment: In today's world, your digital persona can be submitted as evidence in both civil and criminal trials. All that it would take is a malicious hacker gaining control of a moribund Facebook or Twitter account to commit wholesale character assassination that might not be detected for months or even years. You could lead a quiet, moral and peaceable life and yet be greeted some morning by a SWAT team with a no-knock warrant--later learning that they came calling because in the fictitious cyber world you have been branded as a racist-bomb-building-dope-smuggling-pedophile-hater. I say again: Avoid enrolling in social media!]

Fair Use Source for all of the above except for @kckndrgn:
social media Search Results - SurvivalBlog.com
SurvivalBlog.com » The SurvivalBlog Social Media Glossary - SurvivalBlog.com » Print

See also: Survivalmonkey Disengages from Social Media | Page 3

 

I was born in an old farm house about 20 miles outside of Trumann, Arkansas…we had no plumbing, running water and certainly electricity was years away…those WERE interesting times…and I will never forget them, passing the changes on to my own children isn't easy but a few things work well with children; Boy Scouts and such used to be a help…going out tipi camping is a help as is most of the living history stuff…and what did I end up with? Dangerous computer nerds! G-d forbid that the electric power go out…;-)

 

I still enjoy a simpler life...

 

I totally agree!! I am on an old farm with minimal utilities ...and I love it!! I am warm , dry and belly full...
at 61 I can outdo a 30 yo male!!!
have had a lot of people come thru to get off grid but the need for hot showers (I admit it is really nice) and
high speed internet let alone a/c do not match the prepper mo... I admit I am a spartan!!
this is for the serious- if tshtf you can't do it alone , unless you have a bunch of kids!!!
if you truly believe this you need to be living the lifestyle now!!! cause the drastic change will be traumatic..
and you can't do it on a practice run there will be pitfalls and time is very crucial at this point ....

americans have been spoiled - very spoiled with the idea of ENTITLEMENT
like they deserve things not earned..
oh-- I love it went the power goes out or there is a snow storm!!! it shows alittle portion of what will happen.

now word to the wise do background checks on people if you are considering having them join you...
I could write a book on my experiences!!!

 

Good ideas from everybody. Here's a new one. Develop situational awareness and use it every time you leave home. I worked in the security
industry for years and got to the point where I could maintain yellow alert without any effort. It just takes practice.