With the cost reduction in computer hardware and software, items that used to be for the rich and wealthy are now within the reach of the average consumer. Virtually every suburban house in America now has a security system installed. But theft still runs rampant in these houses. So what is the solution to the problem.

Many people have turned to Surveillance Camera systems. These systems were previously connected to a looping videocassette recorder system or tape system and took up considerable space and cost a considerable amount of money.

The current systems on the market from Geovision and others allow you to use your home PC with an upgraded video surveillance card to record all the happenings in your home. No longer will you need to worry about the people attending your party or that wayward concern that the nanny is not taking proper care of your children. With the current systems available from Geovision and other manufactures. A standard computer system can be converted into a complete surveillance system.

You simply mount a Surveillance card supplied by Geovision into your computer. Then run the cable from the Geovision Surveillance Camera to the Card and you are ready to begin your integrated home surveillance. With the proper Internet connection for your Surveillance Camera system you will be able to log into the IP port and watch the video on the camera.

With an upgraded Geovision surveillance card you will be able to connect up to sixteen cameras for surveillance, not just the single card from the old VCR days. Your limitation on the amount of video you capture is limited to your hard drive space.

The Digital Video Recording occurs in a compact format allowing you to capture days of video on a terrabyte drive. This video can then be exported for future keeping and documentation or deleted.

How hard is the system to install is a genuinely unique question and varies by manufacturer. Geovision a prime manufacturer for these systems sells surveillance cameras and surveillance cards that can be installed in a matter of hours. With simple drills and screwdrivers you can mount the surveillance cameras and run the proper power lines and computer cables to your computer.

Plug in the surveillance card and power up your windows XP system and within minutes you will begin receiving the signals from the surveillance cameras. Properly divide your hard drive and start collecting the DVR signals from the camera’s. With up to sixteen cameras per system you should have adequate coverage of any household.

No longer will you need to wonder if the babysitters boyfriend is over while you are out, as you will have recorded evidence you can review when you get home. The surveillance camera will send the babysitters every move to the surveillance card, which will convert the signal to a personal computer recordable signal.

The current costs of the surveillance card and surveillance cameras have put this technology within the financial grasp of virtually all American households. Companies with easy install systems have made the systems available to the masses. So you will no longer worry about items in your house or businesses being unwatched while you are away.



Thanks to Chris Hall for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:

Dvr Surveillance Software

Surveillance cameras are an ideal security device for any business. Determining what type to use, however, will depend on what you wish to protect and what kind of security threats your business could be in danger of.

What Kind of Surveillance Camera and How Many Do You Need?

A single surveillance camera may be more than enough if everything you wish to keep safe is in one location. If it’s not, you need to consider purchasing more than one surveillance camera and ensure that their installation will allow them to work together under one security networking system.

Fake or Dummy Cameras

They are relatively cheap and an excellent security device if all you wish is for a way to deter people from committing any kind of misdemeanor in your workplace.

Covert or Visible Operation

Regular surveillance cameras are either mounted on the wall or from the ceilings. They are entirely visible and they work effectively if you want people to know that the entire workplace is being monitored.

If, however, you wish to have the element of surprise in your side, you’re better off using a covert surveillance camera. These are small enough to be hidden inside or behind photo frames, wall clocks, and anything other object that would appear harmless and certainly not out of place in any given setting.

Wired or Wireless Surveillance Cameras

Wireless surveillance cameras are costlier but they are easier to conceal. They are also quicker to install and uninstall if you intend to use them at more than one location.

Features to Look for in a Surveillance Camera

Now that you know the various types of surveillance cameras you can use for your business, here are other key features you need to consider.

Night Vision

This feature would naturally make your surveillance camera more expensive than usual, but it will also give you sharp black-and-white photos or video footage that ordinary surveillance cameras are incapable of producing.

Online Access

Monitor what’s happening in your business at any time of the day just by keying in the URL and login details for your security system. Professional installation, however, is generally necessary for this kind of setup.

Power Options

Surveillance cameras that are battery-powered or have backup power supply available will continue to work even when the entire workplace is suffering from power shortages.

Storage Capabilities

Last but not the least, be sure to check how the surveillance camera is able to store its recorded footage. Can you use any memory card or USB flash disk with it? Without reliable storage capabilities, footage from your surveillance camera could be accidentally and permanently deleted.



Thanks to Phil Washington for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:

Wireless Surveillance Systems

Security cameras are very useful gadgets to catch illegal activities. Moreover, such devices can also be placed prominently to discourage unwanted behaviours. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, surveillance cameras have become easier to install. If you have not taken advantage of security cameras to protect your property, please consider to start using them.

As a part of a home surveillance system, surveillance cameras are not only useful to protect your home from burglars and break-ins. Installing such device is also a great way to monitor your kids. You may want to know what they are doing while you are not at home. This is especially useful for working parents where monitoring kids is not an easy task.

Even if you want to hire someone for taking care of your kid it is still a good idea to install a system that allows you to perform remote monitoring in your home. Many parents have installed surveillance cameras to record and monitor the behaviour of their child’s caregiver or babysitters. In the end this can bring the peace of mind.

There is another reason why a home surveillance system should be an integral part of your residential safety. Dangers could come from inside or outside of your house. Just mention water flooding, fire threats, electrical shortages or dangers caused by bad weather. With the help of surveillance cameras you will always be able to know what is happening to your property and then take immediate action if required.

Another usage of a remote surveillance system is to monitor special activities in your house. For instance when you hire someone to clean your swimming pool or redecorate your garage. With the help of such system you will always be able to know how far his or her job has been accomplished.

On the internet era remote monitoring can be accomplished easily. No matter where you are the images or videos captured by surveillance cameras can be viewed even if you are thousands miles away from your home.

Today, you can even use your own PC and webcam to perform remote monitoring and surveillance. By installing a special software which provides various functions such as motion detector and image compression you can turn your PC into a simple but powerful home surveillance system.

Moreover, great surveillance software also allow you to use more than one camera simultaneously. The screenshots then will be streamed remotely via Internet. You can then view the live or recorded images or videos by using any web browser. Every surveillance software has different advantages and disadvantages. Just choose the one that fits your needs.

In summary, home surveillance system offers various usages. Besides for security purposes, it also comes into play whenever you want to know what is going on inside or outside your home.

Nowadays, it is no longer necessary to hire a security company just to set up a surveillance system in your home. If you have a tight budget, you can even make use your personal computer to perform remote monitoring and surveillance.



Thanks to Reynaldi Baki for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:

Home Security Camera System

rveillance is one tool in a kit of protective intelligence tools used by well educated and trained protection professionals. The key to successful prevention, disruption, and mitigation of a potential threat against a client is the employment of effective surveillance and countersurveillance.

- Countersurveillance is a proactive strategy that seeks to prevent and disrupt the surveillance activities of criminals, terrorists, and those that have the potential to harm a client or their assets.

Providing effective protection to clients depends on carrying out advanced surveillance and countersurveillance operations in such a way that it forestalls and prevents attempts by hostile parties to gather and act upon information about a client’s activities or interests in such a way that it could cause harm (like kidnapping, robbery, extortion, and even death).

Surveillance The fact is that sophisticated criminals and terrorist groups conduct surveillance on their targets before perpetrating a crime or launching an attack. During their surveillance, for example, nefarious individuals look for patterns in the daily activities of their victims - they might study how a protective security detail of an important client, for example, is organized, how they operate, and then devise plans to exploit perceived vulnerabilities.

Types of Surveillance Surveillance, the process by which intelligence information is acquired in the field, requires careful technique and dedicated patience to gather good information. Surveillance teams, to be effectual, must be aware of any countersurveillance tactics that might be used by those protecting their purported targets.

Surveillance can range from simple observation in person for a few moments to clandestine and highly technical operations involving multiple persons or teams and expensive equipment for eavesdropping and so forth.

Effective Countersurveillance Countersurveillance involves altering travel routes and routines, thereby confusing and intentionally misleading would-be assailants. Some strategies that can be employed by countersurveillance teams include making appropriate use of safe houses and alternative residences for clients as well as using an irregular schedule.

Confounding adversarial surveillance teams through deceptive countersurveillance techniques, however, is only one component of a comprehensive countersurveillance strategy. Ultimately, successful countersurveillance teams don’t wait for something to go wrong before taking action; they, instead, adopt a modus operandi of perpetual preparedness by remaining vigilant and thinking proactively.

One way that countersurveillance teams can anticipate different types of threats is to engage in “red teaming” exercises where mock perpetrators conduct surveillance operations and help spot potential vulnerabilities. When problems or soft spots in the countersurveillance are identified, solutions could entail introducing more variety in a client’s schedule to make their daily ‘routine’ more unpredictable.

Conclusion

A concluding - but by no means final - note about countersurveillance is the commensurate need for developed protective skills that are typically gained through years of residency experience, limited, ’spot’ training through various certification programs or through advanced education and degree-granting programs that specialize in protective security and intelligence.

Regardless of where or how one acquires the necessary protection skills, knowledge, experience, and education, a countersurveillance professional should possess a deep understanding of how surveillance works, how to collect intelligence, how to analyze and identify possible threats based on that intelligence, how to develop and implement procedures to protect a client facing threats, and how to detect, mitigate, and where possible prevent emerging threats to a client.



Thanks to Dan Sommer for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:

Monitor Internet Activity

A few thousand years back, spying was used against enemies in order to gather information that would be helpful to suppress their invasions or to record their suspicious activities. Nowadays, not much has changed. Other than the new term “surveillance,” the only thing that has changed is the toys that are used and those who are permitted to observe others.

Nowadays, surveillance isn’t just about security any longer. People utilize surveillance to monitor the behavior of the subject or what they are bringing. This is why video surveillance is utilized. This type of surveillance comes in various forms. Because of this, selecting one is going to be tricky. You need not worry. Here’s a list of tips to help you.

VCR Player with Time-Lapse capability

This is pretty much a normal equipment used in video surveillance. A VCR player can be plugged directly to a wireless receiver or a camera that is set up in a different area of your house or office. A video recording can then be made instantly.

Motion Sensors

The great thing about motion sensors is that they activate the VCR and cameras as soon as they detect any motion in the surrounding area. You do not have to worry about the amount of space to store your records because they only record when there is movement.

Gadgets That Track Vehicles

This clandestine surveillance is utilized when you want to be the only person who should know about it. Though these devices are used primarily by the very obsessed user, these can be used to keep track of private or company cars.

Bug Sensors

Nobody is secure against high-tech surveillance equipment. Luckily enough, there is an equipment that can locate them. This counter surveillance equipment is not video surveillance but is no doubt needed in this business.

Battery Packs

Very much indespensible, these are used to power up small camera setups that you might have installed in different places of your commercial or residential area. This will guarantee that your video surveillance system won’t be easily detected since there is no need for cables to connect to get power.

There is a new system for video surveillance that is currently being developed. Defense and security departments are eager to have this installed in their areas. They are presently calling this new video surveillance, “intelligent video.” This kind of video surveillance has, of course, a microphone plus a camera. These can help discover very specific information. These two components along with a particularly programmed software can isolate a word from a plethora of conversations in a crowd. What may seem to be harmless can be thought of as something intrusive. The good thing about this system is that it can help prevent a crime from happening. There is still an continuing argument whether this will be considered as illegal or not.



Thanks to Nahshon Roberts for contributing this article to our Surveillance blog:

Digital Video Surveillance Camera