Overview
Take a moment to go over some safety tips before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  During the days before the holidays, you will have more valuables in your home than usual. Remember that you aren’t the only one doing your holiday shopping at this time of year. Burglars and thieves are always on the lookout for a good “bargain” too. Protect your home, yourself and your family.

At Home
Many people like to keep their presents or gifts displayed in the home before and after the holidays. It gives most of us a warm feeling to enjoy the holidays this way. However, the time we spend shopping and visiting makes our houses vulnerable during the holiday season.

• Don’t keep presents near windows where they can be seen from the street, especially after they’ve been unwrapped.
• Never hide presents in the garage! Garage locks are usually the weakest locks you have. A second story closet or attic equipped with a good lock is usually your safest storage area.
• Break up boxes, especially for purchases like TV’s, stereos, or electronic equipment and put them in fold inside-out so items that came in boxes are not visible when recycling.

Handling Money
The tendency to carry large amounts of cash is greater during the holidays than any other season of the year. Use checks or credit cards whenever possible. But if you must use cash:

• Don’t leave cash lying around the house. Keep all money in a safe place.
• Plan your shopping so that you only take approximately the amount of money you’re going to spend.
• Don’t flash your money in public. Keep your bills flat in a wallet so that you can count them without taking them out of your wallet.
• Don’t carry a purse. Keep your wallet and keys in your coat pocket.

Your Car
Holiday purchases left unattended on the back seat of your car invite theft.

• Never leave your car unlocked!
• Pick up major items at the end, rather than the beginning of a shopping trip – most stores offer to hold your purchases at will-call until you are finished shopping.
• Lock all purchases in the trunk of your car, or as a last resort, under a blanket on the car floor.
• Immediately remove all purchases from your car when you return home.

Getting Deliveries
Packages left on door steps are even easier to steal than those left in cars. Don’t give a thief an easy opportunity.

• Schedule deliveries for times when you’re at home.
• If you can’t be home when deliveries are made, make arrangements to have your parcels delivered to a neighbor.
• If you or your neighbors observe any delivery person doing anything that appears to be suspicious, ask to see their identification or call the police.

When Away From Home
If you leave your home for the holidays, especially for any length of time, call your local Police Department’s Community Services Unit and ask for a House Watch. They can usually arrange for someone to check on your house. Or tell a neighbor how long you’ll be gone and where you can be reached. Ask them to check your house every day if you’ll be gone for several days at a time. Leave lights and radios or televisions on timers or ask your neighbor to switch them on and off periodically.

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The US government is promising a more coordinated approach to cyber attacks, with the creation of a new $9 million cyber security center. The National Cyber Security and Communications Integration Center in northern Virginia will integrate the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications. Senator Joe Lieberman - head of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee called for the creation of a central hub for federal agencies and private companies to share information on cyber threats. It would be headed by a presidential cyber security czar who would oversee cyber security budgets and spending by federal agencies, including the Defense Department.

Source: SecurityInfo Watch

Procter & Gamble announced in October that it will once again create and host a public restroom for the holiday season in New York City's Times Square as a promotion for Charmin tissue. Last year's installation was merely specially outfitted toilet facilities, but this year P&G will upgrade by hiring five bloggers ("Charmin Ambassadors") to "interact" with the expected "hundreds of thousands of bathroom guests" and write about their experiences with Charmin tissue on the company's Web site (and include "family-friendly" photographs). P&G is calling the campaign "Enjoy the Go." [Business Courier of Cincinnati, 10-20-09]

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still does not know whether its passenger screening systems at airports are effectively addressing the greatest threats to aviation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported recently. High-tech screening devices have been installed at major airports based on threats described in intelligence reports, but risk assessments based on three key elements, threat, vulnerability and consequence remain works in progress, GAO said. "Without operationally testing technologies prior to deployment, TSA does not have reasonable assurance that technologies will perform as intended," the report said. House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, who requested the report, said it raises questions about the soundness of the TSA's strategic planning. "I am supportive of the department's efforts to provide airports with the most effective security technologies available," he said, "However, a comprehensive and sensible strategic plan is critical to ensure that the government minimizes waste while securing the flying public."

Source: SecruityInfoWatch

Did you know…
Your brain messages travel along your nerves at up to 200 miles per hour.