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BHDC2010: Mary Landesman, Cisco
Cisco recently released the 2010 Midyear Security Report and I caught up with one of the principal authors, Mary Landesman, Senior Security Researcher at Cisco. Mary talks about the outcomes of the report and how the security landscape is changing.
NSP-BHDC2010-MaryLandesman.mp3
BHDC2010: Mary Landesman, Cisco
Cisco recently released the 2010 Midyear Security Report and I caught up with one of the principal authors, Mary Landesman, Senior Security Researcher at Cisco. Mary talks about the outcomes of the report and how the security landscape is changing.
NSP-BHDC2010-MaryLandesman.mp3
Security Vulnerabilities of Smart Electricity Meters
Turn iPhone Into Universal Remote Control
The NewKinetix NK100 Re Universal IR Remote Control can turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote control that works in any room of your home. Away from home, the Re and your iPhone or iPod give you the power to mute the loud TV nobody is watching, or change channels in the break room when the office remote is lost. There are no limits to the number of locations that you can use your Re. There is no need for WiFi, so plug your Re into your iPhone or iPod touch and download the Re Universal Remote Control App (free) to personalize control of your AV entertainment everywhere.
SmartLinc – INSTEON Central Controller 2412N Review
DOUG — ORANGE, CA Date: 4/23/2010
Review: You’ve seen it, right? The iPhone commercial that shows a family waiting for their flight at the airport and then they remember that they forgot to lock the door or turn off a light. Well, that commercial advertises a company and service that requires a monthly fee of 13-15 dollars a month. The SmartLinc can do the same but with no monthly fee. Just get this connected to your home router, set your port for accessing outside of your home and add devices to things you want to control lamps: LampLinc, wall switches: SwitchLinc. It uses a web application so you’re not locked into an Apple app. That means you can log into your home and control it while at a computer or mobile phone. Very simple device setup and well worth the price.
DEBRA — CENTERVILLE, MA Date: 6/29/2010
Review: Excellent. Love this item. Very easy to install and use.
CHRISTOPHER — SAN CARLOS, CA Date: 6/11/2010
Review: So far this works great, though you have to be careful about resetting it and losing all your settings, also don’t use DHCP!
SCOTT — SAN JOSE, CA Date: 6/9/2010
Review: I use the product to control my X10 devices from my IPhone through Safari and it works great. The quickstart guide was straightforward and took no time to get it set up. It did take a little extra research time to configure the controller to communicate with the X10 devices, but once I figured out how to code it in, it works great. I recommend it to anyone who would like a way to control their home automation(X10 devices in my case) via your IPhone.
OR
Buy the SSmartLinc – INSTEON Central Controller 2412N at Smarthome.com
DNSSEC Root Key Split Among Seven People
How Many Copies of Your Keys Exist?
It’s a scary thought, but there could be dozens of copies of your keys out in the world! Have you ever left a key for the gardener, the electrician, the plumber or how about the housekeeper? It takes a hardware store about 5 minutes to create a copy of a key. If you’ve left a key for anyone working on your home, you may have exposed your home’s first line of security. You may have known your plumber for 10 years, but how often does your plumber send his apprentice without you knowing it?
Ever leave a spare key in a planter box or under a welcome mat? Newsflash – those are the first places a potential burglar will look! Get a grip on your home’s security and install a keyless lock set. With a keypad locket, you can program specific codes for your plumber or housekeeper and change them regularly, so there’s chance they can enter your home when you don’t want them there! As an added bonus, you’ll never get locked out of the house again, and forget about fumbling for the right key for the door. Just punch in your code and unlock the door.
Smarthome™ Named Preferred Retail Partner of Blue Line PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Gateway
Irvine, CA – Smarthome announced today that it is one of seven preferred retail partners of the Blue Line PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Gateway (BLI 31100). The product is in stock and available through Smarthome.com for $159, or bundled with the PowerCost Monitor™ and Energy Meter (BLI 28000) for $268.
The PowerCost Monitor™ and Energy Meter is a device that, when attached to a home’s electric meter, can read real-time power consumption. When coupled with the new PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Gateway, that information can then be relayed to the Microsoft® Hohm™ online portal where it can be compiled and analyzed. The unit is do-it-yourself friendly and is safe to install without an electrician.
Hohm™ is an online application launched by Microsoft® which enables consumers to analyze their energy usage while providing energy saving recommendations. It gives users the ability to benchmark their personal results with other communities and group members.
“This is certainly an exciting product for us to offer our customers,” said Mike Scharnagl, Director of Marketing at Smarthome. “The WiFi Gateway is the perfect addition for those who already own a PowerCost Monitor. For those who want to start keeping an eye on their energy consumption, it can be purchased as a kit with the PowerCost Monitor. Our core consumers are home automation enthusiasts, and the WiFi Gateway allows them to monitor their energy consumption remotely using Hohm™.”
Smarthome offers a variety of home automation systems that lets users enjoy convenient, energy efficient lighting and appliance control – including its award-winning INSTEON® technology. Using INSTEON®, products can be controlled via switches, keypads and dimmers; handheld remote controls; triggers and motion sensors; touchscreens; and via the Internet or web-enabled devices such as cell phones.
About Smarthome™
Founded in 1992, Smarthome was created based on the realization of a need for automated products that make lives easier, safer and more enjoyable. Today, Smarthome sells more than 6,000 hard-to-find products, including home automation solutions featuring award-winning INSTEON technology. Smarthome sells online through their award-winning website at Smarthome.com, through their direct mail catalog and via their brick and mortar retail store located in Irvine, CA.
About INSTEON®
INSTEON is the best selling Home Area Networking (HAN) technology on the market. It is the only mesh network capable of utilizing two independent means of communication, RF and powerline, thus also making it the most reliable technology. With over 200 products and kits on the market, INSTEON makes it is easy to link together home systems such as lighting, security, HVAC (comfort control), A/V, appliances, and sensors, allowing them to be controlled or monitored from anywhere in the world. INSTEON products can also be used in Smart Grid applications including load shedding, demand response and real-time power reporting.
For more information:
www.smarthome.com
www.bluelineinnovations.com
www.microsoft-hohm.com
www.insteon.net
Contact:
Smarthome
Mike Scharnagl, 949-252-6962
pr@smartlabsinc.com
Be Alerted When Your Shower is Warm and Conserving Hot Water
Do you multi-task while waiting for your shower to warm up? If you’re brushing your teeth in the sink, you can easily tell when the shower is ready. But if you leave the room to make the bed or put on a pot of coffee, you won’t know until you return to the bathroom. And by that time, the hot water could have been running for minutes, wasting water and adding unnecessary dollars to your utility bills.
With the evolve SS-1002PB-US Ladybug Showerhead Adapter you’ll know exactly when your shower is ready, and conserve water until you are able to enter your shower. The Ladybug Showerhead Adapter attaches to virtually any shower arm with industry standard 1/2“ fittings. Equipped with ShowerStart™ technology, the showerhead adapter is designed to lower the water stream to a trickle once the ideal bathing temperature is attained. Once you hear the “drip drip”, you’ll know your shower is ready. Then, resume the normal flow by flipping the switch.
Adding this adapter to your existing showerhead can save up to $75 in utility bills and 2,700 gallons per year (based on family of three, showering daily and saving one minute of hot water per shower).
Also available in
Polished brass Brushed nickel Oil rubbed bronze
Pork-Filled Counter-Islamic Bomb Device
Headed to Vegas!
Well, not quite; I have a few more hours of getting packed and work before I head to the airport, but close enough. But around lunch, I’ll be throwing all my stuff in the trunk of the car and heading for Las Vegas, Black Hat, Defcon and BSides! I find this trio of events to be my favorite get together of security professionals. Black Hat has the slightly more serious, business oriented presentations, Defcon tends to be a bit outrages and inflammatory, while BSides is the new kid who’s experimenting with different formats and venues. If you’re a security professional of almost any stripe and you’re not at least petitioning to attend these events, you need to start. The networking opportunities alone are worth the cost and when you throw what you learn about current threats, it’s not that difficult to justify, especially BSides and Defcon. Tell your boss you heard about an amazing panel going on Sunday at noon called PCI, Compromising Controls and Compromising Security.
Whether you’re going or not, Rob McMillan over at IDG has done a good job of summarizing some of the key stories you should be watching come out of Vegas this week. I should be able to get interviews with at least a few of the people giving these talks, so keep an eye out here and the podcast page for this year’s series of microcasts. Or if you hate those, you might just want to unsubscribe until next week. In fact, if you don’t want to hear about the events going on in Vegas this week, you just might want to stop reading most security blogs, Twitter, Facebook, blogs and most other social media outlets security folks use for a little while.
Following the twitter stream, it’s easy to see that there are a lot of security professionals eager to get to Las Vegas, meet with old friends, make new ones and get the party started. And the parties really are an integral part of the the whole experience. If nothing else, try making it to the IOActive Freakshow Saturday night; if last year is any example of what they have planned for this year, it’ll be worth it if only so you can say you saw it. Just be careful how much you drink and what you say, you don’t want to be this year’s example of someone who ignored that cardinal rule.
So much for seeing eight hours of sleep a night for at least a week.
WPA Cracking in the Cloud
Screwless Wallplate Offers a Professional Finish to your Switch Installation
The Lutron Claro 2-Gang Wallplate is the perfect choice for providing a clean, color matched finish to your Lutron Maestro, Maestro Wireless, Diva or Skylark dimmer or switch installation. The wallplate is simple, elegant and easy to install, with no visible screws or hardware. The superior snap-on design allows the front plate to fasten securely and tightly to the adapter plate regardless of your wall condition. The oversized build of the wallplate hides gaps around the installation box and mounts flush to the wall ensuring a clean appearance. Each wallplate is ASTM tested and made from durable polycarbonate with a gloss finish, so they are easy to clean and built to maintain their beauty for many years to come. The Lutron Claro 1-Gang Wallplate adds a sleek, solid feel to your walls and home décor while removing the eyesore associated with standard wallplates.
50W/12VDC Power Supply
The Cyron PS50-SP12D 50W/12VDC Power Supply with Switch is ideal for larger size lighting systems and various other 12VDC applications. Switching mode power supply accepts 100-240VAC 50-60Hz input, 12VDC 30W 2.5A output. USA AC plug, 5mm DC jack center positive. UL class II.
Lighting Expansion
Expand your Media Highlighter PRO system by adding more lights. One pair of 24″ Professional lightbars with 15foot cords to reach farther areas. 45 ultra bright LEDs per lightbar. Compatible with HT1502 system and all Cyron RGB controllers (IR Controller or RF Controller). *Not to be used with “HT” lightbars in the same system.*
This product is also available with 9″ 18 Super Bright LEDs Lightbars, 15″ 18 Super Bright LEDs Lightbars, and 15″ 30 Ultra Bright LEDs Lightbars.
Technology is Making Life Harder for Spies
ICON Relay – INSTEON Appliance Module, 3-Pin 2856S3B Review
ROLAND — MANCHESTER, TN Date: 1/4/2010
Review: Works! What more to say.
ROBERT — HARPERS FERRY, WV Date: 3/5/2010
Review: I have this hooked up to a movie poster lightbox (LED) and controlled through an IRLinc and HouseLinc. Works flawlessly, as do all of the other ICON units I have in my system.
LARIS — PARK CITY, KS Date: 1/9/2010
Review: The insteon Appliance module is rapid responding, I am very happy with the three units. I plan on buying modules that will dim lights as soon as I resolve the SmartLinc Central Controller issue.
Review
OR
Buy the ICON Relay – INSTEON Appliance Module, 3-Pin 2856S3B at Smarthome.com
Thermostat Adapter – INSTEON and Totaline / Venstar Compatible 2441V Review
MICHAEL — WALNUT CREEK, CA Date: 1/11/2010
Review: Works great! This with an ISY99 is one of the nicest ways to program a thermostat.
JOHN — PITTSBURGH, PA Date: 1/9/2010
Review: This new version gave me all the features I needed when accessing my thermostat with the 2412N Rev2 Smartlinc controller over the internet.
JOSEPH — LEBANON, OH Date: 1/4/2010
Review: The upgraded thermostat adapter has greatly increased its functionality when used with the Universal Devices ISY. Thank you SmartHome for your attention to your customer’s needs.
Marcie — Rockford, Illinois Date: 1/15/2008
Review: I love being able to control my thermostat remotely. With the touch of a button, I can turn our heat down at bedtime to 65 degrees once I”m tucked into bed all warm and toasty.
OR
Buy the Thermostat Adapter – INSTEON and Totaline / Venstar Compatible 2441V at Smarthome.com
Flexibility In Lighting!
The Cyron SCR3-W-RL Indoor Ribbon Lights makes it possible to add lighting in spaces never before possible. Cyron ribbon lights offer great ease of installation for long linear runs. The indoor grades have 3M tape transfer on the back for easy peel and stick. 12VDC power supply is sold seperately in a 30W and 50W. Cyron Ribbon Lights are the answer for: long linear runs, curved surfaces, small spaces with limited or no ventilation, shelving units, edge lighting glass/acrylic, signage, soft lighting/crown moldings, and where multicolor LEDs are directly visible.
