Sunday, December 28, 2008

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents & everyone you meet.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:
It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around...

After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there ....

This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. <>
I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. A lady has suggested to her husband that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you've read it before. It's a reminder.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Beware of Con Men Acting as TM (Telekom) Contractor!

This happened in Sec 19 PJ.

Last Friday afternoon, I realized my phone line went completely dead (no sound at all). I reported the fault to TM via 1300888123 (100) and a lady in the call centre told me that she will dispatch a technician to check on the issue.

I called TM again on Saturday to check on progress but still no update. On Sunday afternoon, I received a call from TM technician asking if I am at home as there are no issue at the carrier end. I was out shopping at that time and so we made an appointment on Monday evening at 5PM for him to troubleshoot.

At about 2.16PM on Sat, a young man believed to be malay/indonesian came on a motorcycle claiming to be a TM contractor and said he was here to fix my phone issue. He came in a pink Kriss motorcycle. He wore a red windbreaker with a red hat. He wore a dark blue t-shirt with the words TM Kontactor under the wind breaker. He brought alone a small red beg. I didn't suspect anything since the previous TM contractor who came to install my phone line dressed similarly.

Once he was in the house, he looked around and attempted to fix the phone. He then send me up and down the house to ask me to check the upstairs phone, bring it up and down as part of his troubleshooting. I was starting to get angry actually as he didn't seem to know how to troubleshoot it systematically and also didn't bring some common tools such as a voltmeter/small screw drivers.

After about 30 odd minutes, he said he had to check the outside telekom pole to see if there are issues there. He left and didn't come back after that. I waited for an hour before I realized that my mobile phone and digital camera was missing. He was never seen again.

Fortunately, I had installed a CCTV camera just a few days back and manage to catch his face. I printed his picture out on a full A4 and immediately reported it to the police. An investigation is being carried out now.

When the real TM folks came on Monday evening, they checked and found my external cable to the telekom pole to be faulty somehow. The technician also told me that 5 other houses on my row had their phone lines cut. It became clear then that the guy had likely cut our phone lines so that he can try to con his way into our house to carry out his crime.

TM clarified that TM third party contractors maybe employed to install a new line but for faults, they are always TM employees which should come in a TM car and in TM blue jumpsuit. It is also safer to always ask to see the persons identification/authorisation card at the gate and calling the service provider (could be any , TM, Tenaga, Astro etc etc ) to confirm who they sent before letting them in.

The TM technician also recommended that the residences to put up grills at the ends of the backlanes to reduce accessibility to strangers and opportunists such as these.

So, please take note and take precautions in such cases.

Better safe than sorry!
(Source from blog.thestar.com.my)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

CAREFUL WHEN USING A PC AT A PUBLIC PLACE

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHENEVER YOU'RE USING A PC AT A PUBLIC PLACE (Like INTERNET CAFES..ETC).

CHECK THE BACK OF THE PC AND SEE IF THE BELOW DEVICE IS THERE..IF SO..DO NOT USE IT!!!!




New storing device fits at the end of the keyboard cable connecting to the PC specialized to save all typed keys in it...

Mostly could be used in net cafes, exhibitions, hotels and airports therefore be careful especially the people who use the internet in these places to enter their bank accounts online or any other important sites. After you enter the bank account and leave the PC it will be easy to open your account again as all what you have typed has been saved in the Black device.

Therefore, you should check the PC for any suspicious piece behind it before using the net in public places for important sites.

Monday, December 22, 2008

To Detect a Two-way Mirror

To Detect a Two-way Mirror Beware of Mirrors in Hotels or Public Washroom! Because you never know! How to determine if a mirror are 2 way or not (Not a Joke!) Not to scare you, but to make you aware. A policewoman who travels all over the US and gives seminars and techniques for businesswomen passed this on.



HOW TO DETECT A 2-WAY MIRROR:
When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc. How many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on the wall is a real mirror, or actually a 2-way mirror ( I.e., they can see you, but you can't see them).

There have been many cases of people installing 2-way mirrors in female changing rooms. It is very difficult to positively identify the surface by just looking at it. So, how do we determine with any amount of certainty what type of mirror we are looking at?

Just conduct this simple test: Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there is a GAP between your fingernail and the image of the nail, then it is a GENUINE mirror.

However, if your fingernail DIRECTLY TOUCHES the image of your nail, then BEWARE, FOR IT IS A 2-WAY MIRROR!

So remember , every time you see a mirror, do the 'fingernail test.' It doesn't cost you anything. It is simple to do, and it might save you from getting 'visually raped'!

This is a really good thing to do. The reason there is a gap on a real mirror, is because the silver is on the back of the mirror UNDER the glass. As a two-way mirror, the silver is on the surface. Keep it in mind!

Ladies: Share this with your girl friends. Men: Share this with your wives, daughters and/or girlfriend or friends.

PASS THIS ON FOR SAFETY

Alert: Chikungunya Virus Outbreak

1. What is Chikungunya?
Chikungunya is an acute febrile infectious condition transmitted to humans by the bite of specific mosquitoes. This disease was first detected in 1953 in Tanzania. Since then it has emerged as one of the main causes of disease outbreaks among human populations in African and Asian countries and of late affecting several locations in Europe. It is currently endemic in most countries in the Sub Saharan region in Africa, India, South East Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines. This is not an unknown mysterious disease.

2. What is the causing agent?
Chikungunya is a febrile illness caused by a virus from the genus Alphavirus in the Togaviridae family.

3. Is the disease infectious ?
Yes. The Chikungunya virus spreads through the bite of an Aedes albopictus or Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with the virus. The Aedes mosquito also transmits the dengue virus.

4. What is the incubation period for Chikungunya ?
The incubation period for Chikungunya can range from 3 to 12 days but usually it is about 3 to 7 days.

5. What are its signs and symptoms?
The usual symptoms include:
· Sudden high fever
· Severe joint pains
· Redness with rashes occurring on the body
· Headache

The fever can occur for a period ranging from 1 to 7 days (usually about 5 days).

Chikungunya is commonly mistaken for Dengue Fever due their similar clinical symptoms.

6. Can it cause death?
In Malaysia, Chikungunya has never been reported as causing haemorrhage (bleeding) or death. However, some patients experience prolonged symptoms. Aged patients could suffer from recurrent joint aches ranging from several months to a year.

7. What is the treatment for this disease?
As in other viral infections there is no specific treatment for Chikungunya infection. Usually, it is treated symptomatically (treatment for specific symptoms as experienced by the patient).
Most patients need only outpatient treatment. There is no vaccine available to prevent this disease.

8. What you need to do if you are infected
If you experience signs and symptoms of Chikungunya infection, please seek immediate medical advice from the nearest clinic or hospital.

9. Prevention
· Keep your house and surrounding clean, free from Aedes mosquito breeding. This can be done through community-based activities, gotong-royong. There is evidence of no new case reported in areas where gotong-royong is carried out.
· Check your house and surrounding at least once a week to ensure no Aedes breeding.
· Seek immediate medical attention from the nearest clinic or hospital if you experience signs and symptoms of Chikungunya.

10. Can my area be affected?
Possible, due to the wide spread presents of this disease vectors (mosquitoes), namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in this country.

11. Current situation
Please refer to the press statement.

12. Actions taken by Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health has taken several proactive measures to effectively contain and manage this disease:
· Active case detection
· Aedes survey
· Adult mosquito destruction by fogging and ULV
· Gotong-royong
· Health promotion

As a result, the outbreak has been contained and restricted only to the affected localities.

For further information please contact:
Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC)
Disease Control Division
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Level 3, Block E10, Parcel E
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62590 Putrajaya
Tel. no.: 03-8881 0600 / 03-8881 0700
Website: www.moh.gov.my

Friday, December 19, 2008

Home Safety Tips - Going Away During Festive Seasons

Whenever you plan to go away during a festive season or for a vacation, here are some tips on things you could do to protect your home for your peace of mind.

Inform your neighbours
You may let your neighbours know how long you plan to be away, so they can keep an eye on your property. Remember to leave your contact number to neighbours in case of emergency contact.

Activate the security alarm system
You may leave your house keys and alarm PIN number or remote control with a relative living nearby or a neighbour, so that they could check for you in the event of triggered alarm or false alarm. It is advisable to reset your alarm system with a temporary PIN number before giving it to them.

Interior and exterior lightings
Install a timer which allows lighting to be switched on and off at preset times to avoid the notice of your absence by the outsiders. You may consider leaving a table lamp or some lights on during your outings.

Keep garden tools, equipments, ladders
Garden tools, equipments and ladders should be kept and locked up in a safe place as they could be used by a burglar to break in and gain entry to the house.

Keep refuse bin
Tidy away your refuse bins. Do not keep them in the refuse chamber as the garbage collector may leave them outside after collecting the garbage. Ask your neighbour to close the refuse chamber door if it is opened.

Stop newspaper & food supply
Cancel deliveries of milk, bread, newspapers etc. If anything continues to be delivered, ask your neighbour to collect them. Uncollected items will draw attention of the outsiders that your house is unoccupied.

Care for your plants
Ask your neighbour or gardener to help to water or maintain the exterior plants. You may give the external gate’s key to your neighbour or gardener for this purpose. Also, you may put your interior plants outside to be maintained together.

Prevent water retention
Make sure all the empty containers, vases, flower pots etc at exterior are overturned or covered to avoid water retention for mosquito breeding.

Inform the guards

You may want to inform the guards so they can check and prevent any suspicious visitors from approaching your house.

Pets
Remember to make arrangements for your pet’s boarding.

Other things before you leave your home:
- Close and secure all windows, doors and gates
- Remove all plugs from sockets
- Close all water taps
- Disconnect the hob from the gas supply or close the gas supply outlet
- Turn down your house telephone’s ringing volume

Monday, December 15, 2008

How to Protect Your Home from Intruders

SAFETY AT YOUR FRONT DOOR

1. Never automatically open your front door. Make sure you know your caller's identity before
admitting him.

2. If the person at your door is a stranger, ask for identification to be passed under the door. If he is unable to do this, do not admit him.

3. It is advisable to have a wide angle viewer (peep-hole) in the door so that you can check a person's identity without unlocking your door.

HOME SAFETY

1. All doors in your home leading to the outside should have dead-bolt locks.

2. When away at night, leave a light burning.

3. Do not leave a key over a door or under a mat.

4. The single lock on a garage door is inadequate to keep intruders from prying up the opposite side and crawling in. Use a padlock. But never leave it unlocked. This is an invitation to have the padlock removed so that a key can be made, and the lock returned to its position. Later, the burglar returns when no one is home and enters at his leisure, using "his" key.

5. Mark your valuables and keep an accurate record of all your most valuable possessions.

6. When leaving on a trip:
a. Stop all deliveries.
b. Connect a light to a timer.
c. Notify the police and have a neighbor check your home periodically.
d. Have someone maintain your lawn.

7. Be a concerned neighbor. If you see a suspicious person, car or situation, contact the police.


SAFETY FOR THE APARTMENT DWELLER

1. If you live in an apartment building with an intercom system to the front door, make sure the landlord keeps it in operating order.

2. Never admit anyone unless you are expecting him or know him.

3. Never admit anyone to the building who is there to see another tenant or to deliver something to another apartment.

4. Anyone asking admission so that he can do some work for another tenant should not be admitted, but should be referred to the building's manager.

5. If you see someone in your building who looks out of place or is acting suspiciously, contact the police.