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Phony Laser Security System Proves Perception Is Reality
Hugh Pickens writes writes "Softpedia reports that Global Link Security Solutions are offering a product that doesn't actually do anything to alert an owner of a break-in to their home or business, but it displays "one hell of a laser show in an attempt to scare potential crooks into thinking that they have no chance of breaking in without triggering the alarm." According to the security firm, LaserScan has four lines of protection: a number of lasers that move along the walls and floors (video), an LED which indicates that there's a "link" to a satellite, a beeping alert, and a sticker placed on the front door. Although the company claims that none of their current customers has reported break-ins since the system has been installed, security guru Bruce Schneier highlights that the product only works if the product isn't very widely known."
...as it is not widely known.
Posting it on Slashdot sounds like a great idea. :)
the product only works if the product isn't very widely known - lol.
The thing about "security theater", is that it's not 100% useless - it provides a very real psychological deterrent to someone thinking about breaking in.
Even if a criminal knew such a system was not real, they would not know it was not also paired with a real alarm system, or perhaps this version was real somehow. The kind of people breaking into things generally are not that well educated, so how could they really tell if the system was fake or not even knowing fake systems existed?
The problem with security theater in airports is that it causes way too much grief to outweigh the deterrence gained. But in this case there is no downside and the system would be very cheap to install.
True anecdote - when going to a summer college I had a car I had to park in a remote lot. I installed an LED I could turn on with a switch, that just sat there blinking.
The ONE DAY I forgot to turn on that switch, someone broke into my car and took a $10 cassette player (the window cost more than $50 to replace). After that I remembered every time to turn on my "alarm" and never had a problem again.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Real companies use tripods when they shoot promo videos.
ungggghhhh
Every good security tech will suggest adding similar measures-- Security signs, dummy cameras, NRA member stickers, fake dog bark noises, even putting a huge dog bowl on the back porch. Just being a little harder target than the guy down the street helps. Criminals are usually not bright enough to figure out which threats are real or imagined.
It's all fun and games until your cat dies of exhaustion.
Where I used to work there was someone who put up no parking signs on their fence. I guess they parked their RV in their yard and wanted to be able to get it in and out. The city allows for a driveway, but you can't just say your entire frontage is no parking. Even so, the sign ensured that spot was almost always vacant. I parked there for a couple of years.
Everyone seems to be forgetting the most important aspect to security systems like this.....most thieves are crackheads and crackheads? Not the brightest bulbs. Like that old saying "You don't have to outrun the bear, just the other guy" the same thing applies here, as criminals are lazy and stupid and will go for the easiest mark. Will they think it may be fake? Sure but who wants to risk a 3-5 just to find out, when the building next door doesn't have anything at all protecting it?
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
I bought a fake "security camera" for $12, just has a blinking red LED, no other real electronics... and mounted it on a pole peeking above my fence on our dead end.
Instant effects. No more people parking to have sex or eat McDonald's and throw the trash on my lawn, no more people stealing flowers or attempting to hide in my property, even the neighbors are paranoid about the "surveillance."
Most people don't understand the difference between their web browser and the file manager.
Unless you're in a very rich neighborhood which attracts high-end catburglars out of the movies, the presence of a few strange boxes with red lights is more than enough to make them go away.
This space available.
It's clear in their ad that their selling this IN ADDITION to a regular security system. It's just supposed scare off the thief before they break your window and you've got to pay a deductible. When I was in highschool I worked at a pizza shop. Every night the owner would close out the till, take the money drawer out and sit it on the counter, turn the register around and leave the drawer wide open facing the front window. I asked him why he did it and he said he had 3 break-ins where they had busted the front window and destroyed his cash register just to find out it was empty. Each time he had to pay $1000 deductible. Finally his insurance agent told him what to do with the cash register and he never had another break-in.
Most of the criminals to be deterred are not reading slashdot. If they are a criminal reading slashdot they are too busy using their Arduinos to open hotel doors.
Fun fact I learned from dealing with wildlife up here in Canada: If you and a slower person are running from a bear, the bear will catch the slower person and immediately go after the still fleeing person because of their instinct to chase. The slower person can then hypothetically run away because they aren't in the bear's line of sight anymore.
TL;DR: It's better to be the slower person running from the bear.
Well you have to put yourself in the mindset of a crackhead, you're hurting, you want to just grab and GTFO so you can go swap the loot to a dealer for a rock, so are you REALLY gonna sit there and try to suss out whether its a real system or not? When there is a place next door that looks clean? Nope you aren't gonna waste a second thought, you'll be moving on.
After all it isn't like the car thieves where they already know how much that make/model vehicle is worth, they don't know if there is anything really good, or anything their dealer will take, so they are gonna go for the least risk every time. I used to do ride alongs with a friend that was county PD and we'd see time and time again even those lame fake "protected by" signs would often be enough to get them to move on to the next house.
That said I really can't see paying $200 for the thing when I was able to get my dad a nice 4 camera system for his shop with 500Gb DVR for just $230 shipped from Tiger. I gotta go by there next week to set up the Android phone access (man I'm dreading that, I just know it'll be a PITA) but it took him less than an hour to have it up and recording the inside and outside of his shop 24/7 and the unit is hidden in a back drawer of a junked up corner of the shop so I seriously doubt any crackhead would find it. At least with that if someone does break in we'll have a nice vid to hand the cops.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
It might be fake. But if they do an upgrade that actually does something, how's the perp gonna know?
There is a car with a light show on top, and a guy in an arresting blue outfit.