Homeland Security


Study: Attacks, Plots by Homegrown Terrorists in the United States Have Increased

Over the past decade, attacks and plots by homegrown terrorists in the United States have increased, the work of extremists from across the political spectrum -- roughly 40 percent of it by so-called "lone wolf," non-aligned actors.

San Diego BEST Combats Human Smuggling and Trafficking

Every day, human smuggling and trafficking groups like the CARLOS human smuggling organization attempt to illegally bring people across U.S. borders.

Evading Surveillance on Reality TV

In a world driven by technological advancements that include mobile monitoring and 24/7 surveillance, the idea of disconnecting from Big Brother seems relatively impossible.

How did the Terrorist Attacks in Norway Change the Country?

Three social scientists at the University of Stavanger sought to answer this question.

Protecting Naval Ordnance

Protecting Naval Ordnance

The Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) at the Cape Canaveral, Fla., Air Force Station supports and tests sea-based weapons in a safe environment.

Engineers Developing Military Applications for Smartphones

Engineers from the MU College of Engineering, with funding from the U.S. Army/Leonard Wood Institute, have enhanced popular smartphones to be able to find and track targets.

Feds Seize 9 Tons of Marijuana Near Otay Mesa Border Crossing

Seven individuals have been charged in federal court with drug smuggling following the discovery of more than 9 tons of marijuana inside a tractor trailer attempting to enter the United States at the Otay Mesa Commercial Port of Entry.

Major Cross-border Drug Tunnel Discovered South of San Diego

Investigators on the multi-agency San Diego Tunnel Task Force continued sifting through evidence Wednesday at a warehouse in Otay Mesa's industrial park housing the U.S. entrance to a sophisticated passageway that runs beneath the border to a warehouse more than 400 yards away in Tijuana, Mexico.



TSA Partners in Support of Nations Veterans

When a wounded U.S. military veteran passes through Newark Liberty International Airport, there is a good chance that Lead Transportation Security Officer Randal Habick of Brick, N.J., is alongside, serving as a personal guide through the airport.

Prototype Handheld Drug Testing Device Launched

The world's first prototype of a hand-held fingerprint drug testing device has been created by UK technology company Intelligent Fingerprinting.

Scientists to Develop New Approaches for Identifying Insider Threats Before an Incident Occurs

When a soldier in good mental health becomes homicidal or a government employee abuses access privileges to share classified information, we often wonder why no one saw it coming.

Secret Agent Man

Secret Agent Man

The National Clandestine Service is playing a vital part in that seemingly unending fight because electronic intelligence gathering can take us only so far.

NASA Scientist Unveils New Chemical Detection Technology

NASA scientists are creating technology that can detect hazardous chemical compounds in the air with a smart phone.

Security Around the Globe

What’s up with the TSA these days? Have you noticed that officers are acting a little nicer and even asking questions about you, your travel or maybe even your job? Don’t be fooled: It’s all an act, because it’s business as usual at the airports.

Protecting the Corridor

This need for better image quality led GMU directly to IP-based megapixel camera technology. The university evaluated several wellknown camera suppliers before deciding on Arecont Vision.

Federal Identity

Federal Identity

When the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) was enacted in August 2004, government agencies embarked on the challenging task of complying with an evolving set of standards designed to ensure that all federal employees and contractors have secure and reliable forms of identification.

Racing Against Time

When the twin towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2011, one of the most critical challenges that first responders faced was cutting through concrete to get to victims trapped under debris – a painful and tedious race against time when tragedy strikes. Breaching reinforced concrete has long been a losing race when relying on drills, saws, and jackhammers.

Protecting Bridges from Terrorist Attacks

Initial reports on the morning of Sept. 11 made it sound like a tragic, but unintentional event: a commuter plane had accidentally crashed into one of the twin towers. But by the time Williamson left the dentist for his office at The University of Texas at Austin's J.J. Pickle Research Campus, another plane had hit.

AS&E Receives $34.9 Million Order for Z Portal Screening Systems

Z Portal vehicle screening systems will be deployed on multiple border crossings.

National Airshow Uses FutureSentry Technology

FutureSentry, a developer of automated detection solutions designed to enhance security, today announces that its First Responder solution was selected to provide perimeter security at a world-renowned air enthusiast’s show in Oshkosh, Wis.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities