D-Link announced today two new pretty inexpensive network cameras for remote monitoring of various locations or creatures. These new models are the DCS-920 and DCS-910, priced at around $120 and $100, respectively.

The new DCS-920 and DCS-910 join D-Link’s line of SecuriCam digital security cameras. The DCS-920 is 802.11g enabled, allowing wireless installation as well as wired. The DCS-910 is a wired version only, requiring a nearby Ethernet port for use.

The Wordlock Combination Lock will keep your stuff safe from those who can’t spell. And we all know their numbers are growing. Sort of like a speak and spell for locks, without the speaking. More like a Secure & Spell. It’s basically the first combination lock that allows you to set your combination using words instead of numbers. It eliminates the need for remember numbers altogether. Cause numbers are hard compared to letters. I can’t help thinking that the inventor came up with the idea while watching Sesame street for some reason.

I’m no expert on numbers or letters and it’s been awhile since I had any fancy book learnin’, but I would imagine this is more easily cracked by a thief, as I think we visualize words easier then numbers. Unless that thief is illiterate. Still, pretty neat invention. And any thief worth the time he’ll do in the pen will have to try the naughty words first.

Here’s a decent alarm system with a slick interface. uControl is a fairly new company in the home security arena. They took a year developing and refining a platform called SMA (Security, Monitoring and Automation) and a TouchScreen control panel that both works as a fresh system install and can also integrate with your existing alarm. That means you are covered no matter what.

The company says that it will replace any control panel or alarm box in an existing system, bringing together all the existing functionality of equipment, sensors and wiring. In a new install, the 7-inch WVGA TouchScreen is a stand-alone wireless alarm system that communicates with wireless peripherals and sensors. It also offers remote control from any browser or cellphone, alerts via email or SMS, redundant connectivity (WiFi, ethernet and built-in GPRS cellular), cameras and compatibility with home automation setups.

Microsoft has revealed some interesting info. Since June 2007, multiple law enforcement agencies have been using a forensic device it has developed that can bypass security on a Windows-powered machine and extract data for use in criminal investigations.

It’s named COFEE, for Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor. The device is a USB thumb-drive armed with 150 “commands” that can do all sorts of things like decrypt passwords, display internet activity, and uncover all data stored on the computer. The most important aspect is that it can do all of this on-site, instead of having to remove the machine during a search or raid and send it to a lab.

If you’ve ever lost your luggage, you’ll like this idea. Surprisingly, the tags don’t use GPS or any electronic tracking system. Instead they feature a unique barcode and serial number that gets registered on the Immobilise database with your contact info.

So, if your luggage does get lost, an agent can scan the barcode or punch in the serial number which will give them with your contact info. Then a text message is sent to your mobile phone letting you know that your bag has been located and what to do. Pretty good idea, which should help avoid some headaches. You won’t have to put your info on the bag itself. The tags cost about $24 each, which is a one-time fee.

Yoggie Security Systems is known for their hardware security on a stick type approaches. It is no wonder then the company is moving now in the direction of computer cards by unveiling the Gatekeeper Card Pro, a “security mini-computer inside a computer” for around $200.

The Yoggie Gatekeeper Card Pro slides into your ExpressCard slot and functions as a front-line security hardware solution for your laptop. Yoggie says this card is Linux-based and comes complete with its own processor. It acts in a simple plug and forget kind of manner, updating itself automatically every time you open an Internet connection.

QNAP Systems has unveiled a new network-based instant surveillance system which combines a video recorder and two IP cameras for home or office security. It is known as the NVR-102.

The QNAP NVR-102 provides what is described as “professional grade live video recording and real-time remote monitoring/playback.” It is run off of Linux and can reportedly be setup quickly. All functions can be configured through a Web browser such as Internet Explorer and no additional software is required.

Swann Communications has been putting out security peripherals for about ten years now and on Thursday announced the release of their latest surveillance convenience tool with the USB 2.0 DVR Guardian. This device can connect to a standard notebook computer via USB and allow it to perform as a quad-monitor surveillance system.

The Guardian can not only monitor and display the video from 1-4 cameras, but can also be set to record from the inputs direct to the local hard drive. DVR-like capabilities allow you to set it to record at specific times of the day or for a set duration upon sensing any motion in its view. The software will then let you control and monitor remotely. Combine this with its ability to send out an email when motion is detected and you can catch would-be thieves in the act.

If you have many untrustworthy people around you where you work, you may want to lock your PC whenever you step away from it. This prevents someone from sabotaging your work, viewing sensitive documents or playing a nasty prank on you. Still, you might forget, so the TF2000 Proximity Sensor can automatically lock your system for you, whenever you walk away.

It looks like a small square webcam on top of your screen. Using ultrasound technology, it detects your presence and acts accordingly. The software allows you to specify things like what keystrokes are triggered when you walk away, how long before they’re sent and how far away you have to be before it locks you and anyone else out.

A group at Princeton University has found an exploit in common computer hardware that allows them to break codes and retrieve the encrypted data stored on the computers hard disks. The process at its most extreme involves direct access to the computer using a can of compressed air held upside down to freeze the DRAM chip(s) to access the encryption key stored in memory.

When stored data is encrypted, the software usually will use a key to encode and decode the data. That key is most often created and stored into a computer’s memory after a user logs into the computer with a password. According to the researchers, a common misconception is that once the computer is turned off, the DRAM memory disappears and so does the encryption key. In their studies, partially funded by the Dept. of Homeland Security, they found that data is actually retained in the computers memory for many seconds or sometimes even minutes after the computer is turned off. They also found that by freezing the memory chips with liquid nitrogen found in a common can of air for removing dust, they could get the data to remain in memory easily for as long as ten minutes, and often longer.

PC Guardian, a company which designs security products for computers, announced today an expansion of Master Coded Combo lock offerings for securing your computers and monitors when you get up from your cube to head to work. These security systems are available now in over thirty different configurations.

PC Guardian added five new models to its workstation configurations. All make use of the company’s Ezolution security solution. One is a two piece design for securing a laptop and monitor with the included ability to unlock the laptop independently from the monitor. The other is a one piece solution with two locks, permanently securing a monitor and a desktop computer.

Here’s another device you can give the finger too. For security reasons of course. Much like the Master Lock smartTOUCH garage door opener we covered earlier. The Sequiam Biometrics BioVault 2.0 is a safe that needs your finger to open it and get to the valuables inside. It recognizes your fingerprint and opens at your command. You can program it to open for others too, if you grant them access. The safe can accommodate up to 50 users.

You can store your gold inside, jewelry, even your precious and expensive gadgets, but it’s really designed to store guns safely and is endorsed by the NRA. It makes sense to store guns in a safe like this as it would apparently open quickly, but keep them safely locked away from kids. The price is $399.95.

We all want to protect our data, but you really shouldn’t use a fingerprint reader. Someone can just knock you out or worse, take the finger. Instead, just enter a secret PIN number with the ezSECU ez850 external drive enclosure from IOTEK. It will ask you for the special PIN number each time you access it.

It’s compact and easy to take with you since it only supports 2.5 inch SATA hard drives. I’m assuming that it uses a rechargeable battery to power the screen. It’s size is 79.5 x 129.7 x 23mm and it’s compatible with Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Mac OS 9.2 and beyond. Nice looking, isn’t it? It could save your fingers.

There’s been alot of news lately about hard drive security and data protection. A new portable hard drive enclosure from Sarotech, adds another layer of security. It’s called the “Cutie Bio” and I think it has watched one too many spy movies. They’ve integrated a fingerprint scanner into an external USB 2.0 device. Just like James Bond, you can access your data with a simple swipe of your finger. Then once it’s no longer connected to the PC, the information becomes encrypted gibberish.

It’s not a bad deal, at $58.55. The only drawback here is that it works solely on Windows machines, leaving Mac owners out in the cold. They do have one that is Mac compatible and Linux-friendly, which uses the more expensive 1.8-inch drives, but availability is yet to be announced.

Information is a precious and delicate thing. Which is why we humans have a hard candy shell wrapped around our brain. If our gooey info-centers were just exposed on top of our heads, we would be in big trouble. And it’s not like you can back up grey matter.

Luckily hard drives can be backed up, though truthfully not very many people actually do it. Let’s say you back up all of that precious data onto an external hard drive. Good job! You are now on the road to information safety. But wait…What if your house burns down? Or you get flooded? Nothing you can do about those acts of God right? Wrong. Thanks to Maxtor teaming up with Sentry Group, you can now have a drive that is both fire resistant and waterproof. These drives can withstand 1550F degrees for about a half hour as well as spend up to a day submerged in water.