Technology
Is your home being targeted? Uncover subtle signs burglars don't want you to see
![Is your home being targeted? Uncover subtle signs burglars don't want you to see Is your home being targeted? Uncover subtle signs burglars don't want you to see](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1-Is-your-home-being-targeted_-Burglar-with-mask-breaking-in-with-a-crowbar-.jpg)
Could your home be a target for burglary? While you might assume that crimes are random acts, it’s surprising to learn that some burglaries are actually premeditated. In 2022 alone, there were 673,261 burglary incidents reported nationwide, according to the FBI. Because burglaries can occur swiftly and authorities may not always respond in time, prevention is the most effective strategy.
Practicing basic security measures and being aware of warning signs can help prevent your home from becoming a target. Below are four top signs that your home might be targeted by burglars.
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A man trying to break into a residence (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Top 4 signs your home may be targeted for a burglary
While burglaries may seem random, criminals usually look for opportunities to commit their crimes. It might be a surprise to learn that burglaries spend time assessing their victims and vulnerabilities before striking. In order to find their next victim, they often watch and learn the habits of their next target. Below are signs that burglars may be targeting you:
1) Watch out for suspicious vehicles
Instead of paying attention to the make and model of cars that may be suspicious, pay attention to the behaviors and circumstances surrounding unknown vehicles frequenting your neighborhood.
Who’s in the car?
Unless someone is working nearby or waiting for someone to pick up or see in the area, most people park their cars and leave them. It can be a red flag if someone who has no reason to be in the area is simply sitting in the vehicle. It likely means this person is casing the neighborhood to see who they can target or how to best commit the crime.
Are they equipped?
Is the person in the vehicle using surveillance devices such as cameras or binoculars? Then it may be a sign that they are actively scoping out who will be their next victim and when and how to best commit their crime.
Is there a rotation of people or multiple people involved?
If you start noticing a pattern around different people showing up in the same car on varying days or if multiple people are hanging out in the same car, it might be a sign that you or your neighbors are being targeted.
![Is your home being targeted? Uncover subtle signs burglars don't want you to see](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/2-Is-your-home-being-targeted_-hooded-man-casing-home.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A criminal looking into a window of someone’s house (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
BEST HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS
2) Strangers knocking on your door
While it might appear unwise for criminals to confront their victims before committing a crime, they often do visit potential victims’ doorsteps for four specific reasons.
1) Establish schedules: Burglars might come to your door to confirm when or if someone is home.
2) Observe more details: Getting you to open the door gives them an opportunity to observe additional details about your home. They can observe any additional occupants if there are pets that can deter their crimes or any additional obstacles to committing their crimes, such as security systems or cameras.
3) Commit the crime: Some criminals are ready to strike should the opportunity arise. They usually use a false circumstance, especially with a sense of urgency, to get you to open the door. They may see this as an opportunity to enter your home and rob you then and there.
4) Vandalism: While it may seem counterintuitive, burglars will sometimes commit small, random acts of vandalism to test to see if their victims are paying attention or the targeted homes are occupied. These random acts may include but not be limited to:
- Lights: Are your motion-sensing lights working? Are any outdoor lights broken or unscrewed? If so, it may mean that burglars are preparing to commit their crimes.
- Cameras: If you have outdoor security cameras, are they working properly? Have any cameras been moved slightly or obscured? Burglars might be shifting these devices so that their crime isn’t caught on camera.
- Property damage: A burglar might break a window or lawn ornament to see if anyone is actually home. If no one has noticed the damage or fixed it, they might see it as a sign that the home is free and clear to rob.
- Empty tank: Burglars will go to great lengths to buy themselves extra time in committing their crime, going as far as to siphon gas from their car’s gas tank. Because your gas tank has been emptied without your knowledge, you likely won’t have enough gas to get home on your normal schedule, which gives these criminals more time to burgle your home.
- Targeting pets: Some burglars will go as far as kidnapping or releasing your beloved pets from your property to prevent any additional obstacles or noise while they burgle your home.
![Is your home being targeted? Uncover subtle signs burglars don't want you to see](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/3-Is-your-home-being-targeted_-burglar-with-gun-entering-home.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A burglar breaking into someone’s residence (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
3) Unusual markings or items left around your property
Burglars sometimes leave subtle signs or markings around a property to indicate it as a target. These can include:
- Chalk marks: Simple symbols or lines drawn on walls, fences or sidewalks can be a way for burglars to communicate with each other.
- Stickers or fliers: Unusual stickers or fliers left on your door or mailbox can be a way to mark your home.
- Objects out of place: Items like rocks, sticks or even trash placed in specific spots can be a signal to other burglars.
4) Tampering with your security systems
Burglars may attempt to disable or test your security systems before committing a crime. Look out for:
- Cut wires: If you notice any cut wires around your security cameras or alarm systems, it could be a sign that someone is trying to disable them.
- False alarms: Frequent false alarms can be a tactic used by burglars to desensitize you to the alarm going off.
- Unusual activity: If your security cameras or alarms show unusual activity, such as being triggered without a clear cause, it might be a sign that someone is testing your security measures.
BEST TECH FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION IN 2024
Protect your home with these best home security solutions
Now that you’re aware of the four signs that indicate your home may be a target for burglars, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to enhance your security. If you’re unsure about which security cameras or systems to invest in, you’ll want to check out our article on the best home security systems.
ALERT: 4.3 MILLION AMERICANS EXPOSED IN MASSIVE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT DATA BREACH
Kurt’s key takeaways
Whether you’re leaving town for a vacation or noticing an upswing in crime in your neighborhood, it is important to pay attention to the four signs that you or your neighbors are being targeted by burglars. Separately, these small signs are easy to miss, but together, they paint a picture of a perfect target. While it may seem prudent to confront these suspicious individuals directly, it may be more dangerous for you. In addition to increasing your own security measures and raising the awareness of your neighbors, you can reach out to local authorities to alert them of suspicious activities. Sometimes, local authorities may increase patrol in your area, which may deter criminals from acting.
What experiences have you had with home security and how have they influenced your approach to protecting your home? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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Technology
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: all the news, trailers, and announcements
![Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: all the news, trailers, and announcements Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: all the news, trailers, and announcements](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8dXIwqd0TlG_C_-e67rt4RlLGFk=/0x0:6720x4480/1200x628/filters:focal(3360x2240:3361x2241)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25575888/1617083612.jpg)
Here come the Pokémon microSD cards.
SanDisk is launching new Pokémon-branded microSD cards at Gamescom today. Designed for the Nintendo Switch, there are three options available for purchase: a 1TB Snorlax microSD card for $129.99, a 512GB Gengar one for $54.99, or the smallest 256GB Pikachu model for $32.99. These new Pokémon microSD cards support up to 100MB/s read speeds and up to 90MB/s write speeds and are available through Western Digital’s online store.
If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.
Technology
Valve bans Razer and Wooting’s new keyboard features in Counter-Strike 2
![Valve bans Razer and Wooting’s new keyboard features in Counter-Strike 2 Valve bans Razer and Wooting’s new keyboard features in Counter-Strike 2](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2C3ej18irOgZR-G4mZsO2L8CD3I=/0x0:3840x2160/1200x628/filters:focal(1920x1080:1921x1081)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25580609/1329760.jpeg)
Valve is banning Counter-Strike 2 players from using keyboard features to automate perfect counter-strafes. Razer was the first keyboard maker to add a Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD) feature to its range of Huntsman V3 Pro keyboards last month, followed shortly by Wooting. Using Snap Tap as Razer calls it or Wooting’s Snappy Tappy will now get you kicked from Counter-Strike 2 games.
“Recently, some hardware features have blurred the line between manual input and automation, so we’ve decided to draw a clear line on what is or isn’t acceptable in Counter-Strike,” says Valve. “We are no longer going to allow automation (via scripting or hardware) that circumvent these core skills and, moving forward, (and initially—exclusively on Valve Official Servers) players suspected of automating multiple player actions from a single game input may be kicked from their match.”
I’ve tested using SOCD in Counter-Strike 2 this morning and can confirm you get removed from a game on Valve’s official servers, but there’s no account ban. Valve is banning the use of these keyboard features, but it doesn’t appear to be ready to ban accounts for using them right now.
Razer and Wooting’s SOCD features both let players automate switching strafe directions without having to learn the skill. Normally, to switch strafe directions in a first-person shooter, you have to fully release one key before pressing the other. If both are pressed, they cancel each other, and you stand there for a moment until you release one of the keys. SOCD means you don’t need to release a key and you can rapidly tap the A or D key to counter-strafe with little to no effort.
Some professional Counter-Strike 2 players had called for SOCD to be banned, much like how null binds that prevent you from pressing two opposing directions have been banned in tournaments for years.
Wooting reluctantly added a beta version of SOCD to its range of keyboards after Razer introduced the feature on its own hardware. “We are glad Valve has taken a stance against Snap Tap,” says Wooting in a post on X today. “Don’t use Snappy Tappy (SOCD) or Rappy Snappy in CS2 any more as it will result in a kick.”
Technology
The Acolyte has been canceled
![The Acolyte has been canceled The Acolyte has been canceled](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4wzeNtcVYCjpngLy3GLMd93ZsFM=/0x0:3840x1598/1200x628/filters:focal(1920x799:1921x800)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25580254/PDX_FF_003610.jpg)
Though Disney Plus’ The Acolyte series introduced some very compelling new characters and lore to the Star Wars canon, its story about the dark side of the Force won’t be continuing with a second season.
Though its season one finale seemed to be setting up the series for more episodes, Deadline reports that Disney has canceled The Acolyte. Things were rocky from the start for the show as Star Wars fans displeased with its cast and premise took to review-bombing it in droves, but Disney’s cancellation decision was reportedly driven by The Acolyte’s less-than-desirable viewership numbers.
The news comes just a little over a year after Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC that reigning in spending on big budget Marvel and Star Wars projects could…
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