DIY Life

According to Consumer Reports, two-thirds of burglaries involve forced entries. And lots of 'em are opportunistic in nature. In other words, the criminal sees no one is home and goes around back looking for unlocked doors and windows, maybe testing their sturdiness with a kick or two.

Are your existing door locks of the cheap "builders brass" variety that could easily be forced? Don't want to spend big bucks on expensive, better-quality replacements? Here's a quick fix that will improve your home's security – for only around $10! Introducing: the box strike!

Deadlocks are usually installed in conjunction with a strike plate. That's the piece of metal screwed onto the door jamb, opposite the lock itself. When the lock is engaged, the deadlock slides through the strike plate, resting in a cavity cut into the wooden door jamb.

Want to slash your PC security costs back to zero? According to a recent Consumer Reports article, you can! CR concluded most users can get ample protection simply by combining free stand-alone software programs. Here's how it works:

First, determine which security programs are already on your computer. For example, my laptop came with Vista's Windows Security Center, which includes Windows Defender and Windows Firewall. Defender provides protection against badware, which includes phishing tools and the much-dreaded spyware.

Second, assess the protection included with your Internet browser. You're probably using Explorer or Firefox and, increasingly, such programs come complete with fairly sophisticated security features. Good news: As those free features improve, your need for a separate fee-based PC security package declines!

Sliding doors come in two flavors: they work like a charm or they're a pain in the buttocks. Because of their very nature, things can go wrong. For most repairs, the door will need to be removed. No big mystery here; just raise it up and swing it outward. Here's a few problems and their solutions:

• The door won't roll. Inspect the rollers. If they're loose, tighten them. If they're broken, replace them. Is the track bent? It can usually be tapped back into shape using a wood block and a hammer.
• The door doesn't glide like it used to or jumps off the track. Check the bottom rollers and track. Clean them both carefully and lubricate them with paraffin or silicone spray.
• The catch doesn't catch. Door catches don't last forever and if they won't catch properly, they won't lock either. Sometimes they get bent and don't mate up properly, and sometimes they just wear out. If it's broken or worn out, just replace it. If it's bent, remove it and clamp it in your vise. Use needle-nose pliers to straighten it out. Replace it and test it. It should click and catch when the door slides up and mates with the frame.
  

Use these tips and you'll be slidin' and glidin' in no time!

When I spied the title "Guard your Laptop with Electric Rings of Death!," well, I had to check it out. And what did I find? Awesome pics of what looks like a bright electric force field circling a laptop! What is this? A DIY electric fence to keep unauthorized sticky fingers off your keyboard? Is it for real? Well, turns out this project is simultaneously very geeky and very cool.

Okay, so it's not a real force field. No, it will not zap your roommate for attempting to access your passwords file. However, creator TeslaDownUnder, says that, yes, the photos are for real and not Photoshopped. It's all done, he says, using a gadget involving rotating electrodes, which was then photographed in a dark room on a long exposure. Voila! Instant force field. Nope, it won't harm a fly. But it looks cool!

My fabulous new laptop is all set up and running beautifully. My old laptop has been consigned to its temporary new home: the garage. There it shall stay until I get an opportunity to take it to an electronics collection event, which my city periodically holds. (It's the green way, people.)

Anyway, I may have been a bit hasty taking it straight to the garage. According to stuff I've been reading online, you should always retire your old computer. That is, before you toss it, recycle it, sell it, give it away, donate it to charity--whatever--it's recommended you carry out some basic steps first.

The following computer retirement tips come courtesy of everyone's favorite software behemoth, Microsoft:

I'm sitting here in the bio-med clinic waiting for a test and killing time. I was thrilled to find an unsecured wireless connection from the coffee shop next door. I've connected to it and passed the time by checking email and getting a bit of work done. I don't feel too bad piggy-backing for an hour so that I can get on-line. I'm sure some of you will think that I should, so go ahead and leave your comments. What I wouldn't do is routinely hook up to my neighbor's internet from home, letting them bear the load for my free ride. Some people do. If you know that somebody is hooking up to your wireless connection and you don't want uninvited guests, the obvious thing to do is encrypt it.

Obvious? Yes. Fun? Not even a little. There is a better way to get back at your free-loading neighbor: Screw with their connection. Just imagine them surfing the net when all of the sudden the pages are upside down or blurry. The instructions are a bit beyond me, so I'll stick with traditional security measures, but if you're at all technically savvy, this sounds pretty straightforward. The trick involves splitting the network into a trusted and un-trusted half, then follow these instructions and scripts. This guy's clever solution to a nasty neighbor will let you wreak havoc on them in a fun little way that lets them know who's boss without actually causing any harm. As for me, I'll buy a coffee on my way out and set the universe right.

Step 1) Get your tools ready! You will need a drill with drill bits, a hammer, a tape measure and a pencil. And, of course, your window pins. You can use one pin per window or two -- one on the left side and one on the right. Your choice.

Step 2) Close and lock your first window. Use your measuring tape and pencil to locate and mark the point to drill your first hole. This is where the window pin will go when the window is in the closed and locked position.

If you're into keeping that shed or garage side door under 'lock and key' (no pun intended), you'll love this hack. Using a cheap X10 remote key fob, a power source, and a simple solenoid, you too can create a remote-controlled deadbolt for that door that needs opening quite often, but also finds its key lost or misplaced frequently.

Building solenoids into things is pretty easy, as long as you have battery power or electricity nearby. These are the same devices that automatically pop that trunk or car door open from your keyfob, so why not use them from inside a garage or shed door so that you can have access to the door from outside while leaving no lock mechanism visible from the exterior, which can sometimes invite tampering?

For an estimated $30 or so, you can get a solenoid, a remote transmitter, a power source (hopefully, free), and an actual deadbolt, and have that shed pretty well secure from outside intrusion. Check out the video below to see the finished product in action.If you've got thousands of dollars in tools inside that shed, this one is calling your name.



[via Lifehacker]

Alarms, 2 way voice, video surveillance; you can ditch all these home security systems and follow Big Lou's advice for a DIY security system. Here's what you need:

1. Big boots
2. Large men's jacket
3. Gun and Riffle magazine
4. Beer

Curious about this odd combination of materials and how they come together to make one exceptionally reliable security system? Check out her video. Big Lou is a widowed mother of 4 teenage boys and the queen of DIY. Originally from New York, she takes care of all the repairs and maintenance in her Long Island home. She's gorgeous, tough and down right hilarious. Enjoy.

How many times have you gone up to the ATM -- to get $20 -- only to get a receipt that says insufficient funds. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather the person behind me in line didn't realize that I'd just hit financial rock bottom. Not only is that embarrassing, but it's a good sign that your not saving any money what-so-ever. Possibly it's you just don't know how.

If you've already tried everything, give these a go. I found 5 simple ways to save money, from Gomestic, that you may not have thought about.

1. Coupons: While some people think that coupons are a hassle to use, when you begin to use them on a regular basis you will be surprised at how much you can save. I have personally witnessed people who were able to save $50 or more on a grocery bill simply using coupons they found in a $2 newspaper. Saving $50 on a regular basis will make a big difference on your bank account in the long run.
2. Shop for discounts: You will be surprised at what you can find. Many people think paying full price means they are getting a better product, but this is not always the case. For example, I have purchased many clothing items from flea markets, ebay and other such sites that offer extraordinary savings and people have given me plenty of compliments. I have several skirts I purchased for only $10...that's right $10 and I have received more compliments on them than I can remember. If you take the time to search, you can find incredible products at inexpensive prices.
3. Exercise for free: Yes, sometimes joining a gym or organized exercise group can be fun, but depending on the cost, you can save a large amount of money by exercising for free. Take a walk or jog around your neighborhood. You do not have to worry about any additional cost except for the cost of your workout clothes and your shoes. And, if you want some variety, you can make one time purchases on a bike, roller blades, or any other type of exercise product that you can utilize again and again. You can lose weight, have fun, and save money all at the same time.
4. Eat healthier: Purchasing the makings for salads at grocery stores and healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables are relatively inexpensive. When you eat healthier you don't get sick as often and, thus, you save significantly on medical bills, prescriptions, and remedying a health issue you could have easily avoided.
5. Search for free leisure activities: You will be surprised at all the fun things you can find to do that are absolutely free of cost to the public or cost very little. For example, during Christmas time Long Beach, California holds a light parade that features a long strip of neighbors who collaboratively decorate their homes to the nine's and have everything from Disneyland-like battery operated animated figures on their lawns to real live ornately dressed carolers signing to passersby. It is quite an extraordinary experience and it is completely free to the public.

Making small changes (as simple as these) will help you save a significant deal of money in the long run. You work hard for your money. After all, the next time you get in line for the ATM, you'll want to be able to get money out.