Wireless utility meters could aid burglars
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct 18, 2012 -- UPI
Wireless utility meters found on many homes and small
business could be putting out a welcome mat for would-be
burglars, U.S. security experts say.
Analog meters that measure water, gas and electricity
consumption are rapidly being replaced by automated meters that
broadcast readings every 30 seconds for utility company
employees to read as they walk or drive by with a receiver.
However, researchers said, anyone could receive the signals
with about $1,000 worth of equipment available on the open
market.
Because energy usage often drops to near zero when a house is
empty, would-be housebreakers could identify which home owners
are at work or away on vacation, they said.
The research team was able to create a receiver from readily
available components that allowed them to pick up transmissions
from automated meters 300 yards away and monitor almost 500
meters simultaneously, NewScientist.com reported Thursday.
There are easier ways to determine whether a house is empty,
team member Marco Gruteser of Rutgers University said.
"But it's bad practice for meters to shout out that a house
is vacant while police departments recommend keeping the lights
on and the mailbox empty to make your house look occupied,"
Gruteser said.
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