In January of each year I write an article to help you think about your Home, Electronic and Personal Security. In 2017, assistants like Alexa and Siri have gotten “smarter” and claim to help us more in our daily lives.
Home and lock security:
Look at your locks and your doors. Are your locks working smoothly? Are they at least a class 2 lock? Do all of your exterior doors have deadbolt locks installed? Can you account for all your keys? If not, replace the lock or have the key changed. Try lockable key fobs to stay in control of your keys.
Is your alarm system working properly? In 2017, the biggest change from 2016 to 2017 is that most alarm systems can now be controlled by smartphone apps. Maybe it’s time you upgrade to a modern alarm system that can control your smartphone. You must communicate with the central station via cellular service rather than a landline.
Computer security:
In 2017, our computers, tablets, and smartphones have gotten smarter. They are also more open with extensive Wi-Fi connections. These connections must be protected by some form of Internet security that has built-in Wi-Fi security. Make sure you are using the most up-to-date Wi-Fi security. We are using home automation more and this opens us up to additional security concerns. Be careful about using Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and the Google Assistant.
If possible, use credit cards instead of debit cards. Credit cards give you more security and you are using your money for 30 days. Just make sure you pay your bills in full every month.
Personal security:
When driving or walking, be aware of your surroundings, know where you are at all times. If “Gut” tells you to leave an area, listen and walk away. Park your vehicle in a well-lit area and don’t leave anything visible like your GPS, laptop, etc. When you get home, park your vehicle in your garage and close the door before leaving. If it’s dark, try using the light on a timer inside your home, so there will be a light on when you get home. It is always better to enter a lighted house.
All of the items above are common sense, they all have different security needs, which is why this article is written to help you think about your own personal security situation.