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When I host a national radio show and podcast about all things tech, digital security is always in every program. Take your home router for example.
An outdated model can leave your entire network, your files, and everything connected to it at risk to hackers. Tap or click on five reasons to replace that old router.
Other ways to protect your digital life won’t cost you a dime.
Then those safety tips hit a little closer to home. Whether you have a full house or live alone, there are many things you can do to make your place feel safer.
Research shows that posting on social media makes users overconfident.
1. Connect with your community
Getting to know your neighbors can be one of the best ways to feel safer. If you haven’t, introduce yourself. You’ll feel better knowing the neighborhood has your back.
You can explore the wider neighborhood through NextDoor. Create an account to connect with people nearby. Just be prepared for a healthy dose of drama. I will never forget seeing an article about someone driving fast. Ahem, that was me.
An even more fun way to reach out to your community is to join a Buy Nothing group. This is where the neighbors pass the items they no longer use. Let’s say you’re upgrading your TV and need to get rid of the old one. Instead of going through the trouble of selling, ask if anyone nearby wants to come and get one.
Close up of a man using a 3D generated mobile smartphone with an emergency call on the screen.
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2. Prepare your phone for emergencies
Your phone is always with you and can be a lifeline in an emergency. One smart move is to activate your phone’s emergency SOS feature. When triggered, this will call emergency services and send notifications and updates to your chosen personal emergency contacts.
Create emergency contacts for your iPhone
- open up Health app And tap your Profile picture > Medical ID.
- Choose Editthen go to Emergency contacts.
- Tap Add an emergency contact button, then select a meet. Increase their relationship.
- hit Done To confirm your changes.
To call emergency services:
- Press the button Side button And One of the volume buttons Until the Emergency SOS slider pops up.
- To call emergency services, Drag the slider.
- You can also continue to hold. side And Volume buttons For automatic access to emergency services.
Once the countdown is over, your phone will receive emergency services.
Set emergency contacts and SOS on your Android
Washington to end Covid-19 state of emergency Oct. 31
- open up Security appand sign in to your Google account.
- Tap settingsand then Medical information To add information such as blood type, allergies or medications. Tap the item in the list you want to update.
- Tap Emergency contactsand then Add a contact and select the existing contact you want to add.
Now you need to activate your Android SOS feature:
- Tap in the same application Safety and emergency and then Emergency SOS.
- turn on Use emergency SOS.
- You can also turn it on. Play an alarm sound. To play loud sound when emergency SOS starts.
- When using Emergency SOS, determine which emergency actions should be triggered. Turn on the actions you want to use: Call emergency services and share information with emergency contacts.
To call emergency services:
- Press the button Switch off Five times or more. A five-second countdown begins before emergency measures begin. To cancel Emergency SOS, Swipe right to delete During counting.
- After a five-second countdown, emergency actions are initiated, depending on your settings.
Are you a caregiver for someone in your life? If you can’t always be together, lots of great technology can help.
Dome CCTV infrared camera
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3. Make it look like you’re at home, even when you’re not
Whether it’s for the day or a week-long vacation, there are ways to make your home look occupied even when it’s empty. Mechanical or smart-home timers can turn lights and stereo or TV on and off.
Do you have an Echo speaker? Alexa Watch is like a pair of earbuds when you’re out of the house. Your Echo device will listen for broken glass, smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms. If these sounds are detected, you will get an alert on your phone.
Alexa Guardian can automatically turn on and off any connected smart lights to pretend they’re home.
4. Install a modern security system
Home security technology has come a long way since the days of rugged wireless systems with long and expensive contracts. Now you can customize a system that includes exactly what you need and manage it all yourself.
SimpliSafe is a national radio show sponsor, and they are a company I always recommend. Of course, there are many options at different price points.
Cheapest does not translate to best. I avoid the bargain-basement models you can find online.
A woman uses a smartphone.
(iStock)
5. Think before you post online
We want to post every fun moment in our lives on social media, but your friends may not be the only ones watching your adventures. If you have a public profile, anyone can see you exploring a new city away from home.
The easiest solution not at all To post personal information on social media, including your vacation. Wait until you return to share photos and videos.
If you do decide to share in real time, make sure to at least limit your accounts to trusted friends and family.
Keep up with your technology
My favorite podcast is called “Kim Commando Today”. It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips and callers with tech questions like you from across the country.
Check out my podcast “Kim Commando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player.
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What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show. You can listen or watch The Kim Commando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer.
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Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Commando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim calls and offers advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data breaches. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
