Summer Security Tips!

Summer is truly a wonderful time for everyone – the weather is gorgeous, the kids are home from school (okay, so this may not be so wonderful for parents from time to time), the days are longer and there’s all that glorious cabin time. The last thing you may be thinking about is being secure but it’s easier than you may think with these financial, physical and cyber safety pointers.

1. Remember that there is strength in numbers! When in doubt, walk with someone you know and trust. Better yet, walk with multiple people. Take extra precaution at night. There are various safety apps that can help you stay safe when walking home or even traveling.
2. Before going in, on or around water, remember your water safety tips. Adults should always supervise children and be near a lifeguard’s chair.
3. Keep your social media accounts private by regularly updating your security settingsand checking the platforms for program changes. At the end of the day, it is important to have an understanding at all times of who can see what you’re posting and what they can do with that content or information.
4. On the note of social media, some things are meant to be kept secret such as your vacation or current location. Don’t post photo of you during your vacation or tag your location while you are away.
5. Change your passwordsevery six months *minimum*. This is an easy way to protect your data and information and prevent against phishing
6. Don’t forget to secure windows and doors at night or when you leave. Letting the fresh air in is one of the great things about warmer weather but we often forget to close them when we leave making it easier for thieves to get in.
7. While you are away from home, make it appear as though you are home. You can utilize timers or smart outlets for your lights or other devices.  You can ask your neighbor to look after your house.
8. Stay off public Wi-Fi networks. Yes, they are easy to connect to, are (pretty much) everywhere and they’re free or low-cost to you that doing so seems like the convenient choice. However, there are several dangersthat come along with connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, such as Man-in-the-Middle attacks and unencrypted networks. Instead, opt for a password-protected network, Virtual Private Network (VPN) or use your cellular data.
9. Teach your kids some easy ways to stay safe, too.There are various, simple ways of helping them stay safe online and out in the world that go beyond “stranger danger.”
10. Practice safe online banking– at home, at work and while traveling (especially while traveling).

Engaging in safe practices and taking the extra step to ensure your safety doesn’t have to be a chore (even if the kids may say so). If we missed any key safety tips that you feel need to be included in this list, tell us in the comments! Don’t forget to check the rest of our blog regularly for more great, easy-to-digest guides like this one.