Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month With These Safety Tips
Since 2004, the United States has recognized October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This initiative focuses on educating the general public about cybersecurity best practices to minimize the risk of data breaches and other cyber incidents.
Phishing scams, malware infections and other schemes and attacks perpetrated by cybercriminals may have lasting effects on your finances and peace of mind. Consider the following steps to bolster and maintain your cybersecurity:
- Choose strong passwords that include a combination of special characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
- Set up multifactor authentication to ensure that even if a cybercriminal learns your password, they will need additional information to access your accounts.
- Back up your data regularly, such as on a cloud service or external storage devices (e.g., flash drives, external hard drives, etc.).
- Avoid leaving electronic devices, such as smartphones and laptops, unattended.
- Do not give out sensitive or personal information online or over the phone.
- Educate yourself on identifying online scams, such as by scrutinizing potential phishing messages and avoiding clicking on links or attachments offering rewards.
- Change your Wi-Fi router’s password from its default factory setting and monitor your network regularly for unfamiliar devices.
For more cybersecurity guidance or resources, contact us today.
Key Steps to Protect Your Home From Cooking Fires
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 8-14 this year. Since 1922, this annual campaign has aimed to help people across the United States understand and implement fire safety awareness tips. This year’s campaign, “Cooking Safety Starts With You,” focuses on helping people learn about preventing kitchen fires.
To commemorate Fire Prevention Week and minimize the risk of a fire starting in your kitchen, consider the following guidance:
- Remain present—According to the NFPA, unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires.
- Stay sober—Do not cook while intoxicated or under the influence.
- Consider attire—Wear short-sleeved or tight-fitting clothing while cooking to ensure your garments do not dangle into open flames or other heat sources.
- Restrict access—Keep children and pets away from cooking areas.
- Keep it clean—Remove unnecessary clutter that could be flammable, such as wooden utensils, oven mitts, towels and food packaging.
- Unplug appliances—Keep countertop and portable appliances, such as toasters and coffee makers, unplugged when not in use.
- Maintain alarms—Ensure kitchens have working smoke detectors and test them regularly. Do not temporarily disable these devices for any reason.
- Keep an extinguisher—Residential fire extinguishers should be kept on every level of a home, including in the kitchen. Make sure you are familiar with how to operate these devices before you need them.
Contact Ramsburg Insurance Agency today for additional home safety resources.
What to Pack in Your Emergency Roadside Kit
Any time you hit the road, you must account for the possibility of being stranded. With this in mind, ensure that your car is equipped with an emergency roadside kit containing the following supplies:
- First-aid kit
- Drinking water and nonperishable food
- Warm clothes or blankets
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Cellphone and charger
- Jumper cables
- Road flares and distress signs
- Vehicle liquids (e.g., gas can and motor oil)
- Ice scraper and snow shovel
- Key documents (e.g., proof of insurance, medical information and vehicle owner’s manual)
- Spare tire
For more auto safety tips, contact us today.
This newsletter is intended for informational use only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice.
© 2023 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.