Are You On Candid Camera? 📹
We also discuss why carjackings are on the rise 🚨, how to feel safer in a Uber, and steps to become a cleaner human. Estimated read time: less than 4 minutes.
Is Your Home Security Network Safe? 🤔
Although home security systems can be used to prevent people from physically breaking into your home, they can potentially lead to cybercriminals invading your privacy. The 2 main ways hackers can gain control and access your home video feed are local hacks and remote hacks.
Local hacks are statistically much less likely to occur. It’s when a hacker is within range of your internet infiltrates your home WiFi network. This could be done in various ways such as guessing your home internet network password.
Remote hacks are much more common. This can be done from anywhere and leverages previous data breaches of larger companies. In the past few years, the usernames and passwords for many large companies were made available on the dark web by hackers. Hackers then try those email/password combinations for home security accounts and have seen some success with it. Their success shouldn’t come as a shock, as over 50% of users use the same email/password combination for multiple accounts.
You are not hopeless though. Below are 5 steps you can take to significantly decrease your chances of your device being hacked.
Always use unique passwords. 🔑
Change your password regularly. 💻
Update your firmware (all of those notifications serve a purpose).⚙
Use 2-factor authentication. 📲
Only use reputable security camera companies. 🎥
Carjackings On The Rise 🚘
Last week, a carjacking in Southeast D.C. resulted in murder charges for the death of Mohammed Awar. This story and accompanying graphic video took many media outlets by storm. However, it's far from an isolated incident. Carjackings are on the rise throughout the country. January 2021 saw over a 200% increase in reported carjackings compared to January 2020.
Anyone with a vehicle can be a victim, no matter the make or model. Thieves are typically not interested in the resale value of a stolen vehicle. They instead desire to use the car as a “work car”. This term coined by authorities means that they want a car to go commit a crime with. They then abandon the vehicle afterward after the crime is committed with no trace to them.
Many were shocked to hear that the charges in the tragic death of Mohammed Awar were against two females aged 13 & 15. However, teens are common offenders in carjackings. 80% of recent carjackings in many cities are committed by minors.
Authorities have described the past year as a “perfect storm” for carjackings to increase. The variables they attribute include:
🏫School closures: Schools being closed has left many minors without supervision.
🦠Juvenile detention centers limiting capacities: Covid-19 related regulations have led to the inability to hold troubled youth because of close contact concerns.
💲Budget cuts in many local police forces: In many cities, police presence is at historical lows. while response times are rising.
😷Regularity of masks: In a pre-COVID society, a masked person approaching you in your vehicle would have sparked an internal alarm. Today, criminals can use new social norms to conceal their identities.
You can’t control the points above. But you can make an effort to be more aware of your surroundings or seek out personal protection options. It’s common for carjackings to occur while the vehicle owner is close by. Getting in/out of their car, unbagging groceries, or even helping a child with a car seat can make you a target.
If you witness an event, recording what you see via cell phone can go great lengths in helping provide a conviction against a carjacker.
What & Why 🤷♂️
What:
Guard Dog Security’s Harm & Hammer is an encased pepper spray plus glass breaker that will allow you to break a car window if needed. It provides up to 16+ foot spray radius and keychain accessibility to make you feel prepared for nearly any situation.
Why:
As the vaccine continues its rollout, the nightlife is bound to be restored to previous levels. This means more ride share service usage, which can make many feel uncomfortable using. Especially women.
One year Uber received over 3,000 sexual assault reports from people involved with its service. This doesn't even include data from other car services.
Below it’s revealed how common it is for drivers to have inappropriate behavior with passengers
Cell Phone Cleanliness Do’s & Don'ts
The past 12 months have been riddled with sanitation recommendations. But there’s recommendation even the most diligent among us likely fail to do. Cleaning your mobile phone at least once a day. Below are some dos & don'ts compiled from the FCC and phone manufacturers on how to protect yourself from phone germs.
✅Do: Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with soap and water.
✅Do: Use a hands-free device when making calls to prevent your phone from being pressed on your skin.
✅Do: Use an ultraviolet light phone sanitizer like the one from PhoneSoap.
❌Don’t: Get liquid around the openings of the device.
❌Don’t: Use Lysol or Clorox wipes. These products have chemicals that can harm your screen.
❌Don’t: Spray cleaners directly onto the device.