Yearly Archives: 2020

Is going online the new stranger danger for children?

Posted on October 31, 2020 at 1:30 pm

We have recently realised more than ever the important part that digital devices play in our lives and the way that they can help us to keep in touch with friends and family, play games and share photographs but how do we keep our children safe when they are using the internet?

The main issue for parents is that sometimes the children know more about the internet and social media than them, but it is important to find out by doing some research the basics. Some of the restrictions that will need to be put on your child’s online activity will be dependent upon their age. For instance, young children should not be able to access the internet without you monitoring what content they are viewing. Parental controls can be set up to ensure this is the case. Games they play on should have in app purchases turned off and be rated as appropriate to their age. It is a good idea at this stage to talk about the importance of keeping your real name, age and location secret to all but friends.

The situation becomes more problematic with teenage children as monitoring everything they do online is not feasible however parental controls can be set so that whatever they access online can be viewed by the parent which in itself may constrain their viewing. As is the case in other areas of life it is sensible to have conversations with the children in your care, in this case explaining the dangers of posting images and comments online and the possible impact of this both for themselves and others.

Posted in Online Security

How protected are you when buying online?

Posted on September 16, 2020 at 8:33 am

In recent years, the number of people buying products online has increased dramatically partly due to the shopping restrictions because of the pandemic and perhaps also due to the bargains that can be found when shopping online. It is particularly important when buying online that you take precautions to make sure that your details and payment methods are secure to prevent fraud but if you follow these simple steps there should be no issues.

Firstly, only buy from genuine websites. Google the site to check that it is legitimate and look at reviews that other customers have posted and if in doubt, look elsewhere.

Make sure your antivirus is up to date. Some antivirus software has a built-in website checker which will indicate whether a website is safe and secure giving you added reassurance when shopping.

When you have decided on your purchase and are ready to check out look carefully at the address bar at the top of the screen to make sure it has https instead of http. This along with a lock symbol shows that it is a secure page.

Entering payment details and setting up passwords should only be completed on private computers not public ones and remember me tick boxes are best avoided if possible. Paying by credit card or by PayPal gives the buyer additional protection from fraud and so is a wise choice. Two step verification offered by most banks gives another layer of security when using a card to make a purchase online.

Posted in Online Security

Securing your home when going on holiday

Posted on August 22, 2020 at 2:07 pm

Home security is very important. We all want peace of mind that whether we are in our home or away, the property is secure. With more and more break ins occurring it is vital that you act now to improve your home security.

Firstly, have a walk around the property and check that there are no easy ways to enter. If you have an open garden then you may want to look in to having a fence put around it. This will just add another level of security to your property.

CCTV is great not only at capturing footage of people that are breaking in to your property (which can often be very useful in court) but also it can act as a deterrent. You can pick up CCTV systems for as little as £30 a camera. These IP cameras link to your Wi-Fi and can give you a live feed of what’s going on. If you install a memory card you can also set it to record the footage. Most come with their own aps you can use to view footage, change settings such as sensitivity and sometimes even two way talking if your model has the ability to.

Keeping all windows and doors securely locked may sound like a very obvious thing to do but is often something many of us forget about.

Posted in Security Systems

The Security of a Personnel Door

Posted on July 31, 2020 at 11:28 pm

Personnel doors, often made of steel and other high performance materials, might be deemed to be obviously high quality. They are strong doors, and most of them will be of a good quality, but there is a lot to factor in before deciding which kind to buy. Security is a major factor that is well worth considering before choosing the particular door type you are happiest with.

Personnel doors allow access for everybody and will not always have security features like key fobs or access control that other kinds of doors might have. This should be carefully considered, though, so that people cannot get in through a personnel door where they should not be able to gain access. It will all very much depend on your setup and who needs to use a personnel door, and whether it is a fire exist, or perhaps even automatic. Explore your options and pick an appropriate level of security.

Posted in Security Systems

Are Garage Door Openers Secure?

Posted on January 30, 2020 at 9:28 pm

Garage door openers are very useful and handy to have, but are they secure as well? This is a concern of any homeowner who is installing one in their home, and it’s a legitimate worry – will people be able to break into your garage more easily, or will they be able to hack into the WiFi if it’s joined up to a smart system?

As you will be the only person with remote control access to the garage, it won’t make any difference to access and your garage will still be very secure. As long as you have a high quality garage door and you have it fitted with a quality motor system, you will have everything you need to keep your garage safe and secure. You should check that you’re buying a good brand with a good reputation – read reviews to see what others like you think. Other than that, you should have everything you need for your garage to be secure still.

Posted in Security Systems