Keeping track of all our security passwords and codes is a pain. There’s one for the credit cards, a few for work, and a half dozen others for everything from the online bill paying to our social media accounts.
Since it’s become such hassle, all too many of us are using an easy-to-remember password that is making it very easy for cyber-crooks to breach our security and have access to our bank accounts and other important personal information. In the US alone there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. That is why creating a strong password that is easy for you to remember, yet difficult for a hacker to guess is so important.
When you create a password to protect your personal information please avoid using:
123456
password
123456789
12345678
12345
111111
1234567
sunshine
qwerty
iloveyou
These passwords have been named “worst passwords of the year 2018” and many of them have been on the worst list for YEARS. Using these, and others like football, abc123, and 654321 (also on the list), means you are making it too easy for hackers and criminals to compromise your accounts.
So, what’s the key to creating a complex, secure password? Use one that employs 12 characters or more with a mix of symbols, letters, and numbers.
To avoid having one of the worst passwords, follow these password creation tips:
Create passwords with as many letters, symbols, numbers and mixed case letters as possible
Store your passwords in a safe place that’s not on your computer
Use different and unique passwords for important accounts
Set up your password recovery options and keep them up to date
The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, says a secure password should look something like this: Il2pBb3x!. The sequence comes from, “I like to play basketball three times a week,” just changed to simple symbols. Or think of a word that only has significance to you, change a few letters to make them capital, make some letters into symbols, and add in a long number. Ex. m@VEr1cK5991
And, if that all seems too complicated, there are free online password generator internet sites that will do the hard work for you. But once you’ve created a nearly full-proof password, your work is still not done. Experts advise that passwords need to be changed often, possibly once a month or quarter.
California Casualty also offers an added layer of protection; every auto and home insurance policy comes with free ID Theft 911 protection, which comes with ID theft resolution service. Contact an advisor for more information or a free policy review at 1.866.704.8614 or visit www.calcas.com.
The hustle and bustle of the first days of the new school year can get a little crazy. Kids are racing to see their friends, buses are crisscrossing the area picking up and dropping off students and hurried parents are trying to drop their kids off before they have to head to work. Paying attention often goes by the wayside.
This is why it’s more important than ever to practice extreme caution around school zones and neighborhoods.
Don’t load or unload children across the street from schools
Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at school
Put down cell phones and other mobile devices
Other safety tips to prevent auto-pedestrian injuries around schools include:
Not blocking crosswalks when stopped at a red light or making a turn forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of traffic
Always stopping for school crossing guards
Using extra caution to look out for children at bus stops, school zones, playgrounds and parks and in all residential areas
Never passing a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
Remembering that pedestrians have the right of way
And to prevent distracted walking and texting accidents, students are reminded to keep their head up and phone down and:
Never walk while texting or talking on the phone
Always move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk to text
Never cross the street while using an electronic device
Do not walk with headphones on
Be aware of their surroundings
Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available; if a child must walk on the street, he or she should face oncoming traffic
Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street
Cross only at crosswalks
Remember, the first days of school can be a dangerous time for excited students. Safety experts stress that we all need to slow down near school zones, wear seatbelts, leave early so we aren’t rushing and never drive distracted (texting, eating or drinking, horsing around with passengers or adjusting the radio or adjusting the navigation system).
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Summertime is in full swing! However, along with summer heat is the threat of summer burglary. Nobody wants to return home to find someone has burglarized their hard-earned possessions.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Justice warns that break-ins heat up during the summer months. Most of those are crimes of opportunity from criminals looking for an easy target like open windows or garage doors.
Trim back bushes or hedges that block visibility and give a thief areas to hide
Install outdoor lighting
Put indoor lights on timers
Have a security system installed
Get a dog
Keep garage doors closed
Always lock doors and windows
Keep watch of your neighbors’ homes and ask they do the same for you
Have a trusted friend, neighbor or relative make trips to your home or park a car in the driveway to make it look lived in while you are away
Don’t Advertise to Criminals
Stop mail and newspaper deliveries if you are going away
Arrange for any home deliveries to your neighbors when you are not home
Don’t leave garbage cans out while you are away
Never leave notes on doors telling someone you are out and when you will return
Leave a radio or TV on while you are away
Conceal valuables and don’t them visible from the outside
Break down and conceal boxes for expensive items and electronics when putting out the trash (boxes for the new 60” HD TV or the latest computer are like shopping flyers for thieves)
Don’t advertise on social media that you are going away to grandma’s house or a wonderful vacation (this goes for your children)
Protect Yourself
Make a complete home inventory of your possessions to assist if you need to file a police report, speed up an insurance claim and help with a tax-loss write off
Be sure to have an identity theft protection and recovery service if burglars get access to your personal or banking information
Protect your possessions with homeowners or renters insurance
Not only do you feel violated after someone breaks into your home, but it can be expensive to fix the damage and replace items. That’s why you need homeowners and renters insurance. We can’t stop all criminals, but California Casualty is here to protect you with quality auto and home insurance with exclusive benefits not available to the general public. Every policy also comes with free ID theft protection. Call an adviser today for a policy comparison or review at 1.800.800.9410, or visit www.calcas.com.
For more information visit:
https://bit.ly/2JXf93n
https://bit.ly/2YlWhDe
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Wildfires seem to be burning faster and more intense than ever. The past few years have seen the largest and most destructive conflagrations in US history. Wildfire preparation tips are more important than ever.
Too many people have come back to find melted remnants of prized personal possessions; homes in ashes.
Here are five key wildfire preparation tips for your community or neighborhood:
Create a home inventory. 60% of homeowners and renters have still not documented the things they own, which can cause post-fire/disaster headaches.
Know where fire extinguishers are kept and teach everyone how to use them. Make them easily accessible in the event an of emergency.
Have a family escape plan. Practice how you would exit your home from different rooms in the event of a fire and set a safe meeting point, away from the property, if you were to get separated.
Prepare an emergency kit with important documents. Include copies of banking information, insurance policies, home mortgage and deeds, etc.
Review and understand your insurance policy. Whether you are renting or owning, know what it pays and does not pay for. Get extra protection for collectibles and high-dollar possessions with a scheduled personal property endorsement.
While these are great wildfire preparation tips, there are several other things to keep in mind in you are effected :
Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Secure the property from further damage
Contact creditors, banks and appropriate agencies about credit cards, tax returns, Social Security cards or other papers that may have been scattered in the disaster
Check your credit report to make sure nobody is using your personal information
Be very wary of fly-by-night work crews and contractor fraud
Download and print your copy of these Wildfire Preparation Tips here.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
The recent large earthquakes in Southern California are a reminder to always be earthquake-ready.
Earthquakes come on suddenly, with very little warning. They can be a sharp jolt followed by the ground shaking and cracking, or waves rolling across the ground.
Earthquakes can hit anywhere at any time, and while the West Coast is considered “earthquake country,” the U.S. Geological Survey warns that earthquakes have been registered in every state in the union, with special seismic hazards for areas encompassing the western-third of the nation, and areas extending from Missouri and Illinois to most of the Eastern Seaboard.
After an earthquake strikes many are often left disoriented and full of adrenaline –psyche and security shaken as much as their house. Post-quake your home or apartment may look damage-free, but there can be many hidden dangers.
After checking your family and others for injuries, here are key steps you need to take to ensure your safety:
Check for gas and water line leaks. Know where the shutoff valves are if you smell gas or detect water leaking to prevent fires and water damage.
Be aware of downed power lines.They can still carry a dangerous current.
Inspect chimneys and brick areas for cracks. If cracked, they could send dangerous debris down on you or others.
Check water heater and furnace vents. If they have become separated, it could send dangerous carbon monoxide into the home.
Watch for electrical sparking or the smell of burning wire insulation. This could lead to a fire. Unplug any broken lights or appliances and turn off power at the main fuse box if you detect an issue.
Clean up spilled medicines, drugs or harmful chemicals. Bleach, turpentine, hazardous garden supplies, etc.
Don’t drink from faucets or other unprotected water sources. Wait until given the okay from your municipality or utility, because they could be contaminated.
Always Plan Ahead
Before an earthquake, or other natural disaster hits, you should always have a plan. Here are some tips to help you and your family prepare:
Develop a family communication plan and “meet-up” location if you become separated
Have your first aid kit fully stocked
Prepare an emergency kit with: water, medicines, food, money, other important documents, etc.
Have basic emergency supplies gathered all in one place: flash lights, batteries, blankets, a radio, lighters or matches, cell phone chargers, extra clothes
Be sure to have coverage insurance.
If you havecomprehensive coveragewith your auto insurance, your vehicle is covered for damage from falling debris and other impacts from earthquakes.
However, earthquake damage is not covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy, and less than 20% of Americans have purchased a policy. That means most people whose property suffers losses from a temblor will be paying out of pocket or relying on federal assistance and loans for recovery.
You can be prepared; California Casualty provides earthquake insurance as an endorsement to home owners policies in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oregon and Rhode Island. We also offer earthquake coverage through our partner, GeoVera Insurance Company, in California, Oregon and Washington. Learn more and get a quote at 877.652.2638 or visit www.calcas.com/earthquake-insurance.
School is ending and the heat of summer is starting to set in. That means vacations, barbecues, and lazy days on the lake. But for teen drivers, summer means something altogether different. Memorial Day through Labor Day is considered the “100 Deadliest Days” for teenage drivers.
Teen drivers don’t have the best record when it comes to being on the road. Reckless and distracted driving is the number #1 killer of teens in America ages 15-20, but the number of teenage wrecks skyrockets in the summer. On average 10 teens die EACH DAY. That is about 1000 teen deaths each year from May-September, a 26% increase from other months of the year.
Kids are out of school and on the road searching for freedom. They may feel like their responsibilities have been left behind in the classroom. Here are some key factors that lead to teen wrecks and how you can work to help prevent them:
Factor #1: Distraction
Distracted driving is not just texting and driving. It can come in all forms: phone calls, social media, the radio, eating, applying make-up, or having someone in their passenger seat. Teen drivers are inexperienced when it comes to being behind the wheel, which makes them more susceptible to distraction.
As a Parent What Can You Do?
Educate your teen on US and state laws set for distracted driving, and teach them about becoming a defensive driver instead.
Set your own rules and guidelines for distracted driving complete with punishments that would restrict their driving privileges if they are caught driving distracted.
Don’t be afraid to scare them with real stories and statistics about distracted driving.
Lead by example. Your children are always watching and will pick up on your bad habits, so make sure you always have two hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Factor #2: Impaired Driving
Impaired driving can be all of the following: driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving at night or during times of low visibility, or driving while tired. Summer parties and later curfews open the window even more for impaired driving accidents during the summer.
As a Parent What Can You Do?
Educate your teen on US and state laws set for teenage drug and alcohol use and their consequences.
Set time restrictions for when they can and cannot be on the road. Driving while overly tired can be just as bad as driving drunk.
Let your teen know that you are available in a crisis. If your child is in a situation in which they question their ability to drive safely, let them know you can pick them up instead of trying to drive home on their own impaired.
Factor #3: Speeding
Speeding accounts for about 1/3rd of all fatal accidents in teens, and the problem continues to get larger each year. As teens get more driving experience and gain more confidence they are more inclined to speed, especially on residential roadways.
As a Parent What Can You Do?
Start the conversation about driving safely and wearing their seatbelt earlier, before your teen is old enough to get behind the wheel.
When your teen first starts driving spend a lot of time in the car with them, monitoring their speed and educating them on US and state laws.
Set a good example and never speed with or without them in the car.
If purchasing a vehicle for your teen driver avoid sports or high-performance cars and look at something a little more large and sturdy.
There is nothing scarier than handing over the keys for the first time and watching your teen drive away by themselves. But by taking the appropriate steps, you can rest a little easier knowing that you have prepared your child for the road and the responsibilities that come with getting behind the wheel.
A great resource for parents to learn more information about Teen Driving is Impact Teen Drivers. The nonprofit educates teens about the deadly consequences of distracted driving. They offer evidence-based, peer-to-peer programs and information to empower young drivers to make good choices behind the wheel. They also hold a twice a year Create Real Impact contest, rewarding students ages 14-22 for their creative messages discouraging distracted driving.
California Casualty is committed to making our roadways safer and we are a major sponsor of Impact Teen Drivers. We urge you to protect your teens and learn more at https://www.whatdoyouconsiderlethal.com/
You can also have your teen take the pledge against reckless and distracted driving, by clicking HERE.
Together we can help eliminate the “100 Deadliest Days”.
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