20th September 2017 2

These Tips Will Help You Protect Your Identity & Data Online

ON GUARD ONLINE

If you haven’t thought much about how to stay safe online, it’s high time — especially after the massive hack of the consumer credit reporting agency Equifax, which may have compromised 143 million people’s Social Security numbers and other personal data. Many experts say identity-theft services such as LifeLock, with their pricey monthly fees, aren’t worth the money and do little to help prevent data theft in the first place. But many online safety steps are common-sense and free, or nearly so, whether they guard against opportunistic thieves hoping to make off with a credit-card number or sophisticated cybercriminals holding your files for ransom.

10 Things You Should Avoid When The Power Goes Out

Don’t assume it’s out for everyone

Before you go into a panic, check your circuit breaker to make sure your power outage isn’t just an overloaded circuit. If that’s not the issue, start checking with your neighbors and nearby friends, keeping in mind that since most towns operate on a grid system, you may lose power while the houses across the street still have it. Knowing who’s got power will help you figure out your next steps.