Retired teachers: How safe are you and your property?
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 2, 28 March 2024, page 30.
re you safe at all times – at home, in your car or using the computer? Every day we hear of some unscrupulous person preying on people and property for their own greedy benefit.
You may have heard the story of a lady who lost the contents of her house to thieves while she was living with sick relatives. This suggests that we need to be in regular contact with neighbours and notify police if your house is going to be empty for any period of time.
Then there are the door-to-door salespeople. Check that all doors and windows are locked at night or when you are away. The latest target is power boxes – check that these are secure, and power cannot be turned off to allow someone to enter your property.
Research has shown that those who appear confident and take precautions are less likely to become the victims of crime. A search of the internet gives the following links to good suggestions for keeping ourselves and our property safe.
Another area of concern for trusting seniors is the internet, emails, and phones. We must keep a vigilant lookout for hackers and those who would steal our identity. How many of us have had the phone call telling us that our computer is faulty and Microsoft needs to repair it or an email alerting us to problems with bank accounts and asking us to contact this address. At all times we need to keep our wits about us and, just like children, if we are not sure, ask the relevant authorities.
Recently, Brisbane Seniors Online detailed some the ways in which hackers try to use your computer for their own benefit. Here are a few tips.
- Never click on a link in an email or message unless it is from a trusted source. Phishing is the number one method of attack. Banks and government institutions never ask for your details online.
- Ensure all websites you type information into are secure. Look for a padlock in the browser’s address bar and “https” at the start of the website’s address.
- Don’t use public wi-fi. It is generally not secure and you don’t know who is snooping.
- Keep your personal information private on social media. Never provide personal information or money to someone you meet online.
Further reading
https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/individuals-and-families
https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Safe-on-the-Internet
Members, please watch for the next newsletter for details of forthcoming events.