7 Ways Technology Keeps You Safe
These days, you often hear about all the ways technology can be harmful to you, your personal data and other parts of your life.
There is usually a lot of attention from the news about hackers stealing data, cyberstalking, smartphone addiction or other issues that can arise from technology. There is not as much out there about how technology can actually keep you safe—but it can.
In fact, there are many more unsafe things you can do in your life than use technology. Here are seven ways technology can actually keep you safe.
Control Alarms from Your Phone
If you have a security system for your house, you can control it and monitor it right from your phone no matter where you are. Going away on vacation? You can make sure your house is safe while you’re away. You can also monitor smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, lock your doors and access your cameras to make sure no one is lurking while you’re away from home. You could also install a video doorbell to monitor your front porch 24/7 with brands such as Skybell and Ring (Read this comparison at Your Smart Home Guide, to find out more.)
GPS
The GPS in your phone or device can ensure your safety in multiple ways. You can track your pet if they have a microchip. You can also make sure you know where your children are. By using GPS technology, you can get an alert if they go outside of a location that you have set. GPS systems can also help you to avoid certain dangers by letting you know when there is traffic and accidents.
Keeping Kids Safe
Did you know if you have a teen driver, you can prevent them from using their phone or device while they are driving to ensure they are not distracted? Using Facetime or other video services not only allows you to hear your child’s voice but to see exactly where they are.
If used correctly, technology can prevent kids from fibbing to their family and getting into all sorts of trouble.
Banking
Believe it or not, banking online is not only convenient but can be very secure as well. Many security features are used for logging in. This includes being able to choose the devices you would like to deem as safe. This way, your bank will know if someone is trying to access your account from a different device. There are also steps you must take to make a device to be considered safe. This could be asking security questions or using your fingerprint to access your account. Banking websites install SSL certificates to secure customer information from hackers. SSL certificates encrypt information that transfer between server and browser. It secures your valuable data like card details, username, passwords and more.
Password Protection
Many apps and accounts require you to use either facial recognition or fingerprint recognition to access information. This makes it impossible for anyone else to access your accounts. Passwords can be easy to hack, but no one can get into your account with their face. It also makes it easier because you will not have to try and remember all the password combinations for many different accounts. It is the safest way to keep your information from being hacked and used inappropriately.
Get Alerts
You can set your phone or device up to get alerts if someone unauthorized has tried to access information. Once you get the alert, you are able to change passwords, freeze or cancel accounts or cards, and take the necessary steps to ensure your information is safe. Without these alerts, it could take quite a while to realize you have been hacked. So much damage can be done within a short amount of time, so the quicker you get alerts, the better.
This is one of the more common cybersecurity recommendations given by experts.
Lock Your Devices If Lost or Stolen
In the past, if your laptop or phone was stolen, there was not much you could do. Your device would be gone and the thief or person who found your property could access your information rather quickly. But now, if a hardware device is lost or stolen, you can lock it or disable itquicklyfrom a remote location so that your personal information is safe. Most major device-makers, including Apple, Windows and Android, have these safeguards in place.
It also serves a better chance that you will be able to find and recover the stolen item. Since GPS can help you locate what has been lost or stolen, there is a possibility you will find it and get it back.
Sometimes the internet and current technology get a bad rap, but they can actually play a key role in keeping us safe.
Depending on your age, you may or may not remember a time when would drive without your phone. If the car broke down or you got lost, you would have to rely solely on instincts or other people. Knowing who to trust was difficult. With technology, there is so much you can do to make sure you, your family, and your information doesn’t get into the wrong hands.
