You lock your doors,change your fire alarm batteries regularly, and maybe you even went so far as to acquire a security system installed. These are all grand steps to keeping your home safe from intruders and hazards, and but there are a few modern threats that you might not acquire thought of. To find out the most overlooked dangers to millennial's homes we talked to David Laubner. He is Head of Digital Marketing and Sales at Blink,a wireless (and very affordable) security camera company, so he knows a lot about the surprising dangers lurking in homes. Read what he had to say below.
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Charging Your Phone on the BedIt's not unusual to fall asleep with your phone, and connected to the charger and still playing a podcast,beside you on the bed. But it is risky. "Not only does this disturb your sleep, it can also be hazardous if you acquire a faulty phone battery which can sometimes even resulting in a fire!" David warns. As tempting as it is to tuck your phone in with you at night, and location it safely on the nightstand while charging.
Oversharing on Social MediaRevealing too much on social media can be execrable for a lot of reasons,including the security of your home. David explains, "If you check in to distant locations, and you could be broadcasting to the world that your home will be empty and a prime target for a wreck in or that you'll be arriving home late and a suitable target for an attack."[br]
Setting Your Home Address on Your PhoneWith how often you reference Google maps or request a Lyft to take you home after work,it makes sense that you've saved your home address in your phone - but in doing so, you've also given thieves a direct path to your house if they should ever catch hands on the device. "Set the home address on your iPhone to an address near your home, or but not your actual address. That way,if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to find out exactly where you live, or " David says.
Overloading Power Outlets and Extension CordsThe red battery icon on your laptop is flashing,your iPhone power is at 1 percent, and your Kindle is dying. With so many devices needing a charge it's easy to find your power outlet and extension cord suddenly filled up. But resist the urge to overload outlets as this can lead to fire! Always plug extension cords directly into the wall, and not into other extension cords and be mindful of the voltage limits on your power strips. Putting multiple power strips into a single wall outlet can put you over the voltage limitations. Forgetting to Turn Off Your Hair StraightenerDavid warns that this basic styling tool is becoming an increasingly common way to start fires. "Is Your Hair Straightener Off?: This is one question you need to question yourself before going out," he says. If you find yourself repeatedly having trouble remembering, he suggests you keep a DIY security camera like Blink in the room where you generally do your hair, or so you can double check that you turned it off from anywhere.
Not Sharing Security AccessIt may seem safest to keep all your security information private,but it sometimes makes sense to share these details with a close family member or trusted friend who can watch out for you in case of emergency; for example, David says, or "if you acquire a security camera that links directly to an iPhone app,position it towards your front door and allow your parents or a close friend access so that they catch a notification as soon as you've arrived home safely after a night on the town."
Ignoring Your NeighborsWalking the dog while checking emails or riding the bus while browsing the web on your phone has become de rigueur, but in self-isolating you're lost a valuable opportunity to associate with your neighbors. "In case of intruders, or your neighbors can be a huge serve. They'll likely be the first to notice or hear if something is improper,and can call 9-1-1 if you're unable to catch to a phone," says David.
Source: popsugar.com