Tag Archives: safety

How To Properly Secure Your Digital Assets

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Every year, our world and the technology we use continues to evolve, so much so that most of what we do is now done on a computer or smartphone. While tech can make life more convenient, it also means that you have more digital assets than ever before — if you aren’t careful, those assets can be quickly stolen by hackers and cybercriminals.

It may not be fun to think about, but you need to secure your computers, tablets, and smartphones now so you can protect yourself against malicious characters. To help, we will discuss some essential tips and information that you can use to safeguard your assets and data. Take care of it now, and you can protect yourself and your finances for years to come.

Your Digital Assets Are At Risk

Some people don’t bother to protect their unsecured data because they don’t feel that there is really a risk. However, by being negligent, you are making yourself a prime target. Studies show that cyberattacks occur, on average, every 39 seconds, and they can happen to businesses and individuals alike. It may not seem like a big deal, but hacking can have disastrous results for you, both personally and financially. It can even result in identity theft if you don’t take the proper precautions.

That is because every piece of data that you have online can be used for malicious purposes. While many of us realize that credit card information and Social Security numbers can be used to take out fraudulent loans and commit identity fraud, many don’t know that even phone numbers and email addresses can be sold on the black market or used to send scam emails.

Hackers can use many different tactics to try to get your data. If you ever leave your device unattended, someone could simply insert a USB drive and upload a virus. Even if you keep your computer at home, a hacker can still send a phishing email (a fake communication that appears to come from a trustworthy source, like your job or a store you like to shop at). When you open it and view the attachment, a virus is installed on your device. Criminals can even create fake alerts on your computer — like a warning that you have a virus — but when you click the button to “fix it”, malware is installed on your device.

The fact is that you need to be vigilant at all times, even when you think you are already protected. A good example is people who work from home. Although you may have an IT team at the office, if your personal device is infected and you send an email to your work account, the company can then get infected. That is why it is important to designate your home office a “work only” zone, where you separate your work and personal devices. Once you have that setup, then make it a point to keep a decluttered desktop where you keep all files in designated folders. That way, you won’t misplace your work, and you will know if a file has been compromised.

How To Secure Your Assets

Now that you know the importance of securing your digital assets, it is time to start putting the proper protections in place. The first step is to take your password security seriously. Your password should have a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, and you should use a separate password for every system and website you use. You can combine your password with a form of two-factor authentication for additional protection

It is also important that you protect your entire system and disguise yourself from hackers by installing a virtual private network (VPN) on all of your devices. A VPN will hide your location and automatically encrypt your incoming and outgoing data, so even if a hacker was able to access your system, they couldn’t read your information. Using a VPN is especially important when you are working in public, where hackers love to hide.

Finally, it’s crucial to use an antivirus program installed on your computer and mobile devices. By having this software and running scans every week, you can ensure that any virus that does reach your computer is deleted immediately. Make sure to update your antivirus program often, so you are always protected against the newest threats.

Properly Disposing Of Old Files And Paperwork

Protecting your assets and data goes beyond the digital world.

These days, digital filing has become the norm as paper and filing cabinets become a thing of the past. This means it’s not uncommon for people to scan and upload their physical paperwork so they can file it on their computers to stay organized and save space in the office. However, while you are making a smart move, you need to be careful with the information you leave behind.

Once you have scanned and uploaded your physical paperwork, make sure to have that documentation properly shredded or disposed of. Do not simply throw out the full sheets because criminals are not opposed to going through your garbage.

When you are decluttering your computer and removing files you no longer need, remember that even though you press the delete button, it doesn’t mean that the file is gone forever. Hackers can still use special tools to recover those files if they get into your system. To ensure that the data is gone forever, you can install a wiping program to erase your hard drive.

If you plan to sell or give away your computer, then your best bet is to destroy the hard drive altogether. Your best is to bring it to a shredding center. They have the machinery necessary to ensure that the hard drive is properly processed and your data can never be accessed again.

As you can see, you must implement the proper protections today, or you could be hacked and your data exploited before you know it. Consider these tips and beware of common scams, and you can keep your assets, personal data, and sensitive information secure.

How Fire Rated Doors Can Save Lives

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From residential and commercial to institutional infrastructure projects, safety and security should be on top of your priorities. By ensuring the safety of your personnel and assets, you will be able to scale your operations more easily and avoid damages that would hurt your balance sheet.

When most people think of safety and security, they immediately think of CCTV cameras and biometric systems. These advanced features may be useful in security practices as they let you keep track of who enters and exits your establishments.

But, as useful as these security devices are, you can’t overlook the fact that your doors are your first line of defense. At the end of the day, the doors at your entrances and hallways play a huge role in keeping your premises safe.

One functional type of door that offers safety is fire rated doors. They are essential in preventing the spread of fire. Every day, we encounter these doors in commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential buildings, but many people are unaware of them. Indeed, the presence of a properly placed, quality fire rated door can mean the difference between life and death in some situations.

What is a fire rated door?

A fire rated door (or simply fire door) has fire resistance qualities and is rated based on how long the door can handle extreme heat and remain intact within the frame that houses it. When used in conjunction with passive fire protection systems, a fire rated door provides reliable fire protection and allows for a safe and unhindered exit from a facility.

Fire rated doors are designed to delay or stop the spread of flames, smoke, and even radiant and conductive heat transmission. Wood, steel, fiberglass, and fire rated glass—or a combination of these—are the commonly used materials in fire rated door manufacturing. Fire rated door assemblies include the door, frame, glazing, hardware, and other components.

More common in commercial buildings than residential properties, this type of door is typically used in areas of egress, such as lobbies, exits, storefronts, and stairwells to meet code requirements and promote occupant safety. Additionally, fire doors are also protective against accidental human impact, as well as blasts, ballistics, and forced entry.

Why do you need fire rated doors?

Entrances and exits are not enough when fire safety and building code compliance are taken into account. Providing means of egress to building occupants can give a sense of safety and security during accidents like structural fires.

Establishing a compartment in buildings by separating lift lobby areas from stairway exits is among the main purposes of fire doors. Simply put, fire doors must offer protection at escape routes to enable people to evacuate a premise safely during an accidental fire.

Not only that but fire doors are also intended to halt the spread of fire and smoke for as long as possible. They are a passive fire safety feature that prevents fire, smoke, and fumes from spreading from one room to another. In this manner, they help firefighters to put out the fire safely and quickly before it can cause severe damage or injuries.

Where would you need a fire rated door?

In general, the primary focus of fire door placements is always safety. Fire doors that protect the building and its occupants for more than 60 minutes are often required where property preservation is crucial.

But, regardless of the type of structure, a fire rated door can be extremely valuable for all types of buildings.

  • Residential properties: A fire door must be installed between the stairs and every room in homes with more than two floors (except toilets or bathrooms). In addition, fire doors are required in loft conversions and between a house and an integrated garage.
  • Non-domestic facilities: There must be a safe escape path in non-domestic structures. Areas that lead to corridors or staircases should have fire doors. Fire doors must have proper signage on both sides, as well as relevant instructions such as “Keep Closed.”
  • Mixed-use buildings: Fire doors are required to separate the commercial and residential areas in mixed-use buildings.

How can you choose a high-quality fire door?

You should prioritize fire rated doors that have been certified for quality while looking for the best selection for fire rated doors. Before these doors are rolled out to end-users, they must be thoroughly tested to ensure their efficacy. By purchasing approved doors, you can be certain that they will deliver the safety and security functions they are intended for.

Besides fire safety elements, aesthetics should also be a consideration. Fire doors can be visually appealing and contribute to your property’s overall attractiveness.

Invest for Fire Safety

Keep in mind that as a property owner, it is your primary responsibility to ensure the safety of your facility and its dwellers and assets. Setting fire prevention and safety measures can save lives and considerably lessen the financial and legal consequences of a fire incident.

A DIY Guide To Cleaning Your Chimney

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Fireplaces bring old charm and cozy warmth to homes. These beautiful additions create a comforting ambiance, but they require a certain level of care—especially the chimney. Cleaning a fireplace is relatively easy, but effectively cleaning your chimney can be a big job.

It’s crucial to stay on top of your chimney’s cleanliness for optimal functioning and to prevent severe fire hazards. To effectively care for your chimney and your home, follow these steps.

Step 1: Determine if You Can DIY

Before you start, you first need to determine if you can clean your chimney without professional help. Chimney cleaning is a tedious task, and it can take professionals anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours to finish the job.

Your goal in chimney cleaning is to rid the chimney shaft of creosote and soot build-up. If the build-up is too large, you need to call a professional to take care of it. However, if you find the build-up is less than 1/8th of an inch deep, you may be able to tackle it on your own. In addition, you’ll need to access your chimney crown, located on your roof, to complete the job. If you’re unable to get to the crown safely, you’ll need to call in a professional to complete the task.

Step 2: Gather the Right Tools

If you determine you can safely access the chimney crown, you’ll need the right tools to get there. These include a ladder, safety harness, safety helmet, and an additional person or persons to supervise. Never attempt to work on your roof without the supervision of another capable individual.

Once on the roof, you’ll need a high-power flashlight, metal bristle brush, and enough rods to handle the height of your chimney. You’ll use these tools to determine the depth of your build-up. Note that each chimney is different, so you’ll need to measure the size of your chimney and its flue to get the right brush size.

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Use your flashlight and a fireplace poker to scratch the smoke chamber and flue to determine the buildup. If the soot has a black matte finish and is 1/8th an inch deep or less, you know you’re okay to clean yourself. If you see a shiny or tar-like appearance or the build-up is more than 1/8th an inch deep, you should call a professional to take on the job.

Step 4: Set Up Your Area

If you are moving ahead with cleaning yourself, your next step is to protect your home’s interior. Lay your canvas tarp over the fireplace and spread it throughout the surrounding room. Secure the tarp over the fireplace opening with tape and insert the shop vac hose through the tarp. Seal everything with duct tape to keep soot from pushing into the room.

After setting up your shop vac outside, connect sections to the hose so it can reach. You’ll run the vacuum while you brush the area, keeping an eye on the filter and replacing or cleaning it when it clogs. Close the windows and doors near your shop vac to prevent any fine soot from reentering your home.

Step 5: Begin Cleaning

Start at your fireplace and ram your cleaning brush up and down several times around the flue section to remove any hardened soot. Use your flashlight to check your work before moving to the next section, ensuring you clean as much soot as possible from the flue area. Once cleared, start your shop vac and move to the roof.

Before cleaning, make sure you are safely equipped with your harness and have supervision from an individual on the ground. Again, you should only clean out your chimney with proper supervision, on a stable rooftop, and with a safety harness and a hard hat. Those without experience working on rooftops should strongly consider hiring a professional.

Once you are secured on the rooftop, add rods to your cleaning brush, moving it down the fireplace till you no longer feel resistance. At this point, you pushed down the soot to the smoke chamber. Climb down from the roof and start to work inside at the firebox. Use a long-handled brush to clean the smoke chamber and a flue brush to remove soot from the smoke shelf. Switch back to the long-handled brush to clean the sides of the firebox.

Vacuum out the firebox and fold up the canvas when you have cleared as much soot and debris as possible. Take the canvas outside and shake out any residue. Fold up the sheets to use again for your next cleaning.

Step 6: Schedule an Inspection

Your fireplace isn’t safe until you’ve scheduled your annual chimney inspection. Even the best DIY job can’t handle creosote build-up, and you need to be sure you didn’t miss any build-up during your cleaning. Have a chimney repair and cleaning professional inspect your chimney once a year to assure you don’t have additional build-up and or repair needs.

Child Proof Cabinets With Zip Ties

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Becoming a grand parent brings up some problems around the house. The biggest being that our house is not child proof. Haven’t had to worry about that in many many years. I want our home to be safe when they come for a visit but at the same time they are not here all the time so I don’t want to invest a lot of money or install anything permanent. That’s where I found the best idea. Using a zip tie to tie two handles together. It can keep the babies out of cabinets with breakables or cabinets filled with dangerous chemicals. A simple a cheap fix that can be eliminated when they leave.