Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Navigating The Online Safety Minefield



You might be surprised what sorts of personal online information can be used by the wrong people against you. Some things like a home address or social security number are pretty obvious. The trouble is that seemingly harmless items can provide crooks of all kinds just the right key to access your home or bank account or even engage in identity theft with your personal details.

Real Name
While many people use their real names on social media pages, it's typically a good idea to use a pseudonym, at least for your surname. Most websites store user information in a cloud of some kind. An example of the cloud being compromised by hackers was the Heartbleed Bug, which allowed hackers to access cloud-stored information and find tons of real names, which they were able to link to other sensitive information. This demonstrates how important it is for companies to choose trusted hosting providers, like SingleHop, to host their IT infrastructure. While new IT security measures have made it more difficult for hackers to access secure cloud servers, it's still a good idea to be especially cautious when it comes to Internet security. If you’re interested in seeing what types of servers are available to companies looking for a host, check out SingleHop’s page on dedicated servers.

Birth Date
There has been a huge rise in cyber crime in the past 5 years. Any information that will help someone identify you should be kept private.  Your birth date is an easy way for someone to find out which John Smith you are. It can be used to track down other pieces of information such as where you've lived before. It could be used by an identity thief to create false documents such as a state driver's license.

Security Question Answers
A common method used by secure websites is to ask about personal things like the name of your childhood pet, the town you grew up in, or your mother's maiden name. This information can easily slip out on your personal page, even in the form of an old picture. This gives thieves just what they need to break into an online bank account or similar asset. These questions are asked by these sites in case you can't remember your password. With this information, the bad guys won't need your password to commit cyber crime.

Vacation Plans
I understand the desire to share exciting news, such as upcoming trips. However, I avoid sharing this information online, and I wait until I arrive back at home to share pictures of our excursions. The reason is simple. You may think you are sharing the information only with your family and friends, but can you be sure of that? There have been many cases of burglars discovering that someone will be away from home due to online postings on social media sites.
While I'm browsing the Internet, all kinds of information is being collected about me. Advertisers use this to customize the ads I see online. Some of it is to make recommendations on things I should look at. When you have the option to give out information about yourself, think twice about who wants this and what they might do with it. What you choose not to share might just make the difference.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Orkin Summer Bug Explorers kit Giveaway

Disclaimer: I worked with Orkin to bring my readers a great bug exploerer bug kit for summer.  This does not in any way affect my posts or beliefs.

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About Orkin Bug Wisdom

When life hands you dung, just roll with it.
At Orkin, we never stop learning. Our new “Bug Wisdom” video series is a reminder that some of life’s biggest lessons come from small places. Bugs are smart, curious creatures – we humans can learn a lot from their ways.
Take the quiz to discover your “Spirit Bug,” and check out all the GIFs to soak in every nugget of wisdom that these bugs have to offer!
The Orkin Man always knows what to look for when he shows up at your home. If you want to get exploration down to a science, be sure and enter to win Orkin’s Backyard Explorers Kit!
Orkin Backyard Explorers Kit:
- The Orkin 9-Page Activity Bug Book
- Orkin Bugview Bug Catching Tool and Magnifier
- Red/Black Summer Wayfarer Sunglasses
@AskTheOrkinMan
https://www.facebook.com/OrkinPestControl
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOGjPywXEjUitvXi22CXJTZNd4VVcP9LQ
http://www.orkin.com/



MY THOUGHTS

     I have 2 little girls, one is 5 and the other is 10.  You wouldn't think of little girls when you think bug explorer, however that is the case in the country life.  My girls like most little girls I guess enjoy catching lighting bugs (aka fireflies) and butterflies.  They have a net and a bag that they put them in to watch and play with.  This would be a great addition to their bug exploration tools. I also have a son that is 15 that, yes is still into playing with bugs, turtles, and frogs.  I'm not really sure but I think the Country Life is just what you make it and for some reason you learn to play with what is around you, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

     If you have a little boy or a little girl that loves to explore the different bugs and small critters outside this would be a perfect addition.  All y'all have to do is follow the Rafflecopter and you will be entered to win one.  Good Luck to each of you and share this with your friends via social media so they too have a chance to win!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, June 22, 2014

Do you long for a dishwasher? A double oven?

     If you had a choice of the perfect Kitchen what would you have in it? What would you replace and what would you replace it with?  For me the perfect Kitchen would have plenty of storage and cabinets, it would have an open floor plan with lots of sitting and standing room, it would have very relaxing but yet vibrant colors and the appliances, oh my!  I would love to have the Kitchen Aide strand mixer with all the attachments, a very efficient refrigerator with lots of storage options, my stove would have the built in grill and griddle and I would love to have a bay window with seating or just a place to put my houseplants.

     If I have to be honest I would really love to have a Self Cleaning Kitchen, by that I mean one that cooked and cleaned itself.  Dreaming, I know but it does sound really great.  You just can't have enough storage and with the right appliances you don't need to have too many big bulky items.  With the KitchenAide Mixer you can get one appliance that offers many, many attachments to make this an all in one machine.  I love baking so I have to admit that, this would be the main purpose of me purchasing one, but when I found out about all the different attachments I was blown away.  If you are a hunter you can get the meat grinder attachment and grind your own meat, Yo can make homemade ice cream, or even your own pasta. This means to me that I don't have to have all of these different appliances because it is all in one and gives me much more storage space.  I can also bake a cake for a birthday party or any occasion and have homemade ice cream to go with it! 

     Again I ask, if you could choose the perfect kitchen or appliance what would it be?  Would it be anything like mine or would you have so much more?  Maybe I missed something or you have a better idea.  Please share your ideas so we can see from a different view!

Do you also daydream about your perfect kitchen? Share your dreams with PartSelect for the chance to win a custom KitchenAid stand mixer!!