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Or PERSEC
Normally I call it "OPSEC" but that's for operations. PERSEC is for what you do in your day-to-day life. It can entail everything from how you fortify your home, what you talk about online or in person, or how observant you are of what's going on around you.
Anyway, it's the holidays. Not everyone can afford as much as they'd like so sometimes select individuals take to helping themselves to other people's stuff. So ... here's some tips on how to protect yourself.
1) Double check the locks. If you normally don't lock the door when you take the dog for a walk - start doing it. You never know.
2) Keep the door locked when you're home. Just because you're home doesn't mean someone won't be desperate enough to try anyway.
3) If you're going to be away for the holidays don't use the traditional timed lights. If someone's casing your house they'll figure out the lights always turn on at 6pm and off at midnight. I mean use timed lights sure - but you can get them now with a random function, so it won't be so obvious.
4) Look around the neighborhood. We all know what's "normal" where we live. Or what faces seem familiar if we've been there long enough. If something seems different, perhaps it's worth taking notice of.
For example there was a "new face" a couple of weeks ago at the dumpster on a Sunday. I don't know *everyone* in the immediate area but he just looked out of place. Turned out he was a dumpster-diver.
and that brings up ANOTHER important part of PERSEC. INFORMATIONAL PERSEC.
A) Holiday bills/needs bring out dumpster divers too. shred or burn your personal information. The LAST thing you need to do is let some dumpster-diver get ahold of your financial statements.
The rule in our household is ... if it has our names, addresses, personal information it gets shredded. UPS labels get the butane lighter - the heat blackens all the ink. Even my resumes get shredded.
B) Don't tell strangers your personal shit. They don't need to know when/if/where you're going for vacation. In fact you should be careful who you blab to even with people you know. You never know who's going to be tempted. ***Especially on line***
I mean don't be a total stranger and act like "i can tell you but then I'd have to kill you" but limit whom you spill everything to. Neighbors can be an asset when you're away, but they can also be the source of your problems too.
c) Consider where you store the gifts - and who knows what gifts are there. Gone are the days when the biggest worry was "prying eyes" ... these days you have to worry about who might steal your stuff. So don't just consider how to hide stuff from the kids - but consider how to secure it from others... and consider who *know* what you'll be having too.
I bring that part up on the informational security side because... sometimes a theft isn't just a stranger, but someone who knew exactly what they wanted to take. so say, you're giving the kids "tickets to that thing they want"; who else knows about it? who might be tempted to relieve you of this item?
(and yes it can be hard thinking of people you know as "potential thieves" ... I personally look at it as "I'm not putting temptation in front of them". kinda like mom's old rule of "don't leave money out if your friends are over.")
Anyway just a smattering of ideas. Feel free to add your own.
Normally I call it "OPSEC" but that's for operations. PERSEC is for what you do in your day-to-day life. It can entail everything from how you fortify your home, what you talk about online or in person, or how observant you are of what's going on around you.
Anyway, it's the holidays. Not everyone can afford as much as they'd like so sometimes select individuals take to helping themselves to other people's stuff. So ... here's some tips on how to protect yourself.
1) Double check the locks. If you normally don't lock the door when you take the dog for a walk - start doing it. You never know.
2) Keep the door locked when you're home. Just because you're home doesn't mean someone won't be desperate enough to try anyway.
3) If you're going to be away for the holidays don't use the traditional timed lights. If someone's casing your house they'll figure out the lights always turn on at 6pm and off at midnight. I mean use timed lights sure - but you can get them now with a random function, so it won't be so obvious.
4) Look around the neighborhood. We all know what's "normal" where we live. Or what faces seem familiar if we've been there long enough. If something seems different, perhaps it's worth taking notice of.
For example there was a "new face" a couple of weeks ago at the dumpster on a Sunday. I don't know *everyone* in the immediate area but he just looked out of place. Turned out he was a dumpster-diver.
and that brings up ANOTHER important part of PERSEC. INFORMATIONAL PERSEC.
A) Holiday bills/needs bring out dumpster divers too. shred or burn your personal information. The LAST thing you need to do is let some dumpster-diver get ahold of your financial statements.
The rule in our household is ... if it has our names, addresses, personal information it gets shredded. UPS labels get the butane lighter - the heat blackens all the ink. Even my resumes get shredded.
B) Don't tell strangers your personal shit. They don't need to know when/if/where you're going for vacation. In fact you should be careful who you blab to even with people you know. You never know who's going to be tempted. ***Especially on line***
I mean don't be a total stranger and act like "i can tell you but then I'd have to kill you" but limit whom you spill everything to. Neighbors can be an asset when you're away, but they can also be the source of your problems too.
c) Consider where you store the gifts - and who knows what gifts are there. Gone are the days when the biggest worry was "prying eyes" ... these days you have to worry about who might steal your stuff. So don't just consider how to hide stuff from the kids - but consider how to secure it from others... and consider who *know* what you'll be having too.
I bring that part up on the informational security side because... sometimes a theft isn't just a stranger, but someone who knew exactly what they wanted to take. so say, you're giving the kids "tickets to that thing they want"; who else knows about it? who might be tempted to relieve you of this item?
(and yes it can be hard thinking of people you know as "potential thieves" ... I personally look at it as "I'm not putting temptation in front of them". kinda like mom's old rule of "don't leave money out if your friends are over.")
Anyway just a smattering of ideas. Feel free to add your own.
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