How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

Sam Richards
Authored by Sam Richards
Posted Monday, January 6, 2020 - 8:07am

In the modern world, there are a variety of new dangers that are starting to affect families across the country, with threats such as cybercrime and data breaches. However, there are many simple measures that you can take to protect yourself and your family both online and at home, and here is a comprehensive guide that can help your family to stay safe wherever they are. 

  • Care For Your Data 

Data breaches are becoming more common, with the UK seeing a 75% rise in breaches within 2 years, so it is vital that you are able to take the precautions necessary to protect your family. Information such as your address, financial information, and legal details can be given out to the wrong parties by large businesses, and this can lead to fraud, crime, and even a loss of reputation. 

Although you cannot prevent all data breaches, you should always stay aware of the companies that you choose to give your data to, their privacy policy, and what data you are giving them. If your personal information has been sent to the wrong person and a data breach has occurred, you should consider hiring a lawyer in order to take legal action against the company which enabled it. 

  • Make Emergency Plans

The best way to protect your family is to stay prepared, and you should always have a plan for any given circumstance. For instance, you should have an emergency fund for any sudden loss of income or finances, and an emergency plan for issues such as terrorist attacks when you are out and about, and fire in the home.

  • Stay Aware Online

The most common types of crime are now cybercrime and fraud, meaning that it is important that you are able to bar your family from dangers online. For instance, you should download security scanners and firewalls to protect your devices from malware, use complex passwords for all websites which store your personal details, and avoid downloading any files from websites that you do not trust. You should also check your family’s social media for false accounts and change your privacy settings. 

  • Take Out Insurance

Insurance can also help to protect your family, with home and life insurance keeping your finances stable in case of an emergency and ensuring that if you were to die or be unable to work, your family will receive the financial support that they need to live. You can find the best insurance deals by using a comparison website, which can help you to find the deal that suits your family.

  • Install Home Security Systems

Not all crime happens online though, with over 432,000 incidents of burglary occurring in the UK. You can prevent crime from becoming a problem in your home by installing home security systems, such as alarms, video cameras, and safes to ensure that valuables are difficult to access. You should also install an outside lamp, fix your fencing, and consider having automated lighting inside your home. There has also been a rise in the number of smart devices available, such as smart locks that can ensure that only approved individuals access your home.

Share this