ABOUT FACEBOOK MESSENGER.

If you want to send me a message, either send me an email or a text message. I do not use Facebook Messenger, Twitter Direct Messages, or other messaging apps. Your privacy and security go down as the number of companies that have access to your communications go up, and I can’t think of a good reason for using messaging apps that offsets that. I also do not open email attachments unless I know who sent it and who created it (You shouldn’t either.)

DON’T ANNOUNCE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES.

Are you planning to travel at Thanksgiving or during the Christmas break? Remember, you should NEVER discuss or even mention your travel plans plans on social media web sites until you are back home from your trip. If you want to tell your friends about your trip to Acapulco or Paris on Facebook or Twitter, do it after you return, not before you go or while you are there! Professional burglars are constantly scouring the internet looking for houses to rob! No foolin.’ They really do that! Criminals have software that allow them to identify people who are traveling or who will be traveling soon and then identifying where they live. And Yes, people actually do get burglarized this way. Lots of people.  Also, remember that many burglars look for houses to rob the old-fashioned way, by driving around and looking for houses with obvious signs that nobody is home. (Did you see ‘Home Alone’?) Before you travel, arrange to have someone check your porch regularly for signs that nobody is there, like parcels sitting on the porch or an overstuffed mailbox.

(P.S. – If you did see ‘Home Alone’, remember that a 10 year old Macauley Culkin look-alike cannot protect your home from burglars.)

FACEBOOK & HOLIDAYS.

Before you leave town for Winter Break, remember — tell your friends about your trip after you return, not before or during the trip on social media websites. Burglars scan Facebook, Twitter, etc. to find out who is away from home. Yes, burglars really do that! Also, ask a friend or neighbor to check your porch for parcels, newspapers, advertising circulars, and other things that might tip off passers-by that no one is home. Put a lamp on a timer. If you don’t have a lamp timer, see me, and I will lend you one.

Don’t Announce Your Holiday Travel Plans On Social Media Websites

Please – do not announce your Christmas or Winter Break travel plans on Facebook or Twitter. Burglars scour these and other web sites looking for houses to rob! No foolin.’ They really do that. Thieves even have software that allows them to search the internet looking for houses to rob. If you want to tell your friends about your trip to Cancun on Facebook or Twitter, do it after you return, not before you go or while you are there!