Locksmith work available and working with Keytek

Staying Secure Online

Protect your online privacy 

Passwords

Passwords are your first defence against hackers; therefore it is important to ensure that you use what is considered a strong password as poor passwords can leave people and businesses vulnerable to online crime such as identity theft, fraud and extortion.

Creating a strong password

• Use upper and lower case letters
• Use three words or more
• Include a symbol
• Include numbers

Look around and pick three random words such as ‘pen’, ‘cactus’ and ‘chair’. Put these words together and swap some of the letters for numbers and symbols like this: p3nCac+u5cha!r. The longer the password the harder it would be for someone to crack!

What to avoid...

When creating a password you should avoid using the following:

• Pet’s name
• Other family members’ name
• Current partner’s name
• Child’s name
• Something related to your favourite sports team
• Date of birth
• Favourite holiday
• Significant dates
• Place of birth
• Number sequences

Use Social Media safely

Social Media is a fun way of staying in touch with your friends and family especially those who live far away and is an easy way of sharing what you are up to. However this information can be used by criminals to commit online crimes such as identity theft or hacking. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Instagram or a blog, you need to be sure what you are posting isn’t going to increase the risk to your online safety.

Tips to using social media safely

• Make sure you know exactly what you’re sharing and who you’re sharing it with. Check your privacy settings.

• Don’t share any holiday plans or details of your current location online. This information could be used by a burglar to pinpoint when you won’t be at home.

• Don’t upload photos of items of high value on any type of open forum such as birthday or Christmas presents. A burglar could use this information as their shopping list.

Spotting common internet scams...

 

The internet is a wealth of information, products and services which the majority of us will access without issue, although there are criminals who take advantage of this and will use online anonymity to deceive internet users and steal if there is an opportunity.

Phishing 

 

“Phishing scams are when fraudsters send malicious fake emails, social network posts and texts to tempt you in or try to gain your trust to take your sensitive information and/or money.” (Cyber Streetwise)

Advice: If something seems too good to be true, then it usually is! So if you are in doubt about an email or online deal, delete it!

More information about phishing and other related scams can be found on the Action Fraud website.

Hacking

 

“Cyber criminals will try to hack your computer/tablet/smartphone to gain access to your systems and sensitive information in order to commit fraud and other crimes.” (Cyber Streetwise)

Advice:

• Always use strong passwords.
• Install antivirus software on all devices.
• Use firewalls at home and your business.

All information used in this blog has been sourced from Cyber Streetwise. For further information visit www.cyberstreetwise.com

Locks of Love

You may have noticed the ‘love lock’ trend on a bridge of some kind near you; couples attach a ‘love lock’ or ‘love padlock’ to a gate, bridge or anything to symbolise the love and commitment shared between them. 

The trend is said to have originated in the early 2000s in Rome, Italy by teenagers imitating a popular Italian book and film.

As it is Valentine’s Day, here are our top 10 places to leave a love lock or padlock.  

1. Tower Bridge, London, UK 
2. Ponte Milvio Bridge, Rome, Italy 
3. Pont de l’Archevêché Bridge and the Pont des Arts Bridge, Paris, France 
4. Huangshan, China 
5. Pécs, Hungary 
6. Hohenzollern Bridge, Cologne, Germany 
7. Luzhkov Bridge, Moscow
8. Puntan dos Amantes, Guam 
9. Mala Strana, Prague, Czech Republic 
10. Montevideo, Uruguay

For more information regarding ‘love lock’ locations visit ‘Unique Honeymoon Ideas’.

Can’t make it to any of the listed locations then why not leave a virtual love lock – No travel necessary!

Top ten Valentines’ gifts for a locksmith or lock enthusiast

We have put together a list of top ten Valentines’ gifts that you may want to give as a romantic gesture to your locksmith or lock enthusiast.  

1. Majestic Lock Pick Set
   
2. Silver key cufflinks
3. Yale Novelty Heart Luggage Digit Combination Lock
4. Vintage tie pin in the shape of a key
5. Wine lock bottle stopper
6. I love my locksmith t-shirt  
7. Keep calm I’m a locksmith travel mug
8. Heart Key Head cover
9. Kiss me, I’m a locksmith mug
10. Heart Key Blank

No ID? No way!

Research conducted by the NICEIC suggests that more than a third of homeowners in the UK do not check for ID when letting a tradesman inside their home.

Remember to always check a tradesman’s ID!

Sometimes intruders will pretend to be a tradesman in order to gain entry to your home, this is referred to as distraction burglary. Although these type of burglaries are not as common as other types of crime, it is still important to take the necessary precautions to ensure you are not a victim of this type of crime. In some cases this may be a rogue trader or cowboy builder who may cause damage to your property as they often lack in skill and expertise to carry out the work they are selling to you.

Keep yourself safe! 

If you’re ever unsure of who is at your door, don’t open it! Always ask for ID and check the identity of the caller by calling the Company they are from, whether it is a locksmith, electrician or plumber, the majority of authentic tradesmen will carry an ID badge. To verify a tradesman’s identity only use a number listed in your local directory or one supplied independently by your service provider. Never use a number provided by the caller as it may be bogus!

If you have taken these precautions and still suspect the caller is bogus call 999

CRB Checked Local Locksmiths 

Are our local locksmiths CRB checked?

All of our local locksmiths across the UK are CRB checked or as it is now known as, DBS checked. As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our customers we perform a CRB check (DBS check on all locksmiths who are in the process of joining our Engineer Network. This we feel helps to reassure our customers that whatever locksmith service they require they can be confident that they are using a locksmith that is both trustworthy and reliable.