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Post RV- We all need to think "Security" Take what tips meet your own individual situation and discard the ones that don't........

Information Security & Privacy for the Dinar Holder …You can have Security without Privacy, but you can’t have Privacy without Security!

Personal Security Checklist for Home, Business and Vehicle

A.   Home

· Do not put your name on the outside of your residence or mailbox.

· Have good outside lighting.

· Control vegetation to eliminate hiding places.

· Entrances and exits should have Solid door with deadbolt locks.

. One way peepholes in doors.

. Bars and locks on skylights.

· Restrict the possession of house keys. Change locks if keys are lost or stolen
and when moving into a previously occupied residence.

· Lock all entrances at night, including the garage. Keep the house locked, even if
you are at home.

· Develop friendly relationships with neighbors.

· Arrange for an unlisted home telephone number (limits accessibility to home
address).

· Don't leave notes on doors.

· Don't hide keys outside house.

· Use a timer to turn lights on and off at varying times and locations.

· Leave radio on (best with a timer).

· Notify the police or a trusted neighbor of your absence.  

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B. Business

· Install deadbolt locks on office doors leading to hallways and other public areas.
Consider installing a "buzzer" entry door system.

· Managers should issue and control keys, conduct semi-annual inventories, and
have locks changed when keys are missing.

· Have offices cleaned during the day.

· Instruct all employees on operation of your security system.

· Make certain that cleaning personnel do not have access to security alarms or
authorization to turn them on or off.

· Do not allow visitors access to secure areas.

· Do not allow persons visiting one office to have access to other offices or areas.

​· Immediately report persons who appear unannounced in your work area or who
say they "opened the wrong door" or "were looking for another office."

· Do not admit unexpected repairmen or deliverymen.

· Check with a reputable security company for information on available equipment
and services.

Many local law enforcement agencies offer free home and security surveys. You should contact your local precinct, substation or office to avail yourself of this service.

C. Vehicles

· Do not use "vanity" plates that identify you by name or business affiliation.

· Do not have your name or official title displayed at your office parking place.

· Keep vehicle in good repair -- you don't want it to fail when you need it most.

· Keep gas tank at least half full at all times.

· Park in well-lighted areas.

· Always lock your car.

· Don't leave your car on the street overnight, if possible.

· Never get out without checking for suspicious persons. If in doubt, drive away.

· Leave only the ignition key with parking attendants.

· Don't allow entry to the trunk unless you're there to watch.

· Use a remote garage door opener if available. Enter and exit your car in the
security of the closed garage.

· Before leaving buildings to get into your vehicle, check the surrounding area to
determine if anything of a suspicious nature exists. Display the same wariness
before exiting your vehicle.

· Before entering vehicles, check for suspicious objects on the seats and floor.

· Guard against the establishment of routines by varying times, routes and modes
of travel.

· Avoid isolated roads and dark alleys.

· Know locations of safe havens along routes of routine travel.

· Habitually ride with seatbelt buckled, doors locked, and windows closed.

· Do not allow your vehicle to be boxed in; maintain a minimum 8-foot interval
between you and the vehicle in front and avoid the inner lanes.

· Be alert while driving or riding.

· Know how to react if surveillance is suspected or confirmed.

· Circle the block for confirmation of surveillance.

· Do not stop or take other actions which could lead to confrontation.

· Do not drive home if you think you are being followed.

· Get description of car and its occupants.

· Go to nearest safe haven. Report incident to the local police.

· Recognize events that could signal the start of an attack such as:

  . Cyclist falling in front of your car.

  . Flagman or workman stopping your car.

  . Disabled vehicle/accident victims on the road.

  . Unusual detours.

  . Motorist advising you of flat tire or possible problem with your vehicle.

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Commercial Buses, Trains and Taxis

· Vary mode of commercial transportation.

· Select busy stops.

· Don't always use the same taxi company

· Don't let someone you don't know direct you to a specific cab.

· Ensure face of driver and picture on license are the same.

· Try to travel with a companion.

· If possible, specify the route you want the taxi to follow.

Question Sets to Evaluate Security & Risk

A. In the Home

· My home has good lighting.

· Doors are secured with effective locks (deadbolts).

· Do you have a peephole so that you can see who is outside without having to
open the door?

· Do you always verify a person's identification before opening your door?

· All unused doors and windows are securely locked.

· I always lock all windows and doors when I go out.

· If a stranger ask to use your phone, do you refuse to let them into your home and
offer to make the call yourself?

· Do you as a woman living alone use your first initials only in telephone
directories, on mailboxes, etc?

· Do you always ask to see Company ID before allowing a scheduled (cable,
plumbing, electric) repairman in the house?

· Do you refuse to reveal personal information to anyone on the phone or at your
door?

· Do you always have your keys ready when approaching your home?

· If you return home to find windows and doors tampered with, would you avoid
entering and go to a neighbor's house to call the police?

· Do you have an active alarm system? (active = calls in to alarm company (new
technology uses a cellular phone signal so phone lines being cut won’t affect
efficacy of alarm notification))

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B. Telephone Answering

· Do you teach family members not to give personal or family information to
strangers over the phone?

· Everyone in the household knows how to call for help.

· My phone answering message does not imply that I live alone or am not home.

· Do you record only non-specific messages on your phone and avoid  messages like "we'll be back at 7 o'clock on Sunday?

· If you receive an obscene or crank call, would you hang up immediately, saying nothing?

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C. On The Go

· Do you plan in advance to use the safest route to your destination?

· Do you choose busy, well-lit streets?

· Do you avoid routes that pass by high-risk areas, i.e. vacant lots, alleys?

· Do you avoid isolated bus stops?

· Do you walk facing traffic so you can see approaching cars?

· Do you walk near the curb to avoid the element of surprise or someone hiding between shrubs or in a doorway?

· Do you stay out of reach if someone in a vehicle stops to ask directions?

· Are you wary of approaching strangers?

· If you continue to be followed, do you flee to the nearest safe place?

· Do you try to get a description of the person and/or vehicle following you?

· Do you carry large sums of money in your purse or wallet?

· Do you carry your purse close to your body, without wrapping the straps around
your arm or hand?

· Do you avoid leaving a purse unattended, even for a moment?

· Do you avoid displaying large amounts of cash in public?

******

D. In Your Car

· Do you always lock your doors while driving?

· Do you keep windows rolled up whenever possible?

· Do you avoid picking up hitchhikers?

· Do you keep your car in good running order to avoid break downs in dangerous areas?

· Do you look for well-lit areas to park your car?

· Do you always lock your car when it is parked?

· Do you look around the car before you get out, especially at night or in deserted
areas such as underground parking lots?

· When returning to your car, do you have your keys in hand?

· Do you look in the back seat before getting into the car?

· If you are being followed, do you avoid going home and go to the nearest place
of safety instead?

E. On Campus

· Door and window locks are secure.
· Halls and stairwells have adequate lighting.
· Dorm doors are not left unlocked or propped open.
· I do not give dorm or residence keys to others.
· I keep my door locked.
· I do not allow strangers into my room.
· I do not walk, jog, or exercise alone at night.
· I use campus escort services or walk with friends.
· I know the areas that security guards patrol and stay where they can see or hear
me if possible.

If you answered "NO" to any of these questions, consider a change in behavior to increase your security, privacy and safety.

Summary

We should never wait until we have experienced a breach of our personal | private information before we react. Proactively addressing potential risks now can make any loss a non-issue to your information, assets, and well-being. Properly and robustly Implementing the products and practices mentioned in this document should mitigate, or lessen the risks we all face now, and in the future.
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Taking stock of your security posture should become part of your daily routine.

If you hire an individual or a firm to provide bodyguard services, be sure they provide you with a list of assessment criteria that they will use in assessing your personal safety.