Is Your Car Included in the Recall Issued for Nearly 34 Million Vehicles?

Takata,  a maker of air bags, has determined that a defect exists in some of its air bag inflators. Takata has agreed to a national recall of certain types of frontal driver and passenger side air bag inflators used in vehicles manufactured by BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota.  These inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for six deaths worldwide. The action expands the number of vehicles to be recalled for defective Takata inflators to nearly 34 million. 

Is your car on the recall list?


Visit the Vehicle Owners Tab on www.safercar.gov (www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/) to find out if your vehicle is on the recall list for the defective air bag inflators.

The NHTSA advises that you check your VIN in the SaferCar.Gov VIN search tool periodically as some recalls are not posted publicly or distributed to vehicle owners until weeks after the recall has been issued.

Be sure to check the official website of the automaker for your vehicle regularly as well.

Peace and blessings.



Source: NHTSA Recalls Spotlight - Takata Air Bag Recalls

Dating, Facebook, and 'Nem

Facebook has proven to be a gift from the heavens in rekindling old flames that have yearned for each other, reconnecting classmates from several decades ago, to keeping folks in touch about the welfare of others, and about club/group events.

Facebook can also be an unattended door into your personal life.

The definition of "friend" according to the computer dictionary is:

• a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
• a person who acts as a supporter of a cause, organization, or country by giving financial or other help: join the Friends of Guilford Free Library.
• a person who is not an enemy or who is on the same side: she was unsure whether he was friend or foe.
• a familiar or helpful thing: he settled for that old friend the compensation grant.
• (often as a polite form of address or in ironic reference) an acquaintance or a stranger one comes across: my friends, let me introduce myself.
• a contact associated with a social networking website: all of a sudden you've got 50 friends online who need to stay connected.

As one can see, the definition of friend has evolved from being someone who is close to just being....someone.

In the dating world, it's easy to merge getting to know someone and social media actions into one.

I had a conversation with someone that mentioned that they recently met someone online and that they were going to be meeting that person for the first time in the near future.  I asked if they had made them a Facebook friend.  They said that they did.  I then told them that they had invited that person into their personal life and into the lives of their family and friends to know everything about what their children looks like and pretty much the timeline of their life before spending a moment with them face to face.  They mentioned that their list of friends is not visible to anyone.  I told them that the majority of the closest friends are visible if they regularly comment on posts.  (I also mentioned that most guys generally seem great and "safe" at first.  It's taking the time to get to know them better that reveals true colors eventually.)

Adding someone whom one has just met as a social media "friend" is like inviting a stranger into the home to a seat on the couch to look through all the photo albums, diaries, journals, and somewhat personal business that would not normally be privy to just anybody.  Information about the kids, their pictures, their school name and activities, their birthdays, other family members' business...all spread out on the cocktail table.  When the home will be empty while on vacation, attending to family matters, etc.

Things to keep in mind about Facebook are:

• Facebook does have the capabilities to sort friends for easy posting of what a person would want a certain group to see OR not see.
• Photos posted on Facebook are quickly and easily downloadable.  And folks do download other people's pics.  I was visiting with a male friend one day and they were swiping through their personal photos and the female pics they had were downloaded straight from Facebook. (People take screenshots of who they are Skyping or FaceTiming with, too.)
• The location services in photos tell a person where that picture was taken.  Doesn't seem like a big deal at first....until after a couple of dates it has been proven that it's no longer a good idea to continue to see the person....but now they have a chronicle of your life.

I am guilty myself of confirming friend requests from those who happen to be in a particular circle that I'm heavily active in and this has nothing to do with dating.  So, note to self:

• Remember that unless that person has been sorted out in a particular friend list, they can see what close friends can see.

Any social media is a door into the living room and throughout the rest of the house. 



Back in 2012, I posted about Online or Internet Dating.  The content is still relevant today.




 tnd

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Consumer Consciouness About Private Information

There is no 100% surefire way to avoid private information from getting into the wrong hands in today's ever evolving technological world…just ways to minimize the exposure such as:

Using a PO Box

Use a PO Box address for mail instead of the residential mailbox.  The mail will be delivered inside the post office and accessible by only the US Postal personnel and the PO Box owner.  Using a PO Box helps to keep a residential address private.  Although if there is any kind of public record involving the resident i.e. mortgage, property tax records, any type of court case - the residential address becomes public as well unless the PO Box is the only address provided for contact.  Even if that is the case, the court transcripts may still reveal the residential address.

Using a Shredder

The only thing about a shredder though is that if somebody really wants to get a hold of something, they can reconstruct the document if they have time on their hands.    There was a time once where I shredded a document.  If I didn't find that document later in little strips neatly put back together, with my SSN on it, on somebody else’s desk.  (Yep) This goes to show that if there isn't much in the shredder or if the shredded document is of a distinct color, the document might as well had been crumpled up and thrown in an open trash can. Discard personal or private information inside the home and/or outside of the workplace.  Never throw away personal or private information including mail in any public trash receptacle – even when picking up junk mail from the PO Box at the post office.  Tear up in small pieces of paper with attention to areas that include personal information such as the address, phone number, date of birth, name, SSN, account information and Driver’s License number.

Social Media

In "Big Girl Little Girl Everything I CanThink Of Right Now To Tell You About Life, Money, Credit, Boys, Men andSex," there is a chapter specific about Social Media as well as other online activities such as Internet Dating.  A few tips:

• Never post online where you are at the time that you are there.  This let's people know that you are not home.  Everybody added as a "friend" is not really a friend and those "friends" have friends that you haven't paid any attention to - yet one or two may pay a great deal of attention to you.  Recap on your events of the day ONCE you have returned home. With that being said, be mindful of what you say about being home alone and enjoying the house to yourself.
• Never post something that will give an indication of your work, school, or recreation schedule.  Again another way someone can keep track of your comings and goings.
• Limit photo posting.  Post pictures of places you've visited after you come back.  If photos are posted of you or family, limit the views to those who are closest like best friends, close family, and the like.  Once a photo is posted, it can easily be downloaded to and shared with anyone's computer by the simple right-click, copy/save-as, attach, then e-mail.
• Social Media is geared for everyone to be social about what they like and what they do.  It's really nobody's business where you currently work.  When current workplace info is posted online, people you know nothing about know a little something more about you.
• Never post anything about children’s activities unless the settings are just for very close friends and family members – not that that means anything either.  Couldn’t quickly put hands on stats but it's probably safe to assume that over 50% of crimes committed against children are from close friends and family members.

Regular U.S. Mail Drop Off

Never leave mail in the open mailbox for the US Postal Carrier to pick-up.  Take any articles that need mailing directly to a US Postal Mailbox or call the US Postal Service about services that provide pick up of U.S. Mail that need to be sent.

Paying By Check

Routing and checking account numbers are just as good as cash in hand - especially with online payment centers that use this information.  With today's technology a check can be printed and presented for payment at any time and there are still some institutions that cheerfully cash third party checks with no questions asked.   To be better safe than sorry, do not use public WiFi to make any payments online no matter what security settings are placed on your computer or whatever security statement is noted or available on the public WiFi.  When throwing away deposit slips after using up all of the checks in a pad, tear up the routing and account information on the deposit slips before placing in the home garbage.

Paying by Debit/Credit Card

Just like checks, debit cards, even used as credit cards, are gateways to the vault of somebody’s money.  Online debit/credit card use is most likely better used for just utility, mortgage, and car note payments.  If purchasing something online, be sure the site and/or the information that is being sent and received is encrypted.  Again, do not use public WiFi to make any payments online no matter what security settings are placed on your computer or whatever security statement is noted or available on the public WiFi.

Note:  It is very important to review your accounts no less than every other day.  If theft has occurred, some lending institutions give a small window to bring it to their attention that your account has been compromised.  If the bank is not contacted within that time parameter, there may be little recourse to get the bank account reimbursed for the loss that was stolen minus the fee or money hold that banks will impose in case of theft.  Terms and agreements are not written and distributed just to kill trees.  It's important to read every document received from the beginning to end with all terms and agreements for all financial accounts to know the proper procedures in case of theft as well as fee amounts for certain situations.

For more information visit:  

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft

Additional consumer related information, visit:  http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/

Related posts by Lady Intelligence, Ltd.:

Consumer Related Posts from Lady Intelligence, Ltd.

If It's In the Dictionary - Don't Use It

If a password contains words in a dictionary, it is possible to be hacked.

There are programs that run through password combinations by going through words in the dictionary faster than autodialers from telemarketers.

The best password has the following:

• No more than three numerical characters and not in any sequential or repetitive appearance - such as 123, 345, 777...using four will help a user refrain from using last four digits of social security numbers, last four of phone numbers, addresses, zip codes, etc

• Use a symbol character...or two - such as .  *  /  ?  !  _  -  whatever the program will allow to be used

• Don't use any word that would appear in the dictionary.  Use words like frilmn or selkjeifo.  Just let the fingers run across the keyboard to make up a word.  To be sure that it doesn't appear in the dictionary - look it up.    jweioj gijkn

• Use uppercase and lowercase characters - bgkmEpoijkc.852!

• Try not to use names of people in the family.

Write down the password in a safe place.  It might would be best to keep the password away from the computer but placed somewhere where it can be found easily by the user in case of an emergency - out of sight from where nobody would think to look.

Previous posts about passwords on Lady Intelligence - The Blog:
http://ladyintelligence-theblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/user-password-energy.html

Other password creation tips:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/passwords-create.aspx
https://www.google.com/goodtoknow/online-safety/passwords/
http://lifehacker.com/5505400/how-id-hack-your-weak-passwords

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Online Job Searching

Searching for a job has come a long way. Back in the day, folks hit the pavement, door to door, filling out application after application and trying to be the first to grab the classified ads as soon as they come off the printing press.

In recent years, a person applying for a job online would have to type their life story in little character spaces after character spaces, question after question, and job application after job application.  Fortunately, today some companies are realizing what a waste of time and resources that is and are just satisfied with an uploaded resume.

Employment agencies have made it easier to register with their company to fulfill their clients’ job orders as well with just an uploaded resume and online testing from the comforts of home.  Some agencies send their candidates directly to the clients without ever laying an eye on the candidate.

Online job boards including those sponsored by local, state, and federal government make it easy for the applicant to post their resume with specific key words so that prospective employers can browse for potential candidates to call in for an interview. 

However, multi-level marketers, marketing and sales companies, and scammers also browse resumes and contact unsuspecting and desperate job seekers with no intention of offering them a true employment opportunity.

Here are a just a few recommendations when searching and applying online for a job:

• When posting a resume online to be viewable by prospective employers, only include e-mail address and/or phone number.  Do not include middle initial/name or any type of mailing address.  

• Apply electronically for a position directly to the company.  Some job boards will post a position saying that it’s with XYZ Big Company but when it’s time to submit an application or resume for the particular position, the link to apply is still on the job board site.  Go directly to XYZ Big Company’s website and search for that position on their employment or career page.  If it’s listed, apply directly on the company’s website or to whatever link XYZ Big Company provides on their website to submit an application.  If the job isn’t listed, let it go.  Only time to apply for a job with XYZ Big Company and it’s not on their website is through a bona fide employment agency – especially those with which you have registered.  Applying for a position online is time-consuming.  You can take a chance and apply for the XYZ Company job from the job board, but get ready for an onslaught of marketing e-mail messages about training, more jobs to apply for, and most likely no interviews out of any of it.

• Be careful of e-mail messages or phone calls from so-called agencies talking about they saw your resume on such and such board and that they have a position for you based on your resume and credentials.  If they ask for the last four digits or all nine digits of your social, don’t give it.  If they want you to sign a contract and fax it back to them, don’t sign it.  If they want your full name including the full spelling of your middle name, don’t give it to them – especially if you don’t usually use it in the course of personal or professional business.  Granted some industries such as healthcare, government or insurance companies may need this information to conduct various types of background checks, but do not give that information to these agencies WHO CALLED YOU out of the blue based upon your online posted resume and especially if you haven’t had an interview with anybody.  Check out the agency and get back to them (if proven they’re legit).  Some of these agencies have been found not to pay the employees that they have contracted to work with another company. The agency will receive their money from the company, but may seem to forget to do payroll or have some type of payroll issues.  Then some of these agencies aren’t agencies at all and just looking for information to conduct identity theft.

• Please beware of applying for a job on an online list where’s it’s free to register and post that something or somebody is “wanted” or “needed.”  Some legitimate companies are turning to these lists for recruitment cost savings but there are individuals and bogus groups that may use this type of advertising to lure in folks to conduct criminal activities. 

• Do not go to an interview without verifying that the company is legitimate and that the address pans out to be the company’s true location – this goes from any employment or career site source.

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User Password Energy

Oh boy.  How many user passwords on average does one person have?  Between banking institutions, social media pages, e-mail accounts, children logins for their academic record and school lunch account, the many reward cards, online stores, the phone voicemail systems, stuff related to the job and/or business, prospective employer career and job search sites, TV shows…  

Thought I had it down to a science by creating an exhaustive spreadsheet for all user names and passwords (albeit the passwords on the spreadsheet are still yet encrypted and should prove to be a Bigfoot to decipher).

Been doing that practice for almost a decade now.  Started when 12345a could not be used anymore because it didn’t have an uppercase letter and some other kind of character like an exclamation point.  Then it was hard to keep up with the new passwords that had to be created because the old passwords “expired” every 20 minutes.

Well, one practice that fell by the wayside was keeping up with the new passwords.  The almighty “Reset Password” button became a nifty tool and quick fix to get in whatever site or account due to laziness to pull up the spreadsheet.  Didn’t give it one thought that the ‘just get another one’ method would work only for as long as access to the e-mail accounts remained to eternity.

Had been a long time e-mail account holder with one company.  Hadn’t posted in a blog outside of the website in almost a year.  Totally forgot about it. (shrugged shoulders)  When the decision came to return to Blogger, stumbled on the old blog page after the new blog page was created.

And of course...can’t get into it.  The old blog account was created using another e-mail account and no phone number or alternate e-mail address was given for password recovery.  Ugh.  It’s just sitting there untilled with a link error that can’t be fixed.*

But that’s okay. 2013 is too precious to spend excess energy on a simple mistake. The lesson has been well learned. 

Note to self:  Keep list of user login and associated passwords current at all times.

*Already been in communication with account recovery.  Ain’t worth the carousel ride.