June 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Am I Covered If I Drop My Computer?

A home is typically the single most valuable asset we own, but while homeowners insurance protects your asset, your family and your household possessions, if disaster struck and contents are damaged or stolen, you probably couldn’t afford to replace everything all at once.

It is important to review your homeowners policy carefully to ensure all the items you believe are covered truly are. The good news is that most homeowners insurance policies have features that allow you to custom design a policy that’s right for you. Whereas, traditional homeowners programs offer protection for your home’s structures, protection for your personal property, and liability coverages, special coverages for computers may not be covered. The good news is that for an additional premium, you can not only cover your computers, you can also broaden the coverage for your computer due to direct physical loss. For example, if the policyholder drops a glass of water on the computer, this would be covered. This endorsement is subject to the policy deductible.

We suggest you review the following optional endorsements to your homeowners insurance coverage. If the coverage does not appear on your Declarations Summary, it is not included in your policy.

• Extended Replacement Cost on Dwelling
• Replacement Cost on Personal Property
• Fire Alarm Credit
• Companion Policy Discount
• Additional Limits of Liability
• Earthquake
• Increase Wind & Hail Deductibles
• Increase Limits on Other Structures
• Water Back up and Sump Overflow
• Increased Limits on Personal Property
• Increased Limits on Business Property
• Scheduled Personal Property
• Special Computer Coverage
• Identity Theft
• Loss Assessment Coverage
• Watercraft
• Personal Injury

Additional endorsements and credits are subject to availability and qualification.

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

June 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

How To Protect Your Computer

The same advice parents might deliver to young drivers on their first solo journey applies to everyone who wants to navigate safely online. A special agent in our Cyber Division offered the following:

“Don’t drive in bad neighborhoods.”
“If you don’t lock your car, it’s vulnerable; if you don’t secure your computer, it’s vulnerable.”
“Reduce your vulnerability, and you reduce the threat.”

Below are some key steps to protecting your computer from intrusion:

– Keep Your Firewall Turned On: A firewall helps protect your computer from hackers who might try to gain access to crash it, delete information, or even steal passwords or other sensitive information. Software firewalls are widely recommended for single computers. The software is prepackaged on some operating systems or can be purchased for individual computers. For multiple networked computers, hardware routers typically provide firewall protection.

– Install or Update Your Antivirus Software: Antivirus software is designed to prevent malicious software programs from embedding on your computer. If it detects malicious code, like a virus or a worm, it works to disarm or remove it. Viruses can infect computers without users’ knowledge. Most types of antivirus software can be set up to update automatically.

– Install or Update Your Antispyware Technology: Spyware is just what it sounds like—software that is surreptitiously installed on your computer to let others peer into your activities on the computer. Some spyware collects information about you without your consent or produces unwanted pop-up ads on your web browser. Some operating systems offer free spyware protection, and inexpensive software is readily available for download on the Internet or at your local computer store. Be wary of ads on the Internet offering downloadable antispyware—in some cases these products may be fake and may actually contain spyware or other malicious code. It’s like buying groceries—shop where you trust.

– Keep Your Operating System Up to Date: Computer operating systems are periodically updated to stay in tune with technology requirements and to fix security holes. Be sure to install the updates to ensure your computer has the latest protection.

– Be Careful What You Download: Carelessly downloading e-mail attachments can circumvent even the most vigilant anti-virus software. Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don’t know, and be wary of forwarded attachments from people you do know. They may have unwittingly advanced malicious code.

– Turn Off Your Computer: With the growth of high-speed Internet connections, many opt to leave their computers on and ready for action. The downside is that being “always on” renders computers more susceptible. Beyond firewall protection, which is designed to fend off unwanted attacks, turning the computer off effectively severs an attacker’s connection—be it spyware or a botnet that employs your computer’s resources to reach out to other unwitting users.

For more information on Internet schemes and how to protect yourself online, see the following areas:

– FBI Cyber Crimes Stories
– New E-Scams and Warnings
– Botnets and Hackers and Spam (Oh My!)
– FBI Cyber Investigations
– File an Internet Crime Complaint

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, “How to Protect Your Computer” http://www.fbi.gov/ website. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/computer_protect

June 16, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment

Computer Security

Scammers, hackers, and identity thieves are looking to steal your personal information – and your money. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself, like keeping your computer software up-to-date and giving out your personal information only when you have a good reason.

Use Security Software That Updates Automatically

The bad guys constantly develop new ways to attack your computer, so your security software must be up-to-date to protect against the latest threats. Most security software can update automatically; set yours to do so. You can find free security software from well-known companies. Also, set your operating system and web browser to update automatically.

If you let your operating system, web browser, or security software get out-of-date, criminals could sneak their bad programs – malware – onto your computer and use it to secretly break into other computers, send spam, or spy on your online activities. There are steps you can take to detect and get rid of malware.

Don’t buy security software in response to unexpected pop-up messages or emails, especially messages that claim to have scanned your computer and found malware. Scammers send messages like these to try to get you to buy worthless software, or worse, to “break and enter” your computer.

Your Personal Information Like Cash

Don’t hand it out to just anyone. Your Social Security number, credit card numbers, and bank and utility account numbers can be used to steal your money or open new accounts in your name. So every time you are asked for your personal information – whether in a web form, an email, a text, or a phone message – think about whether you can really trust the request. In an effort to steal your information, scammers will do everything they can to appear trustworthy. Learn more about scammers who phish for your personal information.

Check Out Companies to Find out Who You’re Really Dealing With

When you’re online, a little research can save you a lot of money. If you see an ad or an offer that looks good to you, take a moment to check out the company behind it. Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” If you find bad reviews, you’ll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. If you can’t find contact information for the company, take your business elsewhere.

Don’t assume that an ad you see on a reputable site is trustworthy. The fact that a site features an ad for another site doesn’t mean that it endorses the advertised site, or is even familiar with it.

Give Personal Information Over Encrypted Websites Only

If you’re shopping or banking online, stick to sites that use encryption to protect your information as it travels from your computer to their server. To determine if a website is encrypted, look for https at the beginning of the web address (the “s” is for secure).

Some websites use encryption only on the sign-in page, but if any part of your session isn’t encrypted, the entire account could be vulnerable. Look for https on every page of the site you’re on, not just where you sign in.

Protect Your Passwords

Here are a few principles for creating strong passwords and keeping them safe:
- The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack. Use at least 10 characters; 12 is ideal for most home users.
- Mix letters, numbers, and special characters. Try to be unpredictable – don’t use your name, birthdate, or common words.
- Don’t use the same password for many accounts. If it’s stolen from you – or from one of the companies with which you do business – it can be used to take over all your accounts.
- Don’t share passwords on the phone, in texts or by email. Legitimate companies will not send you messages asking for your password. If you get such a message, it’s probably a scam.
- Keep your passwords in a secure place, out of plain sight.
Back-up Your Files

No system is completely secure. Copy important files onto a removable disc or an external hard drive, and store it in a safe place. If your computer is compromised, you’ll still have access to your files.
Tagged with: computer security, cyber security, malware, online safety, phishing, security software

Source: OnGuardOnline.gov, “Computer Security” http://www.onguardonline.gov/ website. Accessed December 2, 2015. http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0009-computer-security

June 16, 2014 By Julian Aston Leave a Comment

IN: If I Drop My Computer Will My Home, Condo Or Renters Insurance Cover It?

Dear Valued Customer,

With the proliferation of computers in our everyday life, it is imperative that you adequately insure your personal and business computers. This issue of the “———————-” focuses on whether you are covered in the event of an accident.

A standard policy provides only minimal coverage for antiques, collectibles, furs, silver, jewels, cameras, computers, musical instruments, and firearms. For these items you obtain separate coverage to ensure the security of your financial investment. Read on to understand about this topic. It could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of grief.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,