Snowbird Alert Source: www.newscanada.com Top five mobile phone safety tips You’ve been there before – left your cell phone at home and spent the rest of the day walking around feeling as if you’re missing a critical piece of yourself, almost like a fifth limb. Your phone contains your personal photos, daily planner, contact list, alarm clock, music player, game console challenge and more. GetCyberSafe.ca informs Canadians about Internet security and the simple steps which they can take to protect themselves online and recommends the following tips: 1All mobile phones can be locked by a password. Use one – it’s an easy way to protect your personal information. 2Check your mobile provider’s website regularly for systemupdates for your device. Always act on notifications about operating system updates. 3Avoid connecting to unknown or non-password-protectedWi-Fi networks. Even if they’re private, an unknown or unsecured network is an open invitation for hackers, fraudsters and malware. 4You should only connect to a public Wi-Fi network that you know and trust. You should be confident that it’s secure and password-protected before connecting. 5Beware of fake or “evil twin”Wi-Fi networks. These are sometimes created in the same location as legitimateWi-Fi networks to lure and attack unsuspecting mobile users. Learn more about how to keep all of your devices secure online at GetCyberSafe.ca. What to do if you have a problem with your airline Between last-minute packing, security and making your way through crowded airports, flying can at times be an unpleasant and stressful experience. But did you know that if you have any problems with your air travel experience, such as a delayed flight or lost luggage, there’s somewhere you can turn to for help? Anyone who is flying to, from and within Canada can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency – even if you’re not Canadian. Flight delay or cancellation? Delayed or lost baggage? Bumped from your flight?These are some of the problems which the Agency’s free and impartial complaint service can help you resolve. Once the Agency receives your complaint, it will work with you and the airline to solve the problem through facilitation – a fast and easy informal resolution process. Most complaints are resolved this way but, if it doesn’t work, you can try mediation in which a neutral and impartial mediator will assist you and the airline in reaching a settlement. When these less-formal processes don’t do the trick, the Agency can also adjudicate, which is a much more formal and court-like process. Adjudication can also be used when you feel that the airline’s terms and conditions (tariff) are unclear, unjust, unreasonable or discriminatory. The next time you run into trouble when flying, you can submitacomplaintonlineat cta.gc.ca/air-travel-complaints, by e-mail at info@otc-cta.gc.ca, or by calling 1-888-222-2592. Remember that filing your complaint swiftly can lead to a quicker solution. Avoid the worst places for keeping a will Drafting a will and powers of attorney can create valuable peace of mind for you and your loved ones. But, once you’ve had these important life documents prepared, where should you keep them? Among the worst options is one that may surprise you – a safety deposit box at a bank. Although this option offers excellent physical security, heirs may need a court order to access the contents, a process that increases cost and inconvenience during an already stressful time. Another poor option lies at the opposite end of the security spectrum – storing your life documents among your general possessions, such as in a nightstand drawer. This kind of storage can leave your documents vulnerable to spills, fires and even tampering. And be mindful that digital-only versions of life documents are a bad idea, as the law currently requires paper copies of wills and powers of attorney. Better options include a well-organized, lockable filing cabinet or a home safe. In both of these cases, it’s important to be sure that a trusted individual, such as your executor, has access to the combination or key. Others opt to leave the original copies with the lawyer who prepared them. Many law firms have special storage for important client documents; storing them there will also ensure that only authorized individuals have access. The main downside to this choice is that heirs may not know who your lawyer is. The other concern is that the firm could relocate or even close if your will is stored for many years. However, lawyers generally make efforts to return documents to clients if this happens. Whichever option you choose, discuss the documents’ location and general contents with your executor in order to minimize confusion when they’re needed. You should review your documents every two years and after such significant life events as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, death of a family member or — if you should be so lucky — that big lottery win. 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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