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How Social Media Posts Could Negate Your Insurance Coverage

Do you post images of your vacation on social media while you are on your trip?

If you personally haven’t done so, you probably have a friend or family member who proudly shared their photos while on vacation. In the past, we have published blog posts that have detailed the risk management issues this could cause for you. It is essentially an announcement to burglars that nobody is home and your house and valuables are ripe for the picking.

Insurers are considering whether to view the posting of real time vacation photos as a violation of the “reasonable care” clause on your homeowners and valuable articles policies. Seeing how more than 2 million residential burglaries occur in the U.S. every year, costing insurers more than $14 billion annually, it is no wonder why insurance providers are spending time seriously analyzing this issue.

social media

Think there is no correlation between social media vacation posts and home burglaries? All you need to do is look at the case of English Premier League professional soccer player John Terry to see that one absolutely exists. Terry was on a ski vacation with his family and posted pictures on his Instagram account of his wife and himself on the slopes. A couple of his 3.4 million followers on Instagram took this as an invitation to break into Terry’s $6,600,000 Surrey, UK mansion. The thieves made off with more than $500,000 worth of the Terry family’s valuables, including hard to replace first edition Harry Potter books valued at more than $23,000.

Police and insurers are alarmed at the increasing correlation between vacation social media posts and residential burglaries. While insurers currently replace the valuables in such a situation, it is increasingly looking as that may not always be the case. An additional consideration is that many have a loved one house-sitting while they are away. Thieves may break into a home expecting it to be empty, only to be surprised by a house-sitter and the consequences of that may not be fixed by any amount of insurance coverage.

Conrey Insurance Brokers urges you and your loved ones not to post pictures of your vacations on social media, especially in real time. While your insurance policy may replace your valuables, it can’t fix the violation you will feel after having your home burglarized.

We want you and your loved ones to enjoy your vacation without getting a dreaded call from your local police or neighbor that your home was burglarized because of an image posted on social media.

For more information on how to secure your home while on vacation follow this link to our blog post on the topic.

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.

Cover photo from pexel.com and is used under the CC0 license.

Photo #2 from pexel.com and is used under the CC0 license.

Malware Protection Tips from Conrey Insurance Brokers

What is Malware and why is Malware protection important?

Malware is a general term that describes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, adware, rootkits, and other unwanted software or programs. Once a Malware program has gained access to a device, it can disrupt normal computing operations, collect information and control system resources.

We recently posted an article on the WannaCry virus, which was a Malware attack impacting businesses and government agencies around the world, including FedEx, Hitachi, and the National Health Service of Great Britain. The WannaCry virus requested around $300 from victims, and if no payment is made, threatens to double the amount after three days, and delete files within seven days. Once it infects one computer, it can spread to every computer in that network within seconds. This attack should highlight the importance of Malware protection for every organization and individual.

malware protection

Malware programs are being produced at an alarming rate and are often transmitted via emails, instant messages and website pop- ups. To protect your personal files from being stolen, deleted, or hijacked consider the following Malware protection tips:

  1. Avoid opening or replying to emails or text messages from unknown sources.
  2. Download files only from reputable sources whenever possible.
  3. Turn Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth off when you are not using them.
  4. Do not share your mobile phone number on public websites and social networks.
  5. Avoid jailbreaking (modifying a device to remove manufacturer-imposed restrictions) your smartphone.

It is also important to have trusted anti-virus and anti-spyware programs installed on your devices. These programs should be set to perform scans on a regular basis for unwanted and harmful programs. Often, it is best to perform scans overnight when your computer is not in use. Being proactive with Malware protection can save you and your business unnecessary headaches and financial losses.

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.

Disaster Preparation for your Household

Disaster preparation is an essential risk management task for every household. Homeowners throughout the United States face a variety of natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. If you are unprepared for one of these disasters, you and your family could be left without food, electricity, or even shelter.

To prepare your household for a disaster, Conrey Insurance Brokers offers you the following disaster preparation tips:

  • Know the risks. Depending on where you live, your home could be impacted by any number of unique hazards like landslides or hazardous material spills. Familiarize yourself with the risks that are most likely to occur near your home to guide your disaster preparation.
  • Create a phone list. Create a master list of family and emergency contacts. Ensure that every member of your family has a copy of this list and stores it in a safe and easy-to-access area.
  • Pick a meeting place. If you get separated from your loved ones during a disaster, it’s important to have a meeting place set up. This could be a neighbor’s house, library, or community center.
  • Stay informed. Once impacted by a disaster, you will want to know how to receive updates on the situation. You and your family should know how to get this information ahead of time. Contact your local government to learn the best ways to receive alerts.
  • Know how to turn off utilities. If you suspect a leak, knowing how to turn off your home’s gas and electricity can protect your family from fires or explosions. Locate and label your electrical panel as well as your water and gas valves.
  • Store emergency supplies. Above all, in the event of a disaster, you will need access to clean water. You will need at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day. In addition, emergency supplies like first- aid kits, whistles, flashlights, and cell phones will be critical to have on hand. Keep all of these items in a safe area, or create an easy grab-and-go bag for quick access.

Being properly prepared by implementing disaster preparation protocol could be the difference in the survival of you and your loved ones should a disaster happen. We hope you never need to use our disaster preparation tips, but you can sleep easier knowing you are prepared should the need arise.

disaster preparation

Since 1969, Conrey Insurance Brokers have been protecting the personal, commercial, and financial interests of our clients throughout Southern California. We are here to provide expert risk management solutions, ensuring your interests, loved ones, and financial future is properly protected.

Conrey Insurance Brokers is dedicated to building strong, lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and community. The Conrey Team of experienced risk managers can assist you with your personal insurance, commercial insurance, life insurance, and financial services needs.

Conrey Insurance Brokers prides itself on being a one-stop independent insurance broker and financial services boutique that provides unparalleled expertise, professionalism, and service at a tremendous value.

Act today to ensure you are prepared for tomorrow. Contact the Conrey Team at 1-877-450-1872 or go to our website to get started on a free consultation today.