Hello again everyone. I want to start by thanking everyone who took the time to attend police headquarters recently to view the anti-bullying panel event that my Chief’s Advisory Board members and I put on. To say that I was impressed by the turnout would be a huge understatement. When we set about organizing the event, our thought was that if we managed to get the auditorium half full then we could make it look like a lot of people were there. Imagine our pleasant surprise when all the tickets were taken in advance and we had to start operating a wait list. For those of you who took the trouble to fill in the feedback sheets, I thank you. Constructive comments are the only way we can look to improve on subsequent events. On that note, we are looking at planning something else for later in the year, or maybe early next year. I will keep you all posted as more news becomes available... keep your eyes on this space!
This month I want to give a little bit of advice regarding a product that is so near and dear to most of us – our cell phone. Are you addicted to your cell phone or other mobile device? You are not the only one, but please be aware that using your mobile device can put you at risk for identity crime or other online safety risks. There are some good sources of information available on the Net, such as Google Good To Know, as well as Stop, Think, Connect. Be sure to check them out.
Be cautious of the photos that are captured on mobile devices and smartphones. NEVER take a picture that you would not want the world to see. If you receive a photograph or video in which the subject would be embarrassed or humiliated, please do not forward that image. If you are a minor, then please advise a trusted adult if you receive such a photograph or video, as this may be considered a criminal offence.
Most smart phones have geotagging capabilities that can provide information about your physical location. Geotagging in photographs provides information as to where you live, where you spend your time, when your house is empty, where you park your car, and other information that you wouldn’t necessarily want others to know. Individuals often share too much information about their location and the sensitive details of their personal life.
GPS features on mobile devices are handy for navigational purposes but, if you are worried about revealing your physical location, you can turn off the GPS feature on your phone as follows:
iPhone – tap "Settings", then "General", and then "Location Services". Disable the applications that use GPS data.
Blackberry – go to the camera icon. Press the "Menu" button, select "Options" and set the geotagging option to "Disabled". Then click "Save".
Android – start the camera application. Open the menu to the left and go to "Settings". Turn off "Geotagging" or "Location Storage" depending on the Android version you have.
Some digital cameras come with geotagging features, so be sure to consult the owners’ manual for information on how to disable this.
Most of this information is common sense, so go on and have fun, but stay safe. For those of you wanting to catch me in person, my plan is to attend the Western Cup registration night on Thursday April 2nd. Feel free to come by and say hi.
As always, take care of each other and contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.
