Social media has become a huge part of our lives, making us vulnerable to cyber bullies, especially the young. But there are things you can do to protect yourself from cyberbullying and save yourself from the depression, stress, anxiety, and even trauma, which can be brought by this experience. Here are eight tips to keep yourself safe from online bullies.

1. Educate Yourself
Protect yourself against cyberbullying by knowing what comprises it. Look it up in the internet and find out how it happens and when it usually happens.

2. Think Before You Click
Before clicking Post, ask yourself a couple of times how your post will affect your reputation. Remember that people online will judge you based on what you say and post on your social media, and like the previous point, it can be used against you.

3. Avoid Posting Racy Photos
Before posting or sending a photo to someone, think it through if this is something you want your family to see. Racy photos can be used against by cyber bullies to blackmail you into doing something you wouldn’t want to do.

4. “Google” Yourself Once in a While
Try searching yourself on major search engines in the web and see if any confidential photos and information about you come up. If you see something that cyberbullies can use against you, have it removed right away.

5. Delete Messages from Strangers
If you receive a message from an unknown source, don’t open it. Delete it right away without opening it as it could contain a virus or malware that can collect personal data from your computer. For the same reason, do not engage in conversations or reply to messages from strangers to avoid getting harassed.

6. Set Up Privacy Controls
The more you limit your audience, the safer you are to getting bullied. In all your social media accounts, it’s ideal to allow only your friends to read and comment on your posts. Also, restrict who can see your online profile and information; in particular, avoid displaying your personal contact number and e-mail address for all your online friends to see.

7. Protect Your Password
Guard your password and all personal information from inquisitive people. You do not want to give people the opportunity to open your account and post humiliating, false or private information or photos under your name or send them to your entire contact list.

8. Log Out of Your Accounts
As with the previous point, do not give anyone the opportunity to post anything as you by logging out your accounts when using public computers. Also, by logging out, you avoid the possibility of hackers changing your password and locking you out of your account.

By being a responsible social media user, you significantly reduce the chances of getting cyberbullied.

There is a wave of car break-ins in Hougang Central. The police believe that there are at least 6 cars targeted within Block 830A. Out of the six, there was only one reported car break-in on January 5, 2014 at around 4pm. The owners of the car were shocked when they witnessed broken windows. As if it was not enough, owners noticed that their CashCard was missing.

Thieves now are very brave and confident to do their thing in broad daylight. The increasing cases of car break-ins are being investigated by the police. The police are assuring car owners to keep calm but no matter the assurance, there are still those that are nervous to leave their car in the open.

Car break-ins are alarming but you should know that you can prevent it from happening. You can read the following prevention tips as a start:

1.       Leave valuable items at home. Sometimes you leave your valuables in the car but that is not safe. Your valuables draw the attention of the thieves. Any flashy object they see will serve as an invitation. You may be confident because your car is equipped with alarm system but sometimes the police come later. The safest thing to do is leave all your valuable items at home.

2.       Use your trunk. If there are valuable items you need to put in the car, do not simply put it in your seats. Use the trunks and conceal things. The trunk is there for a reason. You should use it and never invite criminals because of your visible things.

3.     Take valuables with you. If you cannot help but bring your valuables, you have to make sure that you take it with you wherever you go. Do not leave it in the car. If it is heavy and you do not trust the trunk, you have to endure it and bring it wherever you go.

If you witness car break-in, it is important that you know what to do so you have greater chances of apprehending the criminal. The first thing that you need to do is call the police and report the incident. The police will take it very seriously. When you report, you have to remember to state the important information such as the location of the break-in, the description of the suspect, the direction of the fleeing thief and the description of the victim’s car.

You have to wait for the police to come before you make any action or move. The suspect may be armed and dangerous. You will be harmed when you attempt to tackle him/her.