I live in New York City. I have had every single one of my bank accounts hacked, including my credit and debit cards. I’m assuming it is because I use them in the big city. Other than only carrying cash do you have any security suggestions?

-From Laura U.

Answer: First, I would contact your bank and ask them what security measures can be added to your accounts. Some banks will add a second pin that is required to access the account.

I would also make sure that you have a credit freeze with all three credit-reporting agencies. It’s difficult to say how exactly your cards are being compromised, but I would purchase an RFID blocking card to carry in your wallet to make sure you’re not being electronically pick pocketed.

Finally, using a prepaid credit card can be an inconvenience, but it does eliminate the card being connected to your main bank account. So, even if a criminal stole your credit card number there would be limited funds for them to steal.

 

 

I’ve been doing a lot of research on water filters. I live in the southwest and fear a water shortage is right around the corner. My question is instead of using water filters could I use iodine tablets in a survival scenario?

-From Peter L.

Answer: The question of filtering water vs. treating water really depends on what your situation is.

Basically, if you are drinking water from a high mountain river then the water is probably pretty clean and you could simply use iodine tablets. However, there are a few different reasons why I prefer using a water filter.

First and most importantly, in a survival situation the chances are that I would be drinking from a dirty water source that may have floating bugs or other nasty things. If I just treat the water with tablets, I’m still going to have the floating bugs and other dirt.

Second, iodine tablets take at least 30 minutes to treat the water before it’s safe to drink.

In a survival situation I want to be able stop and drink water immediately at the source because I may need to keep moving. Overall, I think a filter provides the best way to provide clean drinking water.

 

 

Thank you for your service to our great nation. I recently relocated to the coast of Alaska. There was an earthquake off the coast and was talk of a possible tsunami or tidal wave. What is the best way to survive if it hits?

-From Ronald W.

Answer: If you are concerned about a tidal wave the most important thing to do is get as high off the ground as possible.

Ideally, you want to get at least three stories off the ground in a building or some structure that is strong enough to withstand the water rush such as a building or parking garage.

Remember, tidal waves can go on for hours at a time, so make sure you stay put until the danger is over and don’t assume since one wall of water has passed that it’s safe.

In addition, once the tidal waves are over there will be tons of debris and contamination dangers, so you should safely get out of the area as quick as you can.

There really is no great answer… except to move to another place.

 

 

What do I do if I have no where to bug out to? There is no safe place to camp or any remote location to go to. I have no family and if I tried to hide out somewhere I would stick out. Any ideas?

-From Lance R.

Answer: There are always places to hide, it just takes a little creativity. Depending on where you live there is a ton of government-owned land where you can hide out. And if you’re in the city, there are always places to hunker down such as under a bridge or in an abandoned building.

I would drive around where you live and start scouting places you can bug out to. You’ll be surprised at how many places you can come up with.

 

 

I am the CEO of a small design company. We are worried we have an employee that has been hacking into our computers. How can you tell if you’ve been hacked? How would you know if someone has been reading your emails?

-From Edwin A.

Answer: There are a number of different ways to tell if your computer has been hacked or if someone is spying on you.

One of the most common ways to tell is if you are constantly getting fake anti-virus pop-ups on your computer. This is one of the most common ways hackers will steal more information from you by getting you to click on the fake anti-virus notification.

Another common sign that your computer has been compromised is constant internet website redirects sending you to websites that you didn’t intend to visit. If your computer starts doing weird things like the ones mentioned above there is a good chance someone has hacked it.

Remember to always use a reputable anti-virus program as well as a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to stay safe.

Also, you could always install a keylogger program to see what’s going on with the computer and you would be able to tell everything that is typed on the computer.

 

 

These days I have been seeing many advertisements for tactical flashlights, often promoted as an alternative to guns. Are they worth considering in certain situations, even if I already have a of gun?

-From Jared G.

Answer: A tactical flashlight is another tool that I highly recommend. The reason is, if you buy a quality tactical flashlight it can be used to strike an attacker and can produce bright lumens that could disorient them.

But, I would never carry a flashlight instead of a gun. What I mean is, the flashlight should be used with the gun. Ideally, you train to shoot holding the flashlight so you can be prepared for a home defense situation in the dark.

I would never say a flashlight can replace a gun. Yet, you could use a flashlight in situations where a gun isn’t an option.

Frankly, having a flashlight is critical for any home defense plan in case someone breaks into your home at night.