Sedona AZ (November 24, 2013) – As we head into the Thanksgiving holidays, many of us will be away from home visiting family and friends even if it’s down the block. Take time to review this Away from Home Checklist – remember it takes about ten minutes – and don’t forget that you promised to bring two pies. You did too!
Here goes:
- Lock all doors, including the garage door.
- Lock all windows, including basement and garage windows.
- Cancel all deliveries such as newspaper, food services, etc.
- Have mail and newspapers picked up by a neighbor if possible.
- Have someone pick up handbills and throw-a-ways.
- Never leave a note on the door that may indicate your absence.
- Arrange to have the lawn cut or the snow shoveled.
- Adjust blinds to make the house or apartment appear to be occupied.
- Place a light or two on automatic timers.
- Remove ladders from sight and secure them in locked places.
- Don’t hide keys under doormats or flowerpots or in similar places.
- Secure items such as jewelry, furs, cameras, credit cards, and checkbooks.
- Arrange for a house-sitter, someone to live in your house while you are away, if possible.
- Arrange for a neighbor to keep an eye on your property and to report anything suspicious to police.
- Let a neighbor know where you can be reached in case of an emergency.
- Arrange with a neighbor to leave his or her car parked in your driveway or in front of your house or apartment.
- Join and be part of your Neighborhood Watch Group.
- Lower the tone on your telephone.
- Ask neighbors not to tell strangers such as salespersons and repair persons of your absence.
- Notify your local law enforcement agency of your absence and schedule a vacation check while you’re away.
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Does the US government need a warrant to access your email? The answer is no.
Thanks to an outdated, unconstitional law that most people have never heard of — the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) — the government can presently access your email and documents in the cloud without a warrant.
ECPA was originally passed in 1986, before most people had access to a home computer or email. We’ve all been fighting hard against the NSA’s warrentless spying programs, but ECPA says that hundreds of other government agencies — like the IRS, FBI, DEA, even local law enforcement agencies — can access stored email, private social media messages, and any documents in the cloud without getting a warrant from a judge.
The law flies directly in the face of our Fourth Amendment rights.
Bills to reform ECPA have gained huge support in recent months from both parties in Congress. But now the legislation is being blocked by a power grab from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is pushing for a special carve-out for regulatory agencies. Put simply, the SEC carve-out would neuter ECPA reform.
That’s why we’re calling on the White House to finally break its silence and stand up for ECPA reform. We need President Obama to tell the SEC to back down in its demands for new, unconstitutional powers.
Take back our 4th amendment rights.
It’s time for the President to join hundreds of tech companies, startups, advocates, and Members of Congress by supporting this commonsense, long overdue reform to ensure our privacy rights online.
Thank you,
Demand Progress Team