ShareA Look At 5 Tech Tools to Keep College Students Safe
Last week, Fox News reached out for my opinion on the latest technologies and devices to keep college students safe. It’s great to see companies innovating, as kids on college campuses today face more security and safety concerns than any previous generation, both physical and virtual. Have a look at the article just posted on FoxNews.com, sharing my thoughts on identity theft and a new application to protect student laptops the private information stored on them.
Also, here are my thoughts on the range of other safety devices that are profiled in the piece, which in my opinion, span the spectrum of effectiveness….
Diversion Book Safe (A safe within a book)
It has a realistic look and design, but keep in mind books themselves and other class related supplies are frequent targets for thieves on campus. In fact, books are often turned into the bookstore as “used” and converted into fast cash. However, college kids should consider buying a fire-proof safe for expensive property or important items like your identification, keys, wallets and checkbooks. It’s also import to engrave your most expensive items – computers, bikes, televisions, cameras, iPods, musical instruments, cars, smart phones – with identifying information.
Hidden Closet Dorm Safe (A storage place disguised as dress)
Again, it’s certainly a clever design and fine for organizing miscellaneous items, but as a father of three former college kids, I know that frequent “borrowing” and lending of clothes is quite common in the dorms and around campus. Again, for your most important and expensive property I recommend a fireproof safe that can’t be so easily “borrowed” by others on campus.
Pepper Spray (Hidden in a perfume/lipstick container)
A concealed pepper spray device like this is a good item for female college students to carry, but shouldn’t give a false sense of protection in the event of an attack. First, use your instincts and best judgment, and don’t be afraid to run, scream, kick or hit to get out of danger…BUT be realistic about your ability to fight off the attacker. If a weapon is displayed, don’t resist. Give up your property and don’t ever put your life in danger. Carry your cell phone and a whistle to alert others for help, and try to remember as many details as you can. It’s critical to alert Public Safety or the police as soon as possible.
Prey Project (A laptop protection software)
Guarding one’s personal information is critical, and this application may be one way for tech-savvy college students to protect the info they have stored digitally on their laptops. Still, more and more of their personal information is being stored on other mobile devices and in the cloud, so the most fundamental lesson is to keep all of your passwords private, diversified, and to change them often.
MyForce (One-touch phone app that send a security alert)
Smart phones and their embedded technologies open up a world of safety possibilities for students, and the private service, My Force, is another example of what smart phone technology enables. I recommend contacting your phone service provider to see their offering and work with your campus police. Many learning institutions have deployed notification systems that allow them to broadcast real time safety messages to students, faculty and employees.
Street Defender (Multi-function keychain alarm)
This looks like a handy and effective noise-making device, which I always recommend carrying with you at all times to use if you suspect you’re in danger. In addition to sounding the alarm, move to a well lit area and alert those in the vicinity of the emergency. Call 911 or activate a blue light emergency phone that should be available on campus.
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