During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, the kitchen can become pretty packed as your family prepares its favorite recipes … or maybe just sneaks in for an early sample of the finished product.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a novice baker, it’s important to keep electrical safety in mind at any time but especially during busy holidays.
Staying connected is essential. So is staying safe. Now, Tipmont’s Surf & Stream and Work & Play plans give you free access to a whole-home cybersecurity program.
ProtectIQ® is a free added benefit for those who have the Surf & Stream and Work & Play service packages for Tipmont fiber.
The following kitchen hazards may cause electric shock
- Damaged or worn electrical cords
- Equipment and appliances with faulty wiring
- Using damp cloths or water for cooking or cleaning near sources of electricity
The following tips may help prevent electric shock
- Always dry your hands thoroughly before handling cords or plugs.
- If an unplugged appliance cord gets wet or damp, do not plug it in until it is thoroughly dry.
- Do not handle electrical cords or appliances when standing in water that may have spilled.
- Pull on the plug, not the cord, to disconnect appliances from outlets.
- Regularly inspect electrical cords and plugs for damaged insulation and exposed wiring. Immediately discard any damaged items and avoid using any questionable items.
- Only handle the insulated part of a plug or cord when disposing of it.
- Do not overload extension cords, multi-pack “power strips” or surge protectors with too many appliances or other items. Do not plug them into each other. These should be temporary solutions, not permanent ones.
- Ensure extension cords, power strips and surge protectors are in good condition and the appropriate gauge for the job — the lower the number, the bigger the gauge and the greater the amperage and wattage.
- Educate yourself and everyone in your household on how to properly turn off your home’s power in case of an emergency.
Block security threats before they even reach a device
ProtectIQ® can block these threats before they even reach your devices, even those without their own security software.
Best of all? No device installation is required.
ProtectIQ® also sends you simple, customizable notifications of blocked threats and intrusions so you know it’s working, as well as weekly / monthly summaries if you choose.
Cybersecurity starts with you
Your careful actions and precautions are the best cybersecurity. See how accounts get compromised and what to do if they become compromised.
Occasionally, ProtectIQ® may send you an alert (for example, a port scan or protocol anomaly). These alerts typically indicate ProtectIQ® detected common automated internet activity and responded as designed.
In most cases, no action is required. The alert confirms ProtectIQ® identified the activity and took steps to protect your network. Receiving alerts does not necessarily mean your network or device was accessed.
You should contact Tipmont support when:
- You repeatedly receive the same alert several times within a few hours
- A device behaves unexpectedly, such as redirecting websites to unfamiliar pages, turning on or operating without being instructed, or no longer allowing you to sign in with your normal password
- You notice unfamiliar devices connected to your network
- Services or applications you regularly use are unavailable
Always-on cybersecurity for protection and peace of mind
With ProtectIQ®, you have always-on cybersecurity. That’s more protection and peace of mind at no extra cost.
Search for the CommandIQ® app on Apple’s App Store and Android’s Google Play.
Then, download the CommandIQ® app to your phone or tablet to use ProtectIQ®. (Be sure to explore other great free features like ExperienceIQ®, HomeOfficeIQ® and MyPrioritiesIQ®.
