Author: sdcdesign

How to Protect Your Data From Your Rental CAr

Renting a car with all the latest bells and whistles – like web browsing and hands-free texting – is fun, but you could be exposing personal information warns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). When you use a connected rental car’s infotainment system, it may store locations you entered in GPS

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Backcountry fire risk decreases in San Diego County

It may now be possible for property owners in San Diego County’s backcountry to buy fire insurance for the first time.  The change comes after an insurance organization that weighs wildfire risk determined that the backcountry is safer after years of investment, according to the Los Angeles Times. The ruling may also make it possible

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New Rules Emerge for Construction in Flood Prone Areas

Regulations for companies and homeowners using federal funds for projects in flood-prone areas will push construction projects to higher ground. The new regulations recently released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency require building on higher ground, up to two feet higher than the 100-year floodplain, according to the Wall Street

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Risk Grows As Climate Change Drives Extreme Weather

Scientists agree that there is growing evidence that climate change is driving people from their homes.  Dozens were killed and more than 100,000 homes were damaged in flooding in Louisiana and 82,000 people were evacuated in San Bernardino County just in the past few weeks.  According to the Washington Post,

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New Technology Could Help Combat Wildfires

With the threat of wildfires on the rise in California, firefighters are overhauling basic firefighting equipment to get ahead. Sam Wu, Project Leader with the San Dimas Technology and Development Center, told KPCC Southern California Public Radio that his team is working to make sure firefighters have the most up-to-date

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Cloud controlled solar panels pose a hacking risk

Installing solar panels on your home seems like a great way to save on the electricity bill, but it could also open your home up to hackers. Researcher Frederic Bret-Mounet is sounding the alarm about solar’s potential pitfalls at the computer security industry’s top hacking conferences. Bret-Mounet hacked his own solar panels,

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Judge Says State Farm Should Issue Premium Refunds

California customers were charged excessive premiums for rental and home insurance policies by State Farm a judge ruled, recommending millions in refunds. Consumer advocacy groups challenged State Farm’s proposed 7 percent rate increase, which the insurance giant said was needed to cover new risks from wildfires. Administrative Law Judge John

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Experts Call on Auto Industry to Take Car Hacking Seriously

The hackers who stopped a Jeep remotely are back proving more of today’s vehicles have security vulnerabilities. This time, cybersecurity researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek hijacked the steering and brake systems by plugging into the car’s electronic system. What the researchers have done is difficult, but they believe car

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Are you covered for the sharing economy? Likely no

Uber and Airbnb have emerged as the leaders of the sharing economy.  More people than ever are branching away from traditional hospitality services such as hotels or taxis. Instead, consumers are opting for cheaper home or ride sharing services.  But peer-to-peer sharing companies are not sharing the risk. Instead, they

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Thieves Turn to Laptops to Steal Cars

Thieves are turning to tech to hack into and steal some late-model vehicles, raising alarms for both law enforcement and auto insurers.   A pair of car thieves were caught on camera using a laptop to start a 2010 Jeep Wrangler and steal it from a home in Houston, Texas

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