- 10 hours ago
These simple yet crucial tips could help you stay safe in unexpected situations. From avoiding dangerous couch stings to recognizing suspicious messages, these everyday precautions can make a big difference.
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00:00There's a man in England who bought a couch for his new home, unaware that the furniture
00:05would threaten his health and potentially his life.
00:08How could that happen?
00:10Well, two days after the purchase, Andrew Wolfe discovered red marks all over his body.
00:16Each time he laid down on his new couch to rest, his condition worsened.
00:20It didn't take him long to realize that his new sofa was infested with fleas or bedbugs.
00:27Although Andrew bought the couch at a discount, paying only half the original price, his attempt
00:32to save money backfired.
00:34He ended up incurring expenses for pest control, disposing of various household items, and
00:40enduring a frustrating ordeal.
00:42The company that sold him the couch agreed to issue a refund, but denied his request for
00:47compensation, arguing that he was aware the couch was a returned item and had previously
00:52been in another home.
00:54Well, if you've ever felt a mysterious sting while lounging on your couch, you might
01:00be sharing your space with some unwelcome pests.
01:03Sometimes spotting them can be impossible, and the sad news is that they're experts at
01:08multiplying.
01:09You might wonder why your couch, of all places.
01:12Well, simply put, it's a cozy haven for them.
01:15And if you ever enjoy snacks like chips or popcorn on the couch – let's be real, who
01:20doesn't – you're also creating an endless buffet for them.
01:26Sometimes removing the cushions from the couch and vacuuming all the gaps can't solve the
01:30problem.
01:31But if you have an older couch that's super dirty, just vacuuming it won't do the trick.
01:37Bedbugs are mostly active at night, so they could attack you while you sleep.
01:41They feed for up to 10 minutes, until they get full.
01:45The bites look different on everyone, and the reaction can be severe.
01:50Remember, these small but fierce critters can survive without food for several months.
01:55So, if you're planning to store your furniture in the garage for a while, make sure to give
02:00your couch a good cleaning and vacuum it.
02:02Then seal it up in a zippered cover.
02:05Even if there are bedbugs still hiding inside, they'll eventually kick the bucket without
02:10a source of food and won't be able to reproduce.
02:15Meanwhile, fleas spend most of their time together in crevices in the walls of your home.
02:20Did you know that these little guys remember the dinosaurs?
02:24They were around for at least 165 million years.
02:28They had to be larger in size and have much larger mouthparts to get through the thick
02:32skin of dinos.
02:34When they bite, they mostly go for legs and ankles.
02:37Then the marks from their shenanigans can stay sore and itchy for a whole week.
02:42You won't spot them hopping from crevice to crevice, but you can find their droppings around
02:47your couch legs and underneath the couch itself.
02:49If you see them, you can try treating them with some salt for a couple of days, or just call
02:55a professional.
02:58Now, cockroaches prefer to live in the kitchen.
03:00But if they see that you've started a free canteen in the living room, they'll make an
03:05exception for you.
03:06There are so many of them that some surveys say they live in up to 98% of homes in
03:12urban
03:12areas, mostly unnoticed.
03:14Take an empty glass bottle and line the bottom of it with some maple syrup.
03:18Put some cooking oil on the top of the bottle.
03:21This trap will work like a cockroach magnet, and they'll get stuck in it forever.
03:25And then you can decide what to do with a bottle full of bugs.
03:31Moths are super sneaky, so you won't see them on your sofa.
03:34But you will feel some weird movement if they're inside.
03:38They love wool and other natural fibers.
03:41But even if your couch isn't that exquisite, they'll still move in there if there are food
03:45stains on it.
03:46If you see holes in the fabric, webbing around the legs or frame of a sofa, or moth larvae,
03:53you'll know they've moved in with you.
03:55There are around 160,000 species of moths in the world, and only 150 species that can
04:02sting.
04:02They really can't bite when they're mature because they grow a long, strong-shaped
04:07orifice.
04:07But caterpillars don't have that feature and can give you a tough time.
04:12And then there's this horror scenario where you lay down and a couch moth just crawls into
04:18your ear.
04:19It happened to a guy in America who became an internet sensation.
04:23He felt the moth near his ear and wanted to smack him, but the insect went inside.
04:28His friends helped the guy with a pair of tweezers.
04:31It turned out that the moth was one inch long and still perfectly fine.
04:35So both the guy and the moth got lucky that time.
04:39But experts don't recommend using objects to remove the moth.
04:42You need to tilt your head to let gravity do the job and lure the moth with some light
04:48from the outside.
04:49And of course, you need to keep your furniture clean to make it less attractive to those playful
04:54creatures.
04:56Now, holes in your textiles are one thing, but throwing away all the food from your pantry
05:01is like a next-level offense.
05:03Pantry moths love to eat dry foods like cereal, flour, rice, and grains, and they can sneak into
05:10your pantry with groceries, pet food, or birdseed that's already infested.
05:15When they hatch, they can spread to other food in your pantry.
05:19A female pantry moth is super productive and can lay about 400 eggs after mating.
05:25When the eggs hatch, the larvae start eating your food and spinning sticky webs.
05:30They can even chew through thin cardboard boxes and plastic bags, so closed packages don't
05:35always keep them out.
05:36You might see their droppings, webs, or even tiny holes in your food packaging.
05:42These are obvious signs of an infestation.
05:44Pantry moths aren't harmful to people.
05:47They're just annoying and ruin food.
05:49But some types, like the cinnabar moth, are poisonous.
05:53They have bright red and black colors, which warn predators to stay away.
05:58If you feel like your pantry might have moths right now, pause the video and inspect it well.
06:04Did you find someone who shouldn't be there?
06:07Well, try storing your flour, baking mixes, oatmeal, and nuts in the freezer.
06:12Or at least freeze them for three days before moving them back to your pantry.
06:17Cold treatment will help you get rid of any larvae that might be present in the foods that
06:21you brought home from the store.
06:23Now, just to be on the safe side, try this white vinegar and hot water solution I tested
06:28myself.
06:30Mix them in equal amounts and wipe down your pantry from top to bottom, including both
06:35sides of shelves, corners, baseboards, floor, and storage containers.
06:40All the moths will urgently go elsewhere.
06:43As one final precaution, you can hang sticky flypaper in the pantry.
06:47If you add a little bit of fish oil to it, all the moths still hiding in there won't
06:52be able to resist the temptation.
06:56Now, here's a little riddle.
06:58White is tiny, has up to 177 pairs of legs, and can scare a 40-year-old man more than
07:04any
07:04horror movie.
07:06Yep, it's a centipede running around your living room.
07:09And before you go for the slipper to eliminate the threat, remember, it's your friend.
07:15Centipedes can bite, but they hardly ever do it.
07:17They don't make nests or webs, they don't transmit anything dangerous, and they don't
07:22damage your home or beloved objects.
07:24And they work for you, for free, as natural pest control.
07:29They eat roaches, flies, termites, moths, and silverfish.
07:33So instead of taking their lives, try relocating them outside, where they won't scare you, but
07:39will keep working hard.
07:40If you don't want them to come back, seal any gaps and holes in the foundation, doors,
07:45and windows.
07:46Fix any leaks and clean up any standing water.
07:49Move piles of wood and leaves away from your home.
07:53Now, that's a lot of homework, but the result is worth it, trust me.
07:58Ever thought a rubber band could be that extra layer of security you needed for your home?
08:03Might sound weird, but there's some use for the small elastic.
08:06Putting a rubber band around your home's doorknob could help keep it safe, should there ever
08:12be a break-in.
08:13The rubber band makes it hard for someone to turn the knob and open the door.
08:17This cheap and easy trick can be extra helpful for people who live in places with a lot of
08:22trespassing, or for those who travel a lot and want to make sure their home is secure.
08:27The rubber band can also fix a wobbly or loose doorknob by making it fit tighter.
08:33Keeping your home safe doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
08:37However, for jewelry or important documents, you should consider buying a safe.
08:42We don't usually need a fancy and expensive one to store our valuables, though.
08:46Safes that are more expensive come with special features, like fire protection and the ability
08:51to open with fingerprints.
08:53To make it secure, you can bolt it to the floor or hide it in a closet or behind a
08:58picture
08:58on the wall, like you see in old movies.
09:01Do you tend to leave a spare key under the doormat?
09:04You might want to stop doing that.
09:07Hiding your house key is dangerous because it can be found by anyone if they look hard
09:11enough.
09:12Also, if there is no evidence of a break-in, insurance companies may not pay for your stolen
09:18items.
09:18A good solution is to use a combination lockbox that can be attached to your house or a fence
09:24post in a place where it's not easily seen.
09:27Make sure to use strong screws, preferably not those that come with the lockbox, which
09:32are generally weaker.
09:33It's best to invest in stronger ones, like those made out of stainless steel.
09:38It's not just the things inside your house that you need to look out for.
09:42These days, more and more people are stealing mail, often because mailboxes are not protected.
09:48To keep your mail safe, you can use a special mailbox that can only be opened with a key.
09:53You can hang it on a wall, just like a regular mailbox.
09:57If someone ever breaks into your car, they can get that remote that opens your garage,
10:02if that's where you're keeping it.
10:04This can happen even if your car is parked in your driveway.
10:07They can also get your address from a card in your car's glove box.
10:11To protect yourself, don't keep the remote on your car's visor.
10:15Get a keychain remote that you can take with you.
10:18You can find more options online by searching for your garage opener brand.
10:22Don't keep your car key attached to other keys, either.
10:25If you lose the whole bunch, you'll be stuck out of your house and your car.
10:30Don't share your travel plans on social media if you don't want everyone to know about them.
10:35Wrongdoers can find out when you'll be away by searching for keywords like trip, travel, etc.
10:41If you're constantly updating your feed with museum and restaurant visits abroad,
10:46people will assume you're not at home and that your house may be easily accessible.
10:50To stay safe, wait until after your trip to post about it.
10:55If you need to let people know ahead of time, make sure your post is private so not everyone can
11:00see it.
11:01This next home security tip is surely not for everyone.
11:05You need to be extra responsible and have the appropriate lifestyle.
11:09Also, you need to check up with your doctor to see if you have any allergies.
11:13You may be confused now, huh?
11:15I'm talking about getting a dog.
11:18Most people say having a dog can increase the level of security in your home.
11:22The downside is not all dogs are good at it.
11:26Some pups are trained to guard and protect property, while others are trained to watch over people.
11:31The best breeds for home protection are German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers,
11:36because they respond well to training and are friendly with their families.
11:40If you want a security-trained dog, consider getting one from a trusted trainer.
11:45If you have both a dog and a security system, make sure to get a motion detector that won't be
11:51triggered by your dog.
11:54Now, as much as you can, keep your windows covered so no one can see inside your home.
11:59If you have see-through curtains, use other window coverings to protect your property.
12:03This makes it harder for people to know when you're home and what sort of valuables you have inside.
12:10Also, keep expensive items, like TVs and jewelry, out of sight.
12:14You can also use tall fences or bushes to block the view of your home.
12:18Don't go overboard with this, though.
12:20Your house does need light for your health and that of your plants, if you have some laying around the
12:25house.
12:26If your home security budget is a bit more solid, you could invest in a smart video doorbell.
12:32This gadget lets you see, hear, and talk to visitors, even if you're not at home.
12:37You can tell the delivery person where to leave a package or check who's at your door, even if they
12:42don't ring the bell.
12:44You'll get a notification on your phone if motion is detected outside, so you can see what's going on from
12:50your phone.
12:51If you want a simpler and less expensive solution, you can use a door chain or a door viewer to
12:56see who's outside without fully opening your door.
13:00Speaking of inexpensive ways to keep your home safe, always remember to top up your gravel.
13:05You can always hear when someone is stepping on it.
13:08This way, you'll always know when someone is getting too close to your home, even before they've arrived at the
13:14front door.
13:15The more gravel there is on the pathways in your yard, the louder the crunch it makes when walked upon.
13:20Now, it's not just the physical things you need to protect.
13:24If your home comes with its own wireless network, you need to keep that extra secure, too.
13:29It's basically a one-stop shop for all your personal information, like passwords, schedules, and, most importantly, details about your
13:37finances.
13:38Thankfully, there are ways you can up your game when it comes to your local Wi-Fi network.
13:43For starters, make sure it doesn't have an obvious name.
13:47Also, make sure it's hidden.
13:50Installing an antivirus on your local computer might also help.
13:53Lastly, make sure to use strong passwords for all the websites and tools you use.
13:58Remember to change your passwords every now and then, too, and try not to use the same password everywhere you
14:04need to log in.
14:06It's also good to have a car visible in the driveway at all times.
14:10This is especially important if you're going to be gone for a long time.
14:14If you're leaving for vacation or a work trip, try to have someone visit your house regularly so that it
14:20looks like someone is still there.
14:22If it looks like there's some activity around a household, it's less likely it will be targeted by the wrong
14:28people.
14:29The same goes for your gardening.
14:30It's best if you trim things up before leaving the house unattended for a while.
14:35If your yard is messy, it shows that you have been gone for a while and your house might become
14:40a target for theft.
14:41To avoid this, always keep your plants neat.
14:45If you're going on a long trip, ask someone to take care of your yard by cutting the grass, watering
14:50plants, and doing other necessary landscaping tasks.
14:57If you receive a text that has three simple, seemingly harmless words, would you kindly?
15:04Remember, it's a huge red flag.
15:07In fact, if even just one of the words, kindly, pops up in a text from an unknown number, there's
15:14a huge chance scammers are after you.
15:17Tim Bajarin, a technology expert with 40 years of experience, explains that it's all because people in the U.S.
15:24don't often use the word kindly in everyday language.
15:27You're more likely to hear or read kindly in countries that were once under British influence, like Nigeria or India.
15:35There, English isn't the main language.
15:38There's a huge chance that someone living in one of those countries, and probably sitting in a boiler room full
15:44of tricksters, sent you the message.
15:46Same goes for help messages.
15:48Scammers often pretend to be tech support, saying there's an issue on your device, and they'll help you fix it.
15:55But it's really a trick.
15:57Anti-fraud experts warn that if you get any message that you didn't ask for, whether it's a text, robocall,
16:04social media message, or email, it's smart to be extra careful.
16:08If you didn't start the conversation, it might be someone trying to trick you.
16:13Scammers know people are getting better at spotting tricks, so they've changed their approach.
16:18They use AI to have perfect grammar and spelling.
16:21They might start with a friendly message like, did I miss you today, or hi, how are you, or I'll
16:27be late for the meeting.
16:28If you reply to these messages to say they've got the wrong person, or ask who they are, they'll try
16:34to fool you somehow.
16:36Scammers use these friendly openers to build trust and pretend to be nice.
16:40Once they win over your attention, they might ask you to invest in something like cryptocurrency.
16:46Or say they're in trouble and ask for gift cards.
16:49But it's all a trick.
16:51The best you can do with any random message you didn't expect, whether it's a text or email, is to
16:57just delete it.
16:58If the message says it's from someone important, like your bank or the IRS, don't click on any links or
17:05open attachments.
17:06If you're unsure whether the message is real, you should log in directly to your account at the official website,
17:13not through any links in the message.
17:14Another safe thing you can do is call the bank or company using their official phone number to check if
17:21they really were trying to contact you.
17:23It's important to report scam messages, because law enforcement can use the information to see how big the problem is
17:30and put more effort into solving it.
17:34Another big scam that's happening more and more lately is the pig butchering scheme.
17:39But don't worry, no pigs are involved.
17:42It's called that because scammers spend some time fattening up their target first.
17:48They start talking to you on social media or a dating app and become friends or even act like they're
17:54interested in a relationship with you.
17:56They chat and get close over weeks or months.
17:59And then, once you trust them, the scammer suggests investing in something that sounds promising.
18:05It could be a new cryptocurrency or a special stock trading site.
18:09When you invest a lot of money, hoping to make even more, the scammer then butchers the relationship and disappears
18:16with all the money.
18:17So, you've got to double-check any online investment opportunity and try not to share too much personal information with
18:24new online friends.
18:26Now, in a job offer scam, you might get an email about a job that sounds interesting, even though you
18:33didn't apply for it.
18:34Here, you need to remember the golden rule of safe online surfing.
18:38If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
18:42The job is often something unusual, like being a mystery shopper or a position that doesn't require any special skills.
18:49If you say yes, your new employer will send you a check or money order to pay you.
18:55But the amount will be way more than they promised.
18:58They then tell you to keep part of the money and send the extra back to them.
19:02And here comes the trick.
19:04That check or money order they sent you was fake.
19:07So, when you send them the extra money, you're actually sending them your own money.
19:12And once you realize the check was fake, it's too late.
19:15Scammers use this trick a lot, especially on popular job sites.
19:19So, it's important to be careful and double-check any job offer that seems suspicious.
19:27If you receive a phone call from someone who works for Microsoft or another big tech company and offers to
19:34make your computer faster, don't get too excited.
19:37If you accept the offer, they will send you an email and you'll click on a link to download a
19:42program that lets you control your computer from far away.
19:46Once they're in, they can put malware on your computer, which lets them see your files and steal important personal
19:52information.
19:53To stay safe from these kinds of scams, ignore unasked-for advice from strangers.
19:59Real companies won't call you to fix your computer out of nowhere.
20:02And please, never allow remote access to your computer unless you know and trust the person.
20:08If someone calls you, ask questions to make sure they're who they say they are.
20:13Scammers often give up if they see you're being cautious.
20:18Now, sometimes, scammers will make fake quizzes or surveys to trick people into giving away their personal information.
20:25These quizzes might start with fun, harmless questions.
20:28And once you get hooked, they'll ask you for personal details, like your address, birthday, or even bank information.
20:35They often promise rewards or prizes to make people feel comfortable sharing more.
20:40But the real goal is to gather information that could be used for identity theft or fraud.
20:45To stay safe, only trust surveys from websites or companies you know.
20:50Look them up if you're unsure.
20:52If the quiz suddenly redirects or opens more windows, that's usually a sign of something suspicious.
20:59Some quizzes ask for access to unnecessary personal info.
21:02Be cautious and say no if it feels strange.
21:06Now, another form of scam is voice phishing.
21:09When someone pretends to be an official over the phone and asks you to provide your data.
21:14Always check with your bank, hospital, or whoever the scammers pretend to be if they really need your data.
21:21It can also be a robocall that asks you to contact some phone number to claim your prize.
21:26The robot can offer you to press a certain button to stop communication with it for good.
21:31Ignore it.
21:32You'll just sign yourself up for more robocalls because they know you're a real person.
21:37Now, some bad guys that practice phishing are after your voice.
21:41It's as unique as your fingerprint, iris, and DNA.
21:45A simple yes or I'm listening can help frosters generate a sample of your voice.
21:50If they get that and some other data from you, they can access even more personal data and do some
21:56operations pretending to be you.
21:58AI tools can change recording of your voice seamlessly into something you never really said.
22:04So the best you can do is hang up without saying a word.
22:10To keep your personal data safe, you gotta get creative when you answer security questions that can give you access
22:17to your account when you forget your password.
22:20Don't select the same security questions across multiple sites.
22:24If one answer is leaked, then they'll have access to all your accounts.
22:29If someone's after your data, they can easily find out the name of your elementary school, favorite food, or pet.
22:35So don't give away these clues online or use fictitious information as answers to your security questions to keep them
22:43unhackable.
22:44In case you have your pet's name as a password, don't share pictures of it signed with that name.
22:50Invent a passphrase of random words instead of a password.
22:55But the best you can do is not use the pet's name as a password and get a special app
23:00to create a stronger password for you instead.
23:04Finally, be careful when you're shopping online or typing in some other sensitive data in public places,
23:10because shoulder surfing is a real thing.
23:13If they glance at your screen long enough at a coffee shop, in a shared workspace, or on a bus,
23:19they can easily steal credit card information, passwords, or shipping addresses.
23:24Try to position your screen in such a way that no one but you can see it.
23:28You can get a privacy screen protector or filter to be on the safe side.
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