Community Corner
Protect Your Electronics
Safeguard your personal devices from theft, water damage, and general wear and tear.
Clark, NJ August 14th 2015 - Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other electronics are expensive to replace. Stretch your dollars by protecting these devices from theft and common mishaps that lead to early destruction.
Prevent Theft
Keep a low profile to help deter thieves from snatching your expensive electronics. Take these precautions:
- Use caution in public places. Keep your device out of sight when you’re not using it, and always be aware of your surroundings.
- Never leave devices unattended — even when they’re under lock and key. Thieves smash the windows of locked cars to retrieve laptops, smartphones and GPS navigation devices in plain sight.
- Carry devices in a nondescript bag or case. This may help prevent a thief from stealing the electronic.
If you plan to travel with electronics in tow, play it safe with this advice from MetLife.
Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Prevent Water Damage
Avoid using electronics around water, and store your device in a water-resistant case for good measure. If an accident happens and your device isn’t protected, act quickly to avoid a total loss:
- Shut off and unplug the device. This keeps it from short-circuiting.
- Remove any obstructions. Prevent water from reaching all components by removing the battery, headphones, and the SIM and memory cards.
- Drain the water. Get as much water out of the device as possible by tilting it, shaking it or sucking out the moisture with a vacuum cleaner attachment.
- Take it apart. Follow the operating manual’s instructions for disassembling the device.
- Let it dry. Store the device in an area with excellent air circulation, and use a fan to help speed up the process.
- Wait. Give the device a few days to dry out, then reassemble it and turn it back on.
Prevent Wear and Tear
Take care of your device to maximize its lifespan. Some pointers:
Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Invest in a protective case. You can choose from a variety of materials, such as hard plastic or rubber, which offer different levels of protection. Clear plastic protectors help prevent fragile screens from cracking or shattering.
- Be careful in extreme temperatures. If your device has been in extreme cold or heat for an extended period, let it warm or cool to room temperature before using it.
- Keep computers in well-ventilated areas. If your desktop or laptop computer feels hot, there may be dust inside the machine. Clean the fans regularly with compressed air, and use a laptop cooling pad to allow for proper air flow.
