Stolen Guns Seized in Michigan
Michigan and local authorities have reported a handful of stolen guns seized and multiple people arrested on gun charges this past week. Crime usually ticks up in the springtime, so this development isn’t super surprising. Here’s what happened and what police are doing to help.
Michigan Gun Laws
Before we get into the latest uptick in arrests, remember that gun laws have chanced in 2024. The new gun laws were introduced into Lansing following the tragic shooting at Michigan State University. The House and Senate passed these bills, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed them. The new laws require safe storage (gun owners must lock their weapons away, if a minor is expected to be in the home), background checks (mandatory, no matter how you’re buying a firearm) and “red flag” (to cut down on possible violence for those who may have mental health problems or have threatened others). That was the main chance in gun laws this year, and the new laws went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Also, if you’re curious, a new study from City-data.com looks at the top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that have firearms at their places of residence. According to the study, it’s Macomb County, which lands at No. 99 on the list, encompassing Warren, Sterling Heights and Shelby. According to the study, 29.9% of the people living in Macomb County have firearms at their homes. No other Michigan county is in the top 100. The county with the most firearms in America, according to City-data.com, is Stewart County in Tennessee. No. 2 is Fairbanks North Star Borough, Arkansas, and No. 3 is Nez Perce County, Idaho.
Michigan Stolen Guns Seized
Now, here’s what happened with the recent stolen gun seizures and arrests. Michigan State Police First District took to social media on Easter Sunday morning (March 31) with photos, stating that its Lansing Post, in partnership with Lansing Police Department, seized three guns over the past week. They also recovered three additional stolen guns. On top of that, police jailed four adults this past week on multiple gun charges and released a Lansing 13-year-old to their parents. Recovering stolen guns is part of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “Operation Safe Neighborhoods” initiative. As of last October, the program resulted in more than 500 illegal and stolen guns being recovered. Operation Safe Neighborhoods is a “statewide crackdown on crime aimed at reducing gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street and out of the hands of people who cannot legally be in possession of a gun due to prior criminal history,” according to a release.
Top Mistakes That Can Get You Hacked
Reusing Passwords
Many of us are still using the same password across many different accounts. While it’s pretty common, it’s not a good habit to have. If you’re reusing passwords for multiple websites and accounts, a hacker could potentially use that password to log into those accounts. Nobody wants to have to remember a 16-digit password for every single one of their accounts, especially when getting locked out of a computer or platform at the most inconvenient time. But if a security breach were to happen, that’s one less problem to worry about. Like, remembering which accounts are at risk of a threat.
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Oversharing On Social Media
Personal data exposure is really a thing. When you share personal information on social media, you expose yourself to the risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the New York Institute of Technology, Cybercriminals can use the information you share, such as your full name, date of birth, and location, to impersonate you or launch targeted attacks. Most people know that sharing sensitive information such as your car information, address, work history, or phone numbers can make you vulnerable. But some people forget that this information can also be identified through pictures and innocent as sharing your new car photo or your child’s first day of school photo.
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Using Unsecure Wi-Fi
Hackers can use unsecured Wi-Fi connections to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer. Free public Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere at places like restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, and even retail outlets. But public wi-fi comes with risks. “Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer,” said Kaspersky, a tech company. Some people highly recommended looking into a VPN to encrypt internet traffic and keep your data hidden.
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Clicking Suspicious Links
Clicking on a suspicious link or phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that often contains malicious files. According to Aura, a credit monitoring platform, these links are capable of collecting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other personal information. If you’ve clicked on a phishing link, Cyber Tec Security suggest completely disconnecting from the internet.
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Out-Of-Date Software
The last thing many of us want to do is update our software. But there are many reasons why it’s important to do so. Software updates not only fix and improve problems with your software it also helps you avoid hackers. According to the University of Idaho, software updates often include patches that fix vulnerabilities or bugs that hackers can exploit to access your system or data. “By installing the latest updates, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your personal and business information,” they said.
Ralf Hahn/ Getty ImagesNot Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your online accounts is turning on multi-factor, or two-factor, authentication for as many of your accounts as possible. This method often uses a piece of information such as a code generated by an app or sent to your phone alongside a password. Two-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security to the authentication process. According to Tech Target, using multi-factor authentication makes it harder for attackers to gain access to a person’s devices or online accounts. Most companies have this in place for their employers but it’s something you can use for personal emails too.
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