By Paul Michael In this day and age, with heightened airport security and insane flying fears, it may seem like an odd piece of advice. But that is just what has resurfaced in the internet recently, and for at least one guy, it's working. Put a gun in your checked bags and keep your valuables safe.

A couple weeks ago our quiet neighborhood was turned upside down by a burglary in broad daylight. It seems a trio of opportunists broke into the back of a home and were in the process of loading up the content of the house into their car before a neighbor spotted them and notified authorities. It is unknown whether or not the homeowner had a security system, but it was a great reminder for neighbors that this is the time of year when many break-ins occur, which means it is time to consider home security.

As more and more people do their banking online, a common question asked by consumers is how they know that the transactions they do online or from their mobile web devices are secure. While most banks assure us that the security technology that is set in place to protect digital banking make it just as safe, if not safer, than banking at your local branch, recent discoveries demonstrate that some online banking may not be quite as secure as banks once thought.

The development and increasing popularity of online banking has been one of the most noteworthy phenomenons in the world of personal finance over the past fifteen years. While some banks have been set up to operate exclusively via the Internet, the provision of online banking services has also become important for traditional banks seeking an effective and economical way to communicate with their clientele.

Security has certainly improved through the years. Banking online and using your credit cards are more secure than ever. Banks have gone through a great deal to keep their clients information secure. Major credit card providers such as Visa reports that only 5 cents out of $100 spent on credit cards are fraudulent. This is a dramatic improvement from past years when customer fraud claims took a large percentage of their transactions.