Be careful during online festive shopping

The SA Insurance Association (SAIA) has warned consumers to exercise "extreme caution" while shopping online during the festive season. The body says consumers should be careful of fake sites which look like authentic companies, false deals with huge discounts or promotions, and hoax calls claiming to be made from their bank.

Noteworthy news in numbers

123456: a common, easily remembered password that is one of several that do not provide adequate protection.

1,737: South Africa's record number of weekly ransomware attacks, which is more than double the global average.

26th: the day in March 2022 when the twice-delayed Safire Berg 100 race is scheduled to take place in the KZN Midlands.

Cars with built-in breathalysers

Driving under the influence causes six out of ten fatalities on our roads each year. The US has approved built-in breathalysers in vehicles: tiny vent-like sensors will test the driver's exhaled breath or, as the driver pushes the ignition button, blood alcohol levels will be measured by an infrared light shining through the person's fingertip. Anti-cheat functions are built into the system...

Weather's impact on insurers

The world is experiencing more extreme weather, thanks to climate change, and the impact is affecting insurers dramatically. Swiss Re believes that weather-related insured losses could increase between 90% to 120% by 2040, driven mostly by climate change, economic development and urbanisation, while the CEO of Lloyd's says that climate is the "ultimate systemic risk" and represents "the biggest single opportunity the insurance industry has ever seen"...

Securing your home during the holidays

Holidays are about rest and relaxation but many people worry about their home being a target for thieves while they are away. To help get rid of that nagging feeling this festive season, here is a useful guide for securing your home. If you have a house-sitter to care for your pets and pot-plants, remember to brief them about your security system and give them contact numbers for your security company, neighbourhood watch, and neighbours, who should also be informed that someone else will be caring for your property during this time.

Enjoy a sea cruise

Fancy a year-end cruise, on a vast, ocean-going ship that has an indoor swimming pool and a gym, excellent food (including an on-deck braai), and comfortable cabins with en-suite bathrooms? It's not what you think - experience life aboard a huge container ship in this fascinating video...

It's holiday time!

We will be closing at noon on 24 and 31 December, ahead of the public holidays on 25 - 27 December 2021 and 1 January 2022. Wishing everyone a restful and safe year-end break.

The Insurer newsletter and the content of any article published herein, should not be construed as forming part of any insurance contract or policy nor as constituting any form of advice. It is aimed at providing an informal and informative read to the readers thereof. Whilst every effort is taken to attempt to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained herein, Safire Insurance Company Limited does not give any assurance regarding such accuracy or correctness and accordingly does not accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising from any reliance placed in the information contained herein.