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from the editor

REFLECTING ON

LIFE IN SA THIS

SEPTEMbER

ur articles in this issue are a mix
speedy get-away. ‘Follow-you-home’ criminals
of the good and the bad. On
the bright side, we look forward are becoming more brazen and actually
entering gated complexes behind vehicles to
Oto Heritage Day, aka National rob the drivers of their valuables. Cybercrime
Braai Day, on 24 September and, to help has escalated dramatically, too, and in this
you celebrate this extra-special day, we’ve issue, Josh Truter takes a look at this facet of
included some super recipes for you to share the ‘crime profession’ that has infiltrated our
with your family and friends. homes.
For the gardening enthusiasts, we have some Crime, it seems, knows no boundaries and
tips on how to make your own compost so has no conscience when it comes to where it
you can nourish the soil in your garden ready dares to find its victims – even our children
for summer. And James Clarke shares his have become easy targets. Unfortunately, as
enjoyment of the increasingly fashionable use parents, we can’t be constantly looking over
of water-wise succulents in residential estates our children’s shoulders, but we do need to
and suburban gardens. be aware of what’s out there so we can offer
some form of guidance, at the very least. in’ when joining, you give TikTok permission
On the more sombre side, there has been to collect your phone and social network
an escalation in all types of crime. The The use of social media by our kids has contacts, determine your GPS position, store
soothsayers say that it’s to be expected due become such an integral part of their lives your personal information such as your age
to rising unemployment, however, that point and their addiction to all things involving and phone number, and have access to any
is debatable as most of the crimes seem to be screens and electronic devices is making content that you post.
well-orchestrated and it’s more likely that the them more vulnerable to exploitation on Whether it’s TikTok, Facebook, Google, Twitter,
opportunists have upped their game, rather a number of levels. In this issue, Nicoleen Tinder, Amazon or the thousands of other
than it being because of an upsurge of crimes Davies, Director of Life Talk, examines apps and online facilities now occupying
committed by the genuinely needy. some of the hazards of the kids using the the virtual arena, the big incentive for these
Chinese-developed app, TikTok. Initially operators is data mining. Once they have
The tactic of cell phone snatching by pseudo- released in September 2016, TikTok is now collected and analysed the data . . . who
pedestrians from real pedestrians has now available in 40 languages. In essence, it’s a knows where it ends up?
developed into pseudo-runners following vehicle for sharing short videos which, due
other runners, with a back-up vehicle trailing to its huge following across the globe, can With the latest appliances also capable of
behind to add extra muscle and ensure a go viral relatively easily. If you choose to ‘opt being rigged to the Internet of Things, one’s
entire household can be analysed and shared
with third parties if no restrictions are placed
on what these operators are allowed to
access. I’m not sure how much control we’ll
have on our lives and on our own behaviour
once chips are embedded in human brains,
but for now, let’s do what we can to take our
power back from the data manipulators and
the cybercriminals.
Till next time, take care and stay safe!

Warm regards,
Ann

Ann Arnott
Editor

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DPL