Spring is upon us! This Sunday, we roll into the Spring Equinox and leave winter behind. For many, this means spring cleaning their house and starting fresh. But you don’t have to stop there. Aside from mopping floors and scrubbing down countertops, you can also begin your digital spring cleaning. Your laptop, phone, and other devices deserve some decluttering too.
To get you started and feeling revived for the new season, we recommend following the five tips below to clean up your digital spaces.
1. Update your passwords
It’s easy to get used to the same passwords and it definitely makes it easier to remember them. But data breaches and cyber-attacks make this practice pretty risky. Create new, strong passwords this spring, particularly with different numbers and symbols. Using a password manager such as LastPass, which automatically generates unique passwords for you, can also come in handy.
2. Delete apps you don’t use
This is a great way to clear some space and get rid of unused programs. Before deleting any app, make sure you also delete your account and any personal information it may be stored. According to McAfee, “Many apps today store information that’s stored and maintained by the app provider. Make sure you close your accounts so that data and information is taken out of circulation as well.” In addition to this, you should also make sure all apps you plan to keep are up to date on software.
3. Clean up your browser
Browsers can become like messy closets – cluttered and distracting. Take a moment to delete your old browsing history and refresh your cache and cookies. Yes, that will mean having to log back into all your sites, but it also enhances security and keeps your personal data safe. This is also a chance to review your plug-ins and add-ons in your browser. If there are any you’re not using, be sure to delete it.
4. Organize your photos
We all have photos on our phones and laptops. Getting organized with these will help you feel less stressed and provide easy access to them in the future. Firstly, if you can, back all photos up to the cloud to guarantee you won’t ever lose them. In terms of organization, McAfee suggests sorting your photos into albums based on who is in them and where they were taken, no different than a physical photo album.
They say, “The Photos app on iOS has an additional feature that to help you organize your photos. Select a picture and then hit the “i” icon at the top of the screen. A window will show you the metadata associated with that picture, which is information about your photo. You can add to this metadata with your own keywords and tags that help describe the picture, like ‘Mom on the Metro” or “Dad’s Birthday 2015.’ This will aid in future searching and organizing as well.”
5. Double check the permissions you allow
Many third-parties track your information and store it without you realizing. Always read the fine print when signing into an app and review the ones you’re already using. The Identity Theft Resource Center tells us, “If they aren’t actively using the collected data, they may still be storing it, leaving your personal information vulnerable to cyberattacks should the third-party fall victim to a data compromise.”
Taking these tips into account will help you create a healthier viewpoint and clearer mind. Once you’ve finished and ready for a fresh start, don’t hesitate to contact one of our talented recruiters to find your next career move!
