As flowers bloom and the weather warms, many of us will be doing some spring cleaning around the house. But getting a good scrub requires more than just the physical space.
Spring is a good time to clean up your digital footprint and devices. This helps you organize and manage your online presence.
“Spring cleaning is a great time to think about different settings on your devices,” advises Lisa Plaggemier, executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
First, go through your smartphone, tablet, and computer and remove unused apps, old files, and unnecessary documents. This not only frees up storage space but also improves the performance of your device.
“You don't just want to delete the app, you also want to delete the data, like closing your account. You want them to completely erase all the data they have about you,” Plagemier said.
Protect your personal data by backing up your most important files. Use the 3-2-1 rule. Have three backup copies, two different media types, and one offline copy in separate locations.
“Consider using one of the cloud-based storage providers to back up all your data. These are incredibly affordable,” suggests Plagemier.
Make sure all your devices are secure. Please check if your software is up to date. These updates often include security patches that help protect your device from malware and other threats.
“These have security flaws and bugs fixed, so if you leave them alone and don't run them, especially if you're not using the latest version of your operating system, your data may be compromised. A breach may occur.”
These same tips apply to business as well.
“Companies of any size can be held hostage if their data is compromised or, unfortunately, their credit card information is compromised,” said Paula Fleming, spokeswoman for the Boston Better Business Bureau. “So we want to protect that information.”
The BBB recommends that small business owners update their policies and procedures on topics such as record-keeping.
“If you're in an open area where people come in and out of your home, whether it's a checkbook or a customer's credit card information, you need to keep it in a safe and protected place,” Fleming says.
You can also do a deep clean of your social media accounts. Check your list of friends and followers. Consider unfollowing accounts you're no longer interested in and adjusting your privacy settings to control who can see your posts and information.
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