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Cleaning up your digital life should be high on those resolution lists. Users share vital personal and financial data with numerous service providers. Such data exposure is necessary to maintain a digital lifestyle through apps or websites. However, the connectivity we enjoy daily comes at a price, usually our privacy. The more information you leave behind, the easier it is for anyone with the means to track you.
For example, a password manager and two-factor authentication provide some degree of protection. However, you should close online accounts you’ve stopped using or delete apps you no longer need.
Such a relatively simple but effective step protects you from unexpected account takeovers or leaking older passwords. However, these are just a few examples of strategies you should adopt.
Here are some smart ways to supercharge your digital lifestyle in 2022.
Reset and recycle devices you no longer use
You may have electronic devices that you no longer use: tablets, storage devices, laptops, cameras, etc. You should factory reset them all (if possible). After that, look for a place to recycle or donate them. Your old devices, especially computers, may have had enough life.
However, while selling or giving away your device is a great choice, there are steps to take before giving it away to others. You should disable all features and remove apps that may be linked to you. A crucial mistake is forgetting to sign out of iCloud or Apple ID.
Delete accounts you no longer use
The more accounts you have, the greater the risk. Regular users can have dozens of accounts, especially if they take advantage of all the benefits of their digital lifestyle. Chances are you haven’t logged into some of your accounts in years. Unfortunately, they still contain information about you that could be hacked or traded between companies.
You should take the time to delete these accounts to ensure that you do not leak any data to the outside world. What you posted years ago as a rebellious teenager may come back to embarrass you when you’ve established yourself in your professional life. Therefore, take the time to delete accounts you no longer use, keeping only the windows open that you’d rather the world see you through.
Refresh home network
The home network is often a common weak point in cybersecurity. The first thing to do is to avoid continuing with the default username and password. Also, change those credentials to something hard to guess.
Speaking of networks: Avoid connecting to free Wi-Fi. Unknown networks may not be secure enough, leaving your activities and data exposed to interception. Therefore, it is best to connect to networks that you know are secure. If you want to connect to free Wi-Fi to save cellular data, the following section reveals the possible salvation.
Protect online communications and data
Install a virtual private network (VPN) to connect to any network of your choice securely. A VPN fills in the security gaps of many unsecured networks, making them more reliable. For one thing, traffic encryption is one of the common drawbacks of free Wi-Fi networks.
Again, there are many other benefits to using a VPN as well. It hides your IP address, preventing web entities from extracting your approximate location. If you want to start 2022 more anonymously, a VPN is the way to go.
Clean up your inbox
Do you keep your inbox clutter-free or are you one of those people who leave all the emails they’ve received? You don’t need to clean up the trash manually after combing through it. All you have to do is take a few minutes to automate the cleaning process.
You will find the search filter which will help you locate emails by category, attachment size, content, etc. You just need to log into your email through your web browser and then go to the search bar.
You can delete messages from senders you no longer want to hear from by simply searching for the email address in the search bar. Once you locate the email ids of unwanted senders, you can bulk delete all the messages you have received from them.
Conclusion
Your online security and privacy are enhanced when you clean up your digital life. This ensures that no information online can be traced back to you, resulting in a breach of privacy.
Be sure to recycle and reset devices you no longer use. Get rid of unused accounts and spruce up your home network. Don’t forget to clean your inbox and use a VPN to cover your tracks. Take the time to clean up your digital life and strengthen your security and privacy.
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