Throughout the year, you constantly extend your cyber footprint. You do this in a variety of ways such as paying bills, shopping, using social media, and in many other ways. Cleaning your technology and cyber footprint removes the clutter from your life while at the same time protecting you and your loved ones. Here is a checklist you can use to help you clean up your digital footprint and declutter your technology.
Passwords
- Review your passwords, updating them as needed, and ensuring they are strong.
- Establish a unique password for each account.
- Consider using a password manager if you haven’t in the past.
- Remember to use Multi-Factor Authentication on accounts wherever it is available. Especially on accounts that have financial information such as online banking, credit card, and retirement accounts.
- Review all your email accounts
- Organize folders of emails that you want to keep. Delete and purge emails that you no longer need.
- Be sure that there is no personally identifiable information stored in your inbox.
- Review and update your contacts. Delete contacts that are no longer necessary or current.
- Review and update email filters to send spam and other unwanted e-marketing messages directly to trash or another folder.
- Enable MFA whenever possible.
Social Media
- Review your social media accounts and associated privacy settings.
- Review any photos or videos and delete those that you no longer need or want to make viewable.
- Search yourself online and see what comes up.
- Don’t just delete a social media app that you’re no longer using, delete your entire profile
- Be sure you are familiar with the privacy settings in your social media accounts.
Cleaning Your Desk
- Shred old and unnecessary paperwork.
- Ensure paper documents that contain personally identifiable information, financial information, or other sensitive information is properly stored and locked up.
- Don’t write down passwords or security answers on paper and leave them out.
Backups
- Review your backup routines.
- Review your backup schedule, and what you’re backing up.
- Test your backups and validate they are being successfully completed.
- Make sure you can restore from a backup.
- Review your backup location and media.
Update Devices
- Make sure all applications, operating systems, and devices (computer, phones, tablets, smart devices, TVs, etc.) are updated, and are set to update on a regular basis.
Disposal
- Properly shred or destroy all unnecessary paper documents or files.
- Dispose of old electronic equipment (laptops, monitors, phones, tablets, smart devices, etc.)
Following this checklist will help make sure that your devices are running as efficiently as possible, your accounts are updated, and your information is safe.
