Good personal hygiene protects you from viruses. The same is true for good digital hygiene. Here are simple and effective things you can do to keep your digital space tidy and be safer online.
- Update your software
Updates are not only about new features; they often contain security improvements and fixes. Install updates as soon as they become available or set up automatic updates to take the hassle out of it. - Use a password manager
You likely know that you need to have a unique and strong password for every account, app, or service you use. Doing otherwise is not safe, but remembering all of them is a nightmare. A password manager is the answer. Remember one password only and generate as many unique and ultra-strong passwords as necessary.
There are many password managers out there, but not all of them are secure. We recommend KeyPass and Apple Keychain. - Set up two-factor authentication
Do it for every account where this option is available. We suggest using an authenticator app as well: unlike SMS codes it doesn’t depend on your cell coverage and is not tied to a phone number. We recommend Google Authenticator. - Have separate accounts for different purposes
Work-related accounts should be separate from personal ones, but you can go further than that. For example, have an email account for loyalty programs, surveys, unimportant registrations, etc. This will keep your primary personal mailbox nice and tidy.
Alternatively, if you already have an email address that you are using extensively on the Internet, you might want to create a new one for personal correspondence and important registrations (Apple ID, messaging apps, etc.). - Use a separate bank card for online purchases
Entering bank card details on websites will inevitably expose the card to risks. Have a separate card for online purchases and keep its balance as low as is reasonable to minimize damage if it gets compromised. - Be mindful about what you share online
Some personal information can be used by fraudsters. Be careful about posting anything personal online, especially if your account is publicly accessible. For example, if you post a YouTube tutorial where you share your screen, make sure you are not exposing your apps, account names, bookmarks or tabs in your browser, etc. - Be cautious about any links
Do not click on anything you are unsure about, especially links in unsolicited emails, messages, etc. Even if things are legitimate, it is best to go to the official website and access resources from there. If you are in doubt about a webpage, you can check whether it has malicious content using this Google service. - Download from official sources only
Do not download or install anything through emails, messages, calendar events, ads, etc. Always go to the official store/website and download from there. Pay attention to reviews and download count. - Delete unused files and apps
Check your downloads folder and cloud storage space. Chances are, there is plenty of stuff from years ago that you don’t use or didn’t even realize was there. It is a good practice to keep your devices and accounts tidy. - Back up your data
Hard drive or cloud — either is fine. Just make sure you put your information in password-protected archives or have an encrypted HDD. - Keep app permissions in check
Only give apps permissions that are necessary. A document scanning app doesn’t need to know your location. - Lock your devices
Make it a habit to always lock your devices regardless of where you are. Not doing so is akin to leaving your wallet at the table, exposing it to everyone. - Change the login and password for your Wi-Fi router
Make sure it’s not admin/admin. Protect it with a secure login/password combination. Wi-Fi routers can be broken into just like anything else on the Internet, so it’s important to keep them protected. - Set up disk encryption
On PC, use BitLocker. As for Mac, newer computers have encryption by default. On older Macs, it is a good idea to turn on FileVault (you can do it on newer ones too on top of the default encryption if you’d like). External storage devices should also be encrypted if they contain sensitive information. You can learn how to do it here (for Windows) and here (for Mac).
There you have it, digital hygiene practices that will help you make your devices and online experience secure and well organized. Stay cybersafe, everyone!
