The weather is warming in some parts of the country, inspiring people to clean up or clear out clutter. The one area many people overlook isn’t the corner of a room or a forgotten closet; it’s probably the digital device where you may be reading this article. We use our phones to shop, scroll through social media, bank, and work. The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reminds everyone that when clearing out the physical clutter, there’s probably a bunch of digital data clutter that lives on your electronic devices.
As businesses and their employees switched over to working from home in the last year, the focus on cybersecurity and protecting sensitive information became critical. NCSA and BBB have advice on how to keep this information safe.
For digital security safety taking a few hours or minutes in your day, it may be a good time to give yourself a digital makeover. Taking some simple, proactive steps will go a long way in safeguarding against any number of potentially disruptive issues – like identity theft, loss of funds or credit card fraud – that can cause mayhem by compromising your data. Take the time to put into practice a few precautionary measures and you will have greater peace of mind – not only this spring, but all year round.
NCSA and the BBB are encouraging people to check their smartphones, laptops and tablets and review these tips:
Lock down your login: Security is critical to protecting accounts being used at work and for home. Ensure passphrases for each account are lengthy, unique, and safely stored. Enable 2-factor authentication on all accounts that offer it.