Why not consider a Digital Spring Cleaning?
For generations we’ve performed some sort of spring cleaning ritual; it may be a thorough house cleaning, a smaller scale closet cleaning or just a purging of the junk that seems to collect over the winter in our garages. With all our electronic gizmos; computers, tablets, smartphones and iPods a spring cleaning may do them and us a load of good. In the course of a year, we add a lot of photos, data, music, and apps to our different devices. What we may have liked a year ago, may not appeal to us the following year, why not delete it. Not only is this stuff electronic clutter, it’s taking up space and slowing down our processors which may affect how our devices run. It’s also a great time to review files and passwords, deleting and updating as necessary. Follow these tips to clean the clutter out of your digital devices.
- Go through your apps, photos, videos and other files deleting any old photos, videos, files or apps that you don’t use anymore. They can take up a lot of storage space and, in the case of apps, can sometimes clog your device’s memory and processor, causing it to run slowly or unreliably. App’s also use energy, which can shorten your battery life. Some apps that were installed by your phone’s manufacturer or cellular carrier you won’t be able to delete, but you may be able to disable them. If you accidentally deleted a third party app, you can always download it again from the Apple App Store or Google Play for free. Also, review your app permissions, making sure that you agree with all their terms and conditions, sometimes they can change.
- Go through your software. If you don’t use it, delete it.
- Clean up and purge old financial documents and other files that are no longer relevant.
- Unsubscribe to emails, periodicals, newsletters and the like if you no longer read them.
- Move any sensitive information to a cloud site, thumb drive or backup drive.
- Review your social media footprint. Don’t be afraid to delete your online profiles to sites you no longer wish to be a part of. Go through your settings on the social media sites you keep, making sure that your privacy is set at a level you’re comfortable with. Do not be afraid to delete people, photos or items shared if you no longer wish to associate with them, or if they no longer represent who you are.
- Purge your cache on your computer, tablets, and phones.
- Review your passwords, make sure they’re safe.
- Update your software if necessary.
- Run deep scans of your equipment for any malware, viruses, etc.
While these steps may seem like a time-consuming endeavor, your equipment will run more efficiently. Remember that identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in this country and our digital devices are their first point of infiltration, stop them by tightening your online presence and security.
The information found on the Gerstenberger Law site is for educational purposes only. Your situation and the situation of others is unique and more complex. This is neither legal advice nor to be considered legal advice. Contact us for advice about your specific situation.
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