Whether you’re working on your computer or streaming Netflix, chances are you spend a lot of your time online. As the world becomes increasingly digital, technology is ingraining itself into every aspect of our lives.
Since we spend so much of our time online, it’s important to occasionally step back and reassess our technology habits. To improve and protect your digital life in 2022, consider the following seven tips.
1. Secure Your Home Wi-Fi
For most American households, Wi-Fi is a necessary utility used to connect a multitude of devices to the internet. You may think you’re safe browsing the web on your couch, but unfortunately, attacks on home networks are common. Unless you have secure home Wi-Fi, you’re at constant risk of cyberthreats. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to boost your home’s cybersecurity.
For starters, you need to have a secure router. This will support encryption technology and will self-update when needed. When purchasing a router, make sure you choose one that comes pre-integrated with a network security solution. This will help protect all the devices that are connected to your home network.
2. Strengthen Passwords
From your emails to your bank account, passwords hold the keys to a lot of personal information. Although strong password practices may be cumbersome, they’re vital if you want to protect yourself online. Experts recommend a few tips and tricks to bolster your password strength.
First and foremost, it’s important that you have a different password for each of your online accounts. This helps prevent attackers from accessing all of your accounts if one site is breached. If you have trouble remembering multiple passwords, consider using a password manager. Password managers store all your login credentials, making it easy to maintain unique passwords for every account.
3. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
Although unique passwords can help protect your digital accounts, sometimes they aren’t enough. Malware on your computer can scrape passwords, saving them to be used again by bad actors. Two-factor authentication adds a step to the login process, such as texting a security code to a personal device. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to access your personal information.
Many sites now offer two-factor authentication, simply requiring you to turn the service on. There are a few different types of authentication that websites can support. The most popular approaches include text messages, authenticator apps, and facial recognition.
4. Unsubscribe From Junk Mail
More websites require an email address to access content, adding to the piles of junk mail in your inbox. Opening your email to see hundreds of unopened messages can be anxiety-inducing. Newsletters and discounts from sites you never visit shouldn’t hold a place in your email. By unsubscribing from junk mail, you’ll be one step closer to regaining control of your inbox.
Unsubscribing to each individual sender can seem like a huge task. The good news is that email managers can enable you to quickly and easily unsubscribe from unsolicited email. If you want to read certain emails but don’t immediately have the time, move them to a separate folder. This will give both your mind and your inbox a much-needed break.
5. Back Up Your Data
From wedding photos to work reports, you probably have valuable data that you don’t want to lose. Data backup can protect these files if something happens to your hard drive or mobile device. By backing up your data, you’re archiving important information so it can be restored if files are ever stolen or lost.
When performing a data backup, start with files that can’t be replaced if they go missing. These might include videos, pictures, and financial databases. If you’re not sure where to store your data, don’t fret. There are plenty of different storage options, from the cloud to portable hard drives to old-fashioned USB sticks.
6. Update Your Computer Software
You’re probably familiar with those popups reminding you it’s time to update your computer software. Most of the time you press the “remind me later” button, only to forget about the update entirely.
Although software updates may be an inconvenience, they’re one of the best methods for ensuring your cybersecurity. From removing software bugs to repairing security vulnerabilities, updates offer numerous benefits.
To ensure you don’t miss an update, select auto-update for computers and mobile devices. If your software doesn’t update automatically, set aside time each month to check for and install updates.
7. Reduce Total Screen Time
In the digital age, we spend far too much of our time looking at screens. This can negatively impact both our mental and physical health. Minimizing screen time reduces symptoms associated with anxiety, improves your physical well-being, and fosters stronger relationships.
The first step in reducing your screen time is discovering how much of your day you spend on technology. This will give you a baseline from which you can cut back. Make note of which apps tend to suck up most of your time. From there, adjust the settings on your devices to limit the time allocated to these apps.
As our lives go increasingly digital, taking the occasional step back to examine our online habits is a necessity. By following the above tips, you’ll enhance your digital safety and create a better relationship with technology.