If your typical New Year’s resolutions lasted about 30 seconds, you’re not alone. Pledges to eat better, start running and learn how to juggle can be rebooted again next year easy enough.
This year, we challenge you to think about your tech health with some resolutions you’ll want to keep.
1. No More Junk Mail
Whether you checked a box agreeing to get newsletters, or you have no idea how you got on that list, it’s time to say goodbye. Start by emptying your mailbox to zero unread messages – no, you don’t have to read all those old newsletters – you have permission to delete it unread. Let’s face it; if you were going to read it, you would have done so already. Away it goes.
Now that you’re starting with a clean slate and a tremendous feeling of accomplishment resolve this: Each day, unsubscribe from 5-10 newsletter lists. Be careful of spam versus legitimate subscription newsletters you signed up for! Unsubscribing to spam sometimes yields more spam. If you don’t remember signing up, or it looks spammy, just hit delete. Before too long, your inbox will be a refreshing place filled only with people and businesses you look forward to hearing from.
2. Go Password Pro
With all these password leaks from LinkedIn, Facebook, and goodness knows who hasn’t come forward, now’s the time to get smart with your passwords. Because most people use the same passwords on every site, a single breach can be the hack that keeps on giving. You know how important it is to use different passwords for each site, but let’s be honest, that’s a LOT of passwords to remember!
Instead of writing them down, we recommend using a password manager like LastPass. It remembers all your different passwords for you, so all you need to know is the super-protected master password. 2-factor authentication checks with you via text for all significant changes to keep your account extra secure.
3. Backup. No, Really, Backup.
I’ve been meaning to backup is the cry of someone who just lost all their photos. Good intentions don’t count AT ALL in data security because once the data is gone, it’s gone. There’s no reason to put this off with new cloud backup options because backup apps are now easier and more accessible than ever before. You can also backup to local drives, but this will take a little extra remembering on your part, as you’ll want to have at least one drive that stays disconnected in case of viruses. Want to learn more about backups? Click HERE for our blog post about the best ways to backup.
There you have it. Three New Year’s resolutions you can easily keep, and that will make a real difference to your year. Opening your email will be a pleasure. You’ll be a spectator only in any future password leaks, and your precious files will be safe against all manner of disaster. Feels better than any diet, doesn’t it?
