How Clean is Your Machine?

Many of us get caught up in our everyday tasks that we forget to take a second to make sure our devices are clean. Now I don't mean clean as brushing off the dust (which is still a good idea). Keeping a clean machine means updated, protected, and cleaned.

Update

While it seems like there is always so form of update coming out, they really do serve an important purpose. A lot of update include fixes for security issues or a new form of security. By not updating your devices you could be putting yourself in harms way. So, whether it's your phone, tablet, or computer take that minute to keep your software up to date.

Protect 

Always keep your passwords secure and unique. Chances are the password you've been using since freshman year of high school isn't as safe as it could be. Changing it to a pass phrase that includes special characters, numbers, and capitalization can be a great first step to protecting your accounts. Next, implement 2-factor authentication for your accounts. This will require you to prove that you're you, but it means that someone who isn't you can't access your information.

Clean

Finally go through your old documents or applications and get rid of what you don't use. A lot of apps require certain permissions that might not be relevant to the true purpose of the app. For example, a calculator app probably doesn't need access to your pictures or contacts. By clearing out unnecessary applications your taking one step further in securing your accounts and cleaning your machine.