Now that we are in full Spring Cleaning mood, we are re-organizing kitchen cabinets, garages, yard tools in the shed, and maybe even that horrible junk draw. Many people go the extra mile and clean out their cars and office spaces.
However, have you thought about cleaning up your passwords? With security breaches popping up all over the news and scam artist become more tech creative, we really need to be guarded about the passwords we use, the sites they are used on, and how often we used them. LastPass.com is a great site for storing information. Below are 5 tips to help you get your passwords reorganized this spring.
Change important passwords
If you’re a LastPass user, you’ve probably already taken their security challenge. But it’s important to take it regularly to see where your weak or reused passwords are, and especially as your passwords age every year. Once you can see your weaknesses, LastPass can help you change your passwords automatically.
Back up your data
We’ve all had that moment when our phone gets smashed or soaked and all your important information on that device is lost. Back up your data so you don’t put yourself at risk. And it’s not just about your phone; think about your home laptop and work computer, too. Do you save all your important documents on your desktop? If something happens to your computer, those docs are gone. Get an external hard drive or 3rd–party cloud back up service where you can store one or more copies of everything. Be sure to create copies of important physical documents, too, like passports and insurance cards.
Clean up your password vault
Once you start storing passwords and website details in a password manager, it’s incredible how many accounts you accumulate. According to our Password Expose report, the average LastPass user is managing 191 passwords. Of course, LastPass makes it easy to manage those passwords, but it’s still important to go back and close out old accounts if you’re not using them anymore. It’s easy to forget the one-off purchases, forum registrations, and the latest hot apps that all require an account. Make a habit of reviewing your vault regularly and close the accounts that you no longer use or need. Why let a company have your information if you aren’t doing business with them?
Update your software
Stop hitting that snooze button when your computer prompts you to update your software. Many times software is updated to protect against security flaws. So, if you don’t update, your device may still be vulnerable. Update your browsers, extensions, computer OS, mobile apps – do a full check to make sure you’re up-to-date and protected.
Flush your browser
You probably will accumulate a lot of cookies and other tracking in your browser as time goes on. It’s a good idea to periodically clear your browser cache for “all time,” giving yourself a fresh start. And if you’re concerned about adware, consider an extension like AdBlock Plus to help cut down on your exposure.
For more information on securing your online passwords, visit lastpass.com
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