RALEIGH — Unless you’re an accountant, tax season is rarely a time many of us look forward to. It means gathering personal information, digging through files, and even hanging on to several years of previous returns. And while you may have paper work all over your desks at home, it’s also time to start spring cleaning your digital devices as well. 

The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is joining forces with the National Cyber Security Alliance to remind us all not to be digital hoarders and freshen up our lives. They taking care of overdue online maintenance means we’re more secure against “losing personal information and becoming a victim of identity theft.”    

You may remember back in September of last year, 148 million Americans were hit by a single security breach, where birthdays, addresses and Social Security numbers were exposed. Still, the average American does very little to protect their data. But the BBB says digital spring cleaning will keep your valuable information safe while helping you protect against identity theft. The BBB of Eastern NC offers the following tops on how to digitally spring clean:  

Tips for a Digital Spring Cleaning:

  • Keep a clean machine: Ensure all software on Internet-connected devices – including PCs, smartphones and tablets – is up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware.
  • Lock down your login: Your user names and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts like email, banking and social media. Begin your spring cleaning by fortifying your online accounts and enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics, security keys or a unique one-time code through an app on your mobile device.
  • Declutter your mobile life: Most of us have apps we no longer use and some that need updating. Delete unused apps and keep others current, including the operating system on your mobile device. An added benefit of deleting unused apps is more storage space and longer battery life. Actively manage your location services, Bluetooth, microphone and camera – making sure apps use them appropriately.
  • Clean up your email and Back It Up: Save only those emails you really need, and unsubscribe to email you no longer need/want to receive. Also be sure to copy important data to a secure cloud site or another computer or drive where it can be safely stored.

Getting rid of electronic devices and paperwork that needs to be properly disposed of, is also essential to protecting your identity.  This is why the BBB is hosting a Secure Your ID Day Paper Shredding and Electronic Recycling Event on Saturday April 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Coastal Credit Union Headquarters off of St. Albans Road in Raleigh.

Visit their website for more information on the shred event.