{"id":22059,"date":"2012-07-06T20:10:58","date_gmt":"2012-07-06T10:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/power-up.space\/?p=22059"},"modified":"2012-07-06T20:10:58","modified_gmt":"2012-07-06T10:10:58","slug":"stocktake-your-digital-life-new-financial-year-advice-from-avg-aunz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.impulsegamer.com\/wordpress\/?p=22059","title":{"rendered":"Stocktake Your Digital Life \u2013 New Financial Year Advice from AVG (AU\/NZ)"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time to review all obsolete, unprotected and unsafe access points that can compromise online security.<\/em><\/p>\n

AVG (AU\/NZ) Pty Ltd, distributor of AVG Technologies\u2019 award-winning AVG Internet and mobile security software in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, advises that the new financial year is an ideal time to do a stocktake of your digital life.<\/p>\n

Both at home and at work, too many of our connected devices are holding obsolete, unprotected and unsafe access points that can compromise online security. Now\u2019s the time to unsubscribe from mailing lists and close down unused accounts to reduce exposure to potential online threats and free up computing space and your time.<\/p>\n

Michael McKinnon, Security Adviser at AVG (AU\/NZ), explains that: \u201cAs your digital life builds, so too does the mountain of information that, unless carefully managed, could be extracted by cyber criminals. We should all take the time to delete those unused website cookies, the temporary files cluttering every computer and the old permissions granted to social media applications. It is also vital to change all passwords on a regular basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 5 Step AVG (AU\/NZ) Digital Stocktake <\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Go Hunting<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Understand where all your data is stored:\u00a0 across multiple computers, hard drives, USB sticks, backup disks and DVDs.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Search e-mails, files and paperwork for signup confirmations to sites you no longer use.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Locate all paperwork that might contain passwords.<\/p>\n

2. Get Organised<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create an easy to find, e-mail folder system to hold all online confirmations and receipts.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have always on, automatically updated anti-virus and Internet security in place.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider whether a reputable, Internet-based encrypted backup solution, for keeping data off-site, will provide peace of mind in the event of technical breakdown or an environmental disaster.<\/p>\n

3. Password Protection<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ensure any documents containing written passwords are hidden and secure.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Password management applications are available for storing multiple passwords.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Schedule regular changing and creation of strong passwords.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Use a separate password for your e-mail account. E-mail contains an astonishing amount of information about our lives, and many identity thieves see this as the number one thing to get access to.<\/p>\n

4. Press Delete<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Archive and delete old files \u2013 an annual stocktake means that this task is not unnecessarily daunting. Usually anything that has not been accessed in the last year can be safely deleted, unless, like Tax Records, you have some specific reason to keep it.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unsubscribe and close down accounts that you do not access.<\/p>\n

5. Lock Everything<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lock away all files that contain important or sensitive information.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Every mobile device – all smartphones and tablets \u2013 should be protected. Ensure none can be used without first entering a PIN or unlock code.<\/p>\n

Keep in touch with AVG (AU\/NZ)<\/strong><\/p>\n