I’m sure most of us are pretty familiar with the world of technology these days. Many of us spend a significant portion of our lives in front of screens or using gadgets of some sort. But even with this familiarity, there are always fresh and practical tips to maximize your technology usage and ensure online safety. It’s never wise to assume you’ve mastered all there is to know about technology, as it’s simply not feasible. The advice I offer stems from experience, and if you haven’t embraced these practices yet, well, now’s the time.

Maintain Your Computer or Smartphone

Computers and smartphones don’t really age like fine wine; they tend to age poorly unless you put in the effort. Regular maintenance is key to keeping them operating smoothly and swiftly. Speaking of computers, evaluate your files and clear out unnecessary cookies. Don’t forget to give the tower’s insides a clean-up, as well as tidying up your keyboard and dusting off the dust. For smartphones, it’s a good habit to regularly optimize their performance by clearing cache and junk files. Additionally, if your phone encounters any issues, try taking it to an iPhone Repair center (or a different center based on your phone model) as this can prevent the problem from getting worse.

Back Up Your Devices Regularly

Our devices hold our entire lives – from photos and music to work documents and taxes. Just imagine losing all of that. Regularly backing up your files and data is absolutely crucial. It’s a breeze to set up and can even be automated. Why wouldn’t you take this step? Invest five minutes of your day to safeguard all your vital files and data. Whether you opt for cloud storage or a hard drive, ensure you get it done.

Get Secure

It’s important to make sure you’re staying safe online, hide any and all personal information that you wouldn’t want strangers to see. You can be traced to your exact location in a number of ways, just one of which is your computer’s IP address. You can hide your IP address with a number of tools and tricks.

Also, make sure you never have passwords written down or reveal you address or contact information to someone you do not know.

Become a Google Pro

Google has literally saved the world. We hold every piece of information ever to exist in our hands and we use it to look at pictures of cats and stalk our ex-partners. Gogo;e’s algorithm is amazing, you can type in something so vague and get exactly what you’re looking for.

I mean, just look at that. The first result is EXACTLY what I was thinking of. But did you know there are certain ‘Google hacks’ to make your searching even more efficient? Use a ‘-‘ to dismiss certain words from your results, or find a specific title by using the query term: ‘allintitle:’. You can even search for results on a specific site by using ‘site:’. Terms like this can really help tog et the exact results you need when Google fails you.

Secure Your Passwords

It’s astonishing how often people falter at this basic security measure. Crafting robust passwords is remarkably simple. They must surpass eight characters, and the longer, the better. A blend of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols enhances their strength. Avoid including personal details (as they’re easy to guess), but you can utilize the name of a notable figure, not directly linked to you. Acronyms can be handy – take “I’ve been to Hartford 6 times since January 2007*” as “I’vbtH6tsJ2007*”.

Shop Around When Buying New Technology

Numerous deal websites sift through the best daily offers, gathering discounts both online and in your local stores. This ensures maximum value for your money. Alongside this, read reviews to ascertain that the product you’re eyeing is genuinely the best fit for your needs. Don’t automatically lean towards the most popular choice, like the iPhone, when buying a new phone. Consider your requirements and opt for a product that aligns, rather than merely following the latest trend.

Be Email Scam Smart

It’s fairly easy these days to spot an email scam and it’s common thought amongst the people that the days of ‘Nigerian Prince’ scams are coming to a close. However, there are still phishing emails circulating the web and finding themselves in people’s inboxes. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never give any personal information over email and do not confirm any details they ask for – even if they are correct. Sometimes, all a scammer needs is confirmation that the details are correct to go ahead and drain your bank account. Always substantiate the claims with a call to an official number. Oh, and you never get informed of a tax rebate over email – sorry.