**Digital Spring Cleaning: Protect Your Devices and Data from Cyber Threats**

As we welcome the arrival of spring, it's easy to get caught up in decluttering our homes and refreshing our daily routines. However, amidst all the tidying up, let's not forget about our digital devices and online presence. With more people working remotely than ever before, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for both individuals and businesses. To help you safeguard your private information and protect against potential data breaches, we've put together some essential tips from the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Better Business Bureau.

**Lock Down Your Login**

The first step in securing your online presence is to lock down your login credentials. This means using lengthy, unique passphrases for each account, along with enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible. Don't make it easy for hackers to gain access to your sensitive information by using weak or easily guessable passwords. Take the time to update your system and software regularly, especially anti-virus software, to ensure you have the latest security patches.

**Update Your System and Software**

In today's digital landscape, updates are crucial in protecting against malware and other cyber threats. Don't put off updating your devices, as this can leave you vulnerable to attacks. Ensure that your operating systems, web browsers, and software are all up-to-date, including anti-virus programs. This simple step can provide significant protection for your most sensitive assets.

**Back It Up**

Data loss can occur at any time due to hardware failure, user error, or malware. To prevent this, make electronic backups of your important files using the 3-2-1 rule:

* Make three backup copies * Use two different media types (e.g., external hard drive and cloud storage) * Keep one offline in a separate location

This will ensure that your data is safely stored even if your primary device is compromised.

**Clean Up Your Online Presence**

Unused apps on your phone or tablet can pose a security risk, so take the time to delete any unnecessary ones. Review each app's security settings and ensure they are set to the highest level of protection possible. Additionally, check the security settings on all social media accounts and use strong passwords.

**Be Cautious What You Share**

Be mindful of what you share on social media, as quizzes or questions can give away sensitive information about yourself, your location, family, or even answers to security questions on important accounts. Use caution when sharing personal details online.

**Cybersecurity Strategy for Small Businesses**

Small business owners should take the time to establish, update, and communicate policies and procedures with their team regarding record retention and cybersecurity best practices. Having a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy in place is essential to protect against potential data breaches and other cyber threats.

**Free Data Destruction at Shred Day**

In Chattanooga, the Better Business Bureau offers free paper document shredding on-site by River City Shredding and free hard drive destruction by Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security. Their next Shred Day event will be held April 11 in the Coca-Cola Bottling Co.'s parking lot.

**Additional Resources**

For more information on cybersecurity best practices, visit:

* BBB.org/Cybersecurity (consumers and businesses) * BBB.org/BizHQ (resources for small businesses) * StaySafeOnline.org (tips from the National Cyber Security Alliance) * IdentityTheft.gov (customized recovery plan for identity theft victims)

By following these simple steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber attacks and protect your devices and data from potential threats.

**Conclusion**

Spring is a great time to refresh our digital presence and take proactive steps towards protecting against cyber threats. By locking down our login credentials, updating our systems and software, backing up our data, cleaning up our online presence, being cautious of what we share, establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, and taking advantage of free data destruction services, we can ensure that our devices and information are safe from potential harm.