Protect Your Devices. Protect Yourself.
Why It Matters?
Your digital life runs through your phone, laptop, tablet — and the accounts linked to them. If any of these are breached, the damage can be serious and far-reaching. This checklist will help you lock down your devices and online accounts with simple, high-impact actions.
Device Security Essentials
📱 Secure Your Smartphone and Laptop
- Set a strong PIN, password, or biometric lock
- Enable auto-lock after a short period of inactivity
- Turn on full disk encryption (usually on by default on modern systems)
- Disable Bluetooth, location, and Wi-Fi when not in use
- Keep your operating system and apps updated
🧯 Install Security Tools
- Use built-in or trusted antivirus/anti-malware tools (e.g. Windows Defender, Malwarebytes)
- Use a firewall or monitor connections (NetGuard, LuLu, Little Snitch)
- Regularly back up data to encrypted drives or secure cloud storage
Account Protection Best Practices
🔑 Use a Password Manager
- Generate unique passwords for each account
- Avoid using your name, pet’s name, or birthdate
- Never reuse passwords across services
🛡️ Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Use apps like Authy, Aegis, or hardware keys (YubiKey)
- Avoid relying on SMS as your only second factor
- Enable 2FA especially for email, banking, and cloud accounts
🧽 Review Your Accounts Regularly
- Delete unused or duplicate accounts
- Revoke access for third-party apps you no longer use
- Update security questions and recovery options
Device Hygiene Tips
Use browser privacy extensions (uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger)
Restart your phone weekly to clear background tracking
Avoid installing unnecessary apps or browser extensions
Only download apps from trusted sources (App Store, Google Play, F-Droid)
Further Reading and Tools
Bitwarden – Password manager