Spring is here, which means it’s time for some spring cleaning!
Remember when spring cleaning only referred to sorting through old items to decide what to give away, or giving your home a deep, thorough cleaning that went beyond routine chores—dusting, cleaning windows and de-cluttering—to symbolize a fresh start?
When I heard Drifting on a memory, ain’t no place I’d rather be early on Saturday morning, I knew I would be cleaning before I could do anything else. Something about nostalgic songs like that smooth ’70s hit by The Isley Brothers puts me in the mood for fresh starts and clean spaces.
Today, though, our lives extend far beyond physical spaces. Our personal information is not just in our homes but scattered across countless digital locations: some that are used daily, while others are long forgotten. Old social media accounts, shopping websites from one-time purchases, and apps downloaded on a whim create a sprawling digital footprint.
I recently spoke about digital cleanup with Anisa Williams, a marketing specialist at Business System Solutions. She shared an eye-opening perspective: “Information is power, and your information, left unsecured, can be sold to the highest bidder. Take your power back by knowing where your personal information is kept.”
Many don’t realize how many “digital footprints” they leave behind, Anisa explained.
“Each app, each online account, and each cloud service you sign up for becomes another location where your data resides—and potentially another vulnerability.”
Most people are surprised to learn how many places their data can be found. Your information might be stored in cloud accounts like Google Drive or iCloud. It can be on old devices gathering dust in drawers and closets, in your downloads folder, and gallery screenshots on your phone. Forgotten accounts on websites you haven’t visited in years can also hold your data. Don’t forget those former service providers who still have your records, and even that “someday” pile of physical papers waiting to be organized.
Did you know that in 2023 alone, over 17 billion records were exposed to data breaches? Many of these breaches occurred through accounts people had completely forgotten they created. That fitness app you downloaded in January and used twice? That online store where you made a one-time purchase? Each represents a potential vulnerability.
The good news is that reclaiming control of your digital life doesn’t require technical expertise—only some dedicated time and attention.
Start with the devices you use every day. Surveys suggest that the average smartphone has around 80 apps installed, but most people use fewer than 10 on a regular basis.
Next, tackle your accumulated content. Unsubscribe from emails you no longer read, remove personal information from people-finder websites, and delete blurry or duplicate photos that take up storage. If you’re syncing to cloud services, review what’s being saved automatically.
Don’t forget those old accounts. Log in and delete them properly—not just the app. Check what third-party services can access your Google or Apple accounts through the privacy settings.
Keep in mind that your data is valuable. Even after you stop using an app, it may still access and use your data for its purposes, depending on the app’s permissions and policies.
Once your digital space is de-cluttered, strengthen what remains. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts, create strong and unique passwords, and update your privacy settings on social media.
Make this a family activity by challenging everyone to delete 10 unused apps, unsubscribe from 15 email lists, and update passwords for their five most important accounts. The first to complete all tasks gets to choose movie night!
While this may not completely clean up your digital footprint, taking some action is better than doing nothing.
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Photo, top, courtesy of KaboomPicks.com / Pexels
