In a time of heightened awareness for germs, our phones, tablets, and laptops are often overlooked when cleaning and disinfecting. Screens are very dirty surfaces but require extra caution when cleaning. Do not use harsh chemicals like bleach when wiping your screen, but rather a damp cloth with mild soap. Special screen cleaning sprays and cloths are also good options for cleaning screens.

It’s also good to periodically clean out your laptop battery, fan, and wireless router. These elements are great at collecting and trapping dust that can hinder performance over time. Opening the side panel or removing the battery and spraying with a can of compressed air will reduce the risk of the device overheating or malfunctioning.

While you have the can of compressed air out, spray a few puffs into your USB ports and in the grooves of the keyboard to ensure dust and debris aren’t building up and limiting functions. Ports such as USB, headphone, and charging should never have cotton swabs inserted inside of them. The cotton end on a cotton swab can get stuck inside these small ports and cause damage to your device. If necessary, use a toothpick or something with a sharp end if you need to dislodge something inside one of these ports. Dust and lint building up in the charging port can sometimes prevent your phone from getting a good connection, resulting in poor battery life.

Some other general care and maintenance tips for your devices include using a carrying case for laptops and cell phones and reducing exposure to extreme temperatures for all device types. Thermal cycling is one major cause of premature hardware failure. Thus, reducing the number of times your device is exposed to extreme heat or cold will extend the life of your device. Further, if your device is left in extreme temperatures, it is best to allow it to slowly return to room temperature before powering on to reduce the effects of thermal cycling.

The internet can be scary and intimidating at times, but with a few small changes it can become much more manageable. These simple tips will help you feel more secure online:

1. Vary Your Passwords

Don’t use the same password for every account, email, and app. Varying passwords limits the potential for someone to access all your accounts if they have gained access to one.

2. Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication

This simple additional step can make a huge difference when protecting yourself online. Multi-factor authentication can require a text or email to be sent to registered contact information that acts as a second layer of defense.

3. Avoid Using Your Debit Card Online

If possible, it is best to use a credit card rather than a debit card that is linked to your bank account. If your card is compromised, credit cards add an additional level of protection rather than allowing someone access to all the funds in your account. If a credit card is not an option, using a service such as PayPal or other reputable online payment companies can provide the necessary insurance in case of a breach.

4. Limit Information Shared on Social Media

As tempting as sharing personal information with your social network might be, hackers can use the information to gain access to your personal data. Security question answers can often be determined by scrolling through someone’s social media feed, like the name of your pet, your favorite sports team, where you like to travel, or names and/or birthdays of your children.

5. Be Suspicious

When it comes to your personal data, you can never be too cautious. It is best to always be suspicious of anyone or anything asking for information. If you think it seems suspicious, it probably is.

What is Phishing?

For more information on how to stay cybersafe, you can visit Cybersecurity | Ready.gov. We will also continue to share the latest tips and trustworthy resources, so visit us often.