Anyone can clean up the easy stuff. Delete the apps you never needed, unsubscribe from the newsletters you definitely didn't read and maybe trim down your inbox. That's all fine, but another item worth a hard look is your security setup.
It hasn't been gathering dust for years, has it?
The past 12 months have been a festival of data leaks and technologically advanced scams. Even if nothing strange has happened to you (yet), your information is already floating around in enough places to start its own tour.
Here's the good news: You don't need a lifestyle overhaul to get ahead of this. A few targeted moves can make your digital life more secure. We're going to walk you through the basics, like fixing your password habits you've been avoiding, switching to passkeys so you stop guessing what you used last time, locking down your credit, tightening up your devices and knowing how to react when something smells wrong.
Here's how to start your security checkup.
Tune up your passwords and MFA
Start the new year by fixing the basics. The first thing you'll want to do is stop reusing the same password across different accounts. It's a huge risk. When one of those services is breached, attackers routinely test that password on your email, bank, and anything else they can find.
Use long passphrases instead of short, easy-to-crack passwords. A collection of random letters, numbers, and symbols that totals at least 16 characters is far harder to break than password1234. A 16-character password will take a billion years to crack, according to our favorite password manager, Bitwarden. By comparison, passwords of eight characters or less won't even hold up past a couple of hours. Also, turn on multifactor authentication, or MFA, for your key accounts -- it blocks most unauthorized attempts even if someone gets your password.
If you don't want to manage all of this manually, use a password manager. It creates strong, unique logins for every site and stores them in one place, an encrypted vault. Just don't forget your master password.
The best time to take this step was years ago. The second best time is right now. And be sure to set a reminder every few months to review your passwords. Regular checks keep your accounts in better shape and reduces the chances of a preventable breach.
Kick the tires on passkeys
Passkeys are a relatively new technology that cuts out the part of security that most people dislike. There's no memorizing passwords or guessing what you used last time -- you just need a PIN, security key or biometrics like face recognition. Your device holds a cryptographic key that proves you're the one signing in, and that key never leaves your phone or computer.
They're safer than passwords because you can't be tricked into handing them over. They're not stored on company servers waiting to be leaked, either. And because you need the device and your fingerprint, face or PIN, they already function as MFA without any extra steps.
Most major platforms support passkeys now. Google uses them, many apps have adopted them and current versions of iOS, Android, macOs, Windows and modern browsers support them, as well. And more services are adding support each year.
A good New Year project is to set up your first passkeys on devices you actually own and control. It's a relatively easy upgrade, is safer than passwords, and it removes a bit of the friction we mentioned earlier.
Also, take a moment to review the passkeys you already have in place. If anything is tied to a lost or shared device, remove it. Only the devices that are in your hands, and your hands only, should have that kind of access.
Freeze your credit before thieves do
A credit freeze is a simple way to shut down one of the most common forms of identity theft. When your credit is frozen, lenders can't open new accounts in your name until you say otherwise. That stops anyone who tries to use your information to create loans or credit cards you never asked for.
You don't have to wait for a breach notice or a stolen identity report to do this. The reality is that personal data leaks happen all the time, and a freeze is one of the few tools that can block the fallout.
To set up a credit freeze, you have to go to each of the major credit bureaus on your own. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion each handle their own freeze systems, and you have to activate all three. It's free, and it stays in place until you remove it.
If you're applying for credit, a job, housing or insurance, you can lift the freeze temporarily, let the check happen and then lock it again.
Parents, you should think about your kids as well. A child's credit file can be misused for years before anyone notices. Freezing it early removes that risk and keeps their file clean until they need it later.
Layer on fraud alerts and monitoring
A fraud alert is a good way to force lenders to slow down and check that it's actually you asking for new credit. When the alert is on your file, they have to verify your identity before approving anything. It's not a perfect barrier, but it makes quick hit fraud much harder to pull off.
There are three versions of these alerts. The initial alert lasts a year and is for anyone who thinks their information may be floating around. The extended alert lasts seven years and is reserved for people who have already been hit and filed an official report. The active duty alert is for servicemembers who are away from home and need something in place while they're deployed.
You only need to contact one credit bureau to set up a fraud alert. That bureau is required to notify the other two, so the alert appears on all of your credit reports.
A fraud alert isn't a substitute for a full credit freeze, though. It doesn't block access to your credit report, and lenders can still view it. But if you're applying for loans or other services and want protection without lifting and refreezing your credit, it's an easier option.
As an aside, servicemembers and National Guard members also have access to free credit monitoring. It adds another layer of warning if someone starts poking around in their financial identity while they're away.
Give your devices and accounts a quick privacy checkup
Good device hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of being targeted, so start with the basics. Lock your phone and computer with a strong PIN or biometrics, and make sure auto lock and encryption are turned on. If someone gets ahold of your device, you want to make it as possible for them to get into it.
Next, be cautious on public Wi-Fi. Since websites started using HTTPS to secure data, it's no longer as much of a security risk, but attackers may still be lurking on the network. Skip it when you can, but if you have to use it, connect through a VPN so you're not broadcasting your traffic to others watching the network.
Make sure to put some early warning systems in place. Turn on alerts for bank transactions, credit card activity and sign-ins to your important accounts. These notifications are often the first sign that someone is trying to access your sensitive information.
Take a moment to think about what you share online, too. Personal details on social media can hand scammers the information they need to impersonate you or guess their way through security checks.
And finally, back up your devices and enable tools like Find My or remote wipe. If something goes missing, you should be able to protect your data immediately and recover what you need without any guesswork.
Act fast if something looks off
The first signs of trouble are usually small, like a charge you don't remember, a credit inquiry you never made or a login alert from a device you've never owned in a location you've never been to. These are the moments when you need to stop what you're doing and pay attention, because they often show up before the real damage begins.
If anything looks off, act right away. Call your bank or card issuer and freeze your accounts. Ask for new account numbers and replacement cards. If you think your phone or computer has been compromised, get it checked and cleaned before you log in to anything else. Then update the passwords for the accounts that may have been touched.
After you've locked things down, report it. File with the FTC through IdentityTheft.gov or reportfraud.ftc.gov, and send a report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. You can also contact local police if the situation calls for it. You should also place a fraud alert with credit bureaus and think about adding a credit freeze if you haven't done so already.
Stay safe out there!
