How to Protect Your Resolution-Assisting Tech In The New Year
Cybersecurity
Each day is a new day that brings with it its own challenges, opportunities, and lessons. Today is especially special as it is not only the dawn of a new day, but the first day of a completely new year; today is a day that many of us use as an opportunity to set new goals in the form of resolutions for what we want to do, accomplish, or improve in the next 365 days. It can be easier than ever for some of us to stick to our resolutions due to the massive amount of unique technology available to us. However, it is important that we do not hamper these opportunities for self-growth by leaving our resolution-assisting devices vulnerable to cyber threat. Below are some ways to protect devices you may be using to assist with each of your goals in 2022!
Getting Healthy
Getting Active
Resolutions related to increased exercise are among some of the top types of goals that individuals set for themselves in a new year. Tech companies and exercise entities alike have taken note of this and created a variety of devices to assist people trying to get active. These devices can include wearable technology like fitness tracking watches, or it can be an Internet-connected piece of equipment like a stationary-bike, or simply a new fitness app on your phone.
A major risk with these sort of devices is the amount of personal, private data that they collect on you -- it can include things like biometric information or passwords tied to apps that are also on the wearable technology; what is even more scary than this though is the fact that these devices often keep track of the user's location. If this information was made available to a malicious actor, it could spell disaster for the user. Be sure to only utilize the location-tracking services on your wearable technology when you need them and turn that feature off when you don't. Additionally, do not connect your fitness-related tech to any networks which you do not trust as this leaves you vulnerable to threats of unsecure systems. Password protect your devices and ensure that you use a unique password for each device.
Eating Healthy
The other major facet of health is eating well -- this is a particularly popular goal at the beginning of each year as well as we leave the tasty holiday foods behind us and focus on a diet that can better assist our overall health-related goals. The primary technology used for this goal is in app form and typically used to assist in tracking of different types of foods and what those foods are made up of as well as in the form of providing different healthy recipes. Protect yourself from cyber vulnerabilities by only using legitimate apps and food services that you can verify are of the quality they claim to be. Use unique passwords for each of your accounts or applications.
Learning New Things & Making Better Habits
Many people set a resolution to learn something new in the new year -- be it a new language, a interesting hobby, how to better handle finances, or how to improve some of your habits that are lacking, there is an app out there to help you achieve this facet of your life-long learning. Be it a site you use on your laptop or an application on your phone, you can learn anything today from the technology you already likely have at home! While this can be exciting, you have to be sure to only provide any of your personal information to sign up for an account with a site if you know they are trustworthy. Protecting your devices by keeping their systems up-to-date is essential to keep them safer from attack. Be sure to also keep with your lessons and track your progress in order to keep at it!
