Throughout the years, your laptop, smartphone, or tablet can become extremely slow and laggy. When that happens, every touch of a button and swipe is frustrating, and suddenly, all you want is to throw that thing across the room! But did you know that you could easily prevent that from happening to your next gadget?
In this article, we will present how bad digital habits can ruin your gadget in months, leading to premature failure, and how you can secure it to stop you from seeking constant tech upgrades. We will then explore how secure digital practices can help reduce e-waste and promote sustainability.
From Viruses to Device Failure
Imagine getting a new smartphone, only for it to become sluggish in under a year. What if it stops working completely? This, and many other issues with your gadgets, could be caused by poor digital hygiene.
To better understand poor digital hygiene, imagine this: you click on a suspicious link received through your email, or you download an unauthorized copy of a game from an illegal source. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s infected with malware or a virus. The malware or virus then infects your device and slows it down by constantly running in the background.
Cyberattacks, ransomware, phishing, data breaches – all these terrible practices can cause severe damage to your gadget’s operating system. Sometimes, these viruses become so severe that the device itself becomes unsalvageable. Naturally, this leads to the phone or laptop being discarded, contributing to e-waste.
Solution: Securing Your Device
Not all is lost, though. Securing your device from bad actors can promote good cyber-hygiene and extend your gadget’s life.
A good VPN, for example, serves as an additional shield for your electronics. When enabled, all the data leaving your phone or laptop and coming back is encrypted. Hackers snooping on your online activity will only see a jumble of code that they can’t use. You can usually find a solid VPN by searching for comparisons like Norton VPN vs. NordVPN. Such comparisons provide a good overview of what each VPN offers and showcase the best deals.
Besides that, don’t forget to update your device software when prompted. Most of the time, updates include essential protection from the newest hacker tactics. If your gadget’s software is outdated, they might exploit it.
You can also use a password manager. This software protects your devices from within – it comes up with strong, unique passwords for all your sensitive accounts and saves them in an encrypted vault. So, in times when someone tries to break in to your accounts or devices with brute force attacks, dedicated programs for that won’t be able to guess a long password like that.
Lastly, never use public networks like café or airport Wi-Fi when traveling. These networks are usually vulnerable and can be easily hacked by cybercriminals trying to monitor your online activity. Instead of public Wi-Fi, opt for an eSIM. It allows you to access the internet easily while traveling at much lower costs than data roaming with your regular SIM.
To find the best Thailand eSIM or any other destination options, do thorough research and check social forums like Reddit for tips and recommendations from other travelers about which eSIM provider they prefer.
If you use all these practices when browsing online, your gadget will live longer and your data won’t be compromised! But there is still more you can do.
Pro Tips to Minimize Digital Clutter
In case you constantly take photos and screenshots, download a lot of material for work or school, and try new phone games, your device might experience what tech-savvy people call “digital clutter“. Unnecessary files and cache can overwhelm your phone or laptop, slowing it down tremendously. To prevent this:
- delete all the apps you no longer use;
- sort through the files and keep them organized;
- regularly clear cache and old downloads you don’t need;
- store important files in an encrypted cloud;
- set up automated backups for important files;
- disable notifications for apps that are not essential.
As you deal with your digital clutter, you will notice that your device becomes more efficient, organized, and no longer lags as much. See, you don’t even need to replace it anymore.
Want More Sustainable Tech Habits?
Sustainability is the key to the green future. You are already doing your part by securing your devices and cleaning up digital clutter. In case you want to do more, you can try repurposing your old devices instead of throwing them away. For instance, use your slow smartphone as a security camera, a music player, or even a web camera. Shoot videos and photos on it old-school style, or utilize it as a speaker.
Not a fan of reusing? Then, you can find a local repurposing initiative and donate your devices there. In Shanghai, for example, there is a company that refurbishes and resells old electronics. Not only is it great for the planet, but you can also trade your old phone for a discount or a new device! In Cambodia, an Australian company takes in laptops to reuse them in schools and universities. Thanks to the initiative, dozens of students can now afford to study online.
Contributing to the Green Future
Secure cyber-practices and reducing e-waste go hand in hand. And you can contribute, too. By utilizing software like a VPN, password manager, and eSIM protecting yourself from hackers, and adhering to updates, you can extend your gadgets’ lives. If you go a step further and repurpose or donate your electronics, you can minimize e-waste and promote an eco-friendly approach to tech consumption.
