New Year’s Tech Resolution
With the New Year upon us, there’s no better time to set some resolutions for your digital life. Just as we take time to tidy up our homes and make fresh starts, our technology can benefit from a bit of a clean-up too. These easy-to-follow tips will help you refresh your tech habits, making your devices safer and more enjoyable to use throughout the year.
Let’s start with a simple but effective resolution: updating your passwords. It’s easy to let passwords become stale, especially if you’ve been using the same one for multiple accounts over the years. Take a moment to change the passwords for your most important accounts—think email, banking, and myGov. Choose strong, unique passwords that are hard to guess. A good method is to create a passphrase using a combination of random words or to include numbers and special characters. If you prefer a more traditional approach, jot down your new passwords in a dedicated password notebook, clearly noting each account. Avoid saving passwords directly on your computer if they relate to sensitive accounts, as this could pose a risk if your device is compromised.
Another fantastic habit to form in the New Year is regular data backups. There’s nothing worse than losing precious photos or important documents because of a sudden computer issue. Setting up a backup system is easier than it sounds. For your computer, I recommend having both a physical backup (using an external hard drive) and a cloud backup. This way, you have two layers of protection if something goes wrong. For Apple users, make sure your iPhone or iPad is regularly backing up to iCloud. You can check this in your device settings under “iCloud Backup.” It’s an easy, automatic way to ensure your photos and files are safely stored.
Speaking of photos, the this is a great opportunity to organise your digital memories. It’s easy to end up with hundreds of photos cluttering your phone or computer, making it hard to find the ones you love. Start by going through your photo library and deleting any duplicates or blurry shots you don’t need. Once you’ve pared things down, create folders to sort your photos by year, event, or theme—whatever makes sense for you. If you’ve been meaning to print a few favourites, now’s the time. A photo book or a framed picture can be a lovely way to enjoy your memories off-screen. And don’t forget to back up your photos as well, so they’re safe from accidental deletion.
Next on the list is a good old-fashioned declutter of your devices. Just like a tidy home feels more comfortable, a streamlined smartphone, tablet, or computer can make using it a breeze. Go through your apps and uninstall anything you don’t use anymore. Not only will this free up storage space, but it can also help your device run more smoothly. While you’re at it, take a look at your files and documents—clear out the ones you don’t need and organise the rest into folders. This is a simple step that can make a big difference in how easily you find what you’re looking for.
Another easy clean-up is checking for software updates. It might not seem exciting, but updates are crucial for keeping your devices secure. Your computer’s operating system, apps, and antivirus software receive updates regularly to patch security vulnerabilities and improve performance. If you’ve been ignoring those notifications asking you to update, take the time now to get everything up to date. You can often set your device to automatically install updates, saving you from having to remember in the future.
If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry—you don’t have to do it all on your own. At Greyology, we’re here to help make this process as simple as possible. Whether you need assistance with backing up your data, organising your photos, or figuring out which apps to remove, our team can guide you step by step. Starting the New Year with a fresh, secure digital setup will make your tech experience smoother and more enjoyable in the months ahead.
Edin Read.
Founder & Chief Technician.
☎️ +61 401 018 615
