With the start of the new year comes the opportunity for a fresh start. The New Year is a time to reflect on who we’ve been and embrace the potential of who we can become. That’s why new year’s resolutions are such an important part about the celebration. Here at PogoZone powered by NeuBeam, our new year’s resolution is helping you stay connected, and stay safe in 2025. To ensure both of those, here is our list of digital best practices in 2025.

Clean Up Your Inbox

We’ve all fallen victim to the cluttered inbox. 2025 is the year to finally do something about it!

Briefly review your inbox, and see if there is anything important you may have missed. Exercise caution when opening emails or attachments that appear suspicious. Be sure to check the subject line and sender to see if it’s something or someone you recognize or expect. While you’re reviewing and de-cluttering your inbox, be on the lookout for SPAM or any unwanted newsletters. On Gmail and Outlook, you have the option to not only delete emails, but also label them as junk and block the sender, sending all future emails from that sender straight to the junk pile. It’s also smart to unsubscribe from any unwanted newsletters.This helps you stay organized and informs senders that you’re no longer interested.

Change Your Passwords

Keep your accounts secure by updating your passwords regularly. While it may seem tedious, you’re doing yourself a huge favor. Cyberattacks occur every 39 seconds globally. Don’t become a statistic.

Make sure each account has different, and complex passwords. Normally the recommended or auto generated passwords are pretty good at doing exactly that. That said, they can be pretty hard to remember, considering they look like someone just slammed the keyboard and hit enter. To ensure their safe storage so you don’t have to remember, we recommend using password managers. They can help you generate and store strong passwords securely. Many browsers come with their own password manager. Alternatively, you install one on your own. If you decide to go down the route of installing one yourself, we recommend checking reviews and doing your research before installing them.

Using a non-browser password manager, all you need to do is have one strong password that you can remember. To add an additional layer of security, it’s recommended to sign up for two-factor authentication. This will attach another device to whatever account you’re signing on to. Take your phone for example, when signing on, your phone will get a notification, with where and when someone is trying to use your account. If that person is you, simply follow the directions on the notification to unlock your account. If that person is not you, you can press the “that’s not me” button, and it will be reported.

Review Subscriptions

A new year is also a good time to assess your finances, including recurring payments.

It’s common for many of us to have subscriptions and monthly memberships. These might include a gym membership, Netflix, Disney+, music apps, and more. With the turn of the new year, perhaps it’s time to assess all of these subscriptions, and determine what you can and can’t live without.

It’s recommended to review the past couple of months and identify any recurring payments that seem suspicious. Perhaps you signed up for one and forgot, or something else. Whatever the case, if you’re not using it, maybe it’s time to reconsider paying for it.

While reviewing your finances, be on the lookout for any other purchases that seem suspicious. If you don’t remember making that purchase, it’s best to further investigate, and determine the cause. If you suspect fraud or theft at play, you can freeze your cards and accounts on your bank’s app, and check in with your bank to determine the next steps.

Stay Up to Date with Tech Trends

The world around us is growing and changing at an accelerated rate, it’s essential to keep up with the times. The news can be overwhelming now-a-days, so proceed with caution. Find a credible news source that gives insight and updates on changing economic trends, and technological advances.

Perhaps it’s also time to investigate necessary upgrades yourself. New devices or the latest software can boost your own efficiency and security. Many new software updates, including those for Adobe and operating systems like Windows or MacOS, aim to incorporate AI for improved efficiency and security.

AI is a well conversed, and controversial topic. While it’s not trying to take over the world, it’s important to understand AI and its applications. It’s helpful to explore its potential uses and start experimenting by asking questions. Over time, you will become more in tune with how to use it, and it can become a tool to increase your own productivity. That said, do bear in mind that AI has the capability to learn and remember things about you. Ethics are one of the first concerns of AI developers, so the likelihood of a data breach is slim to non-existent, but always practice caution.

Update or Install Antivirus Software

In a society that is primarily digital, cybersecurity should always be a priority. As much of our personal and professional lives take place online, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your devices are protected against the increasing threat of cyberattacks. Data breaches, malware, and ransomware are just a few of the dangers lurking online, and failing to take adequate precautions can lead to severe consequences, including identity theft and data loss.

To safeguard your devices, ensure that your computers and other digital tools have antivirus software installed. If you already have antivirus software, make sure it’s up to date. Updates often include critical patches to protect against the latest threats and vulnerabilities. Keeping your antivirus software current ensures that your devices remain shielded from digital threats, allowing you to use them with confidence and peace of mind. Installing reliable antivirus software and maintaining its updates is a simple yet effective way to protect yourself in today’s interconnected world.

Clean Up Mobile and PC Storage

With the new year, comes new memories to make. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate some old ones.

If you’re like most, you have thousands of photos, documents, or old files on your phone and computer. This year, it’s time to get organized. Review your phone for old files and photos, keeping the ones that matter most and deleting those that don’t. For example, old doctors’ notes, accidental screenshots, or old photos that just aren’t relevant or necessary for you to have anymore.

For your computer, go through old documents, photos, and files that you no longer use, look at, need, or feel attached to anymore. While reviewing your digital collection, make note of important documents or sensitive files. It’s a good idea to keep those in secured or encrypted folders to ensure their safety, and your privacy. While it’s your computer, and the likelihood of someone other than you accessing it is low, it’s best to minimize risk even in the event of someone getting a hold of it. For example, if you have kids, a spouse, or someone accessing your desktop remotely through your Wi-Fi, You want to keep everything on lock to make sure no one but you has access to private or delicate information.

Looking Back on Your New Year’s Resolution

Taking these steps will set you up for a smoother, more secure, and more productive year ahead. Whether it’s managing your inbox, securing your accounts, or staying current with technology, these small actions can make a big difference in your digital life.