SALTZMAN: Five easy ways to be tech-wise in 2025

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Lose weight. Quit smoking. Save more.

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Sure, these are all popular and sincere New Year’s Resolutions – and we looked at a couple in last week’s column (and how apps can help you achieve your goals) – but you should also consider a tech makeover this year.

Perhaps you haven’t properly protected your personal computer, and thus leaving your info at risk? Maybe it’s time to put some smartphone safeguards in place in case your device is lost or stolen. And why not reduce spam so you spend less time reading and deleting unwanted junk mail?

Fortunately, there’s no shortage of simple cybersecurity solutions for you to start 2025 on the right foot – even if you’re more tech-shy than tech-savvy.

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A FEW NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS TO PLEDGE:

I will back up my important info

You know the old adage ‘you don’t know what you got until it’s gone,’ so be sure to back up your important files on a regular basis in case of theft, fire, a nasty virus, or power surge that fries your data.

It doesn’t really matter how you back up your files, so long as you do something, and fairly often.

Local back-up solutions include inexpensive external hard drives, portable solid-state drives (SSDs) or USB flash drives.

Also take advantage of one of the online “cloud” storage options, which lets you access your files securely and remotely, through a password-protected app or website. Popular cloud services include OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, and Dropbox, to name a few. They’re free to start, but you only get a few gigabytes. After that, you’ll need to pay a few bucks a month to rent the virtual vault.

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I will use security software

If you’ve read recent headlines, you know there have been many high-profile online attacks from malicious types who want to do harm.

Therefore, it’s critical to purchase and install protective software that can safeguard your computer and mobile devices from damaging viruses (which can infect your operating system), spyware (that can monitor your web surfing behaviour), ransomware (that holds your data hostage), and phishing attempts (where cyberthieves try to steal your personal information, like credit card or banking info). Sigh.

Some security software may be offered for free – including what your operating system or internet service provider (ISP) may offer – but you get what you pay for. For robust protection, it’s recommended to invest in a multi-layered software suite that can protect you on multiple devices and from a variety of online threats.

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Speaking of protection, make sure you’ve got a smartphone case and protective screen for when – not if – you drop your device.

I will fight back against spam

In December 2024, “spam” messages accounted for more than 46.8% of all email traffic, says Mailmodo, an email marketing platform.

This junk mail clutters up your inbox, promising everything from cheap pharmaceuticals to fixing bad credit.

The good news is you can greatly reduce the amount of unwanted email, so you don’t have to spend your valuable time deleting it all manually.

Chances are your email program, such as Microsoft Outlook, or web mail program (like Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Outlook.com), lets you bump up the filters so that it catches more junk mail. You can also block specific senders or flag words that might suggest the message is spam (such as “Viagra” or “Cialis”).

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Some security suites also comb through your email and drop suspicious messages into a Spam folder.

Also, be selective about with whom you’re giving your email address out to. If you want to share it with, say, a retailer, set up a free, secondary webmail address (like Gmail), to keep your main inbox dedicated to family, friends or colleagues.

I will lock my smartphone

You’d be surprised how many Canadians don’t lock down their smartphone because they feel it’s inconvenient to unlock it every time it’s used.

If you don’t, however, and you accidentally leave your phone on the table at a coffee shop or in the back of a rideshare vehicle, whoever finds it has access to your info including private email, notes, text messages, apps, and more.

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So, make sure you lock your mobile device, in case it’s stolen or lost, by adding a PIN, password or biometrics option (like fingerprint or facial scan) – the latter of which is fastest and easiest to use.

On a related note, set up the “Find my phone” feature, which lets you remotely wipe your phone’s data clean if lost or stolen, and see where you left it on a map (when logged into another device with the same login credentials). If it’s stolen, never try to retrieve it on your own – instead, contact the authorities.

I will clean up my gear

April may be a few months away, but it’s not too early to spring clean your gadgets and gear.

On the outside, use proper cleaning solutions to wipe down screens, keyboards, mice, remotes, and so on. It’s best to spray a rag instead of applying directly to your tech – in case the liquid does more harm than good.

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Also, clean up what you see on your screens and help make your devices run smoother. For example, is your desktop (on a PC) or home screens (on phones, tablets) littered with so many icons that you can’t see the photo behind it? Uninstall unused applications. You can also delete media files, like songs and movies, you no longer need.

You should also keep your operating system (OS) up to date on your phone, tablet, and computer, to ensure you’re protected from the latest threats. For many of your devices, updates are now automatic – or at least you’ll be prompted to install the latest OS.

– Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Vision Pro For Dummies (Wiley)

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