Hardware maintenance and storage
A data do-over: making room on your device
This process can be painstaking if done manually, which is why it's a good idea to automate as much of the job as possible. For laptops, both Macs and Windows boast self-scrubbing applications to clear unnecessary files.
On Mac OS Sierra, you'll have to open the System Information tool before opening the Window menu. There, simply select ‘store management'.
For Windows users it is even easier – you'll find the Disk Cleanup tool in the Start menu. Any files that have been recently used or that your system classifies as essential will need to be assessed manually.
It might help to order your files by largest to smallest, which allows you to identify GB-taxing files quickly that you no longer use. For Apple, Androids and tablets, you can find a storage breakdown in your general settings that shows you the apps that are eating at your storage.
Programs like Google Photos also offer ways to store your pictures and photography in the cloud, to keep large images and videos off your hardware. Another Google offering is Google One, which is particularly useful for overloaded inboxes with emails and files you'd rather keep. This storage allowance also extends to the other applications in the Google Suite.
Wiping your phone
Wiping your smartphone entirely is a big decision, but once you decide that is the best course of action it is swift to execute. On an iPhone, go to Settings and follow General > Reset> Erase All Content and Settings. For Android, click on the Systems app then follow System > Advance > Reset options and Erase all Data (factory reset).
Password protection: the longer, the better
We're often told a password that's made up of a series of nonsensical letters, symbols, and special characters is the safest way to keep your online accounts from hackers and devious online prowlers. Of course, that's safer than the remarkably popular password and early internet phenomenon QWERTY, which is made up of the first six letters on the English language keyboard in left-to-right order.
One simple way to ensure your password is hard to hack but simultaneously easier to remember than The Matrix code is to remember that statistically speaking, the more letters you introduce the harder that password is to hack. For instance, changing “Sydney1”, to “SydneyNewSouthWales1”.
So, for instance, if the name of the school where you received further education is your password, write out the full and official title; ie. “MelbourneUniversity1” is literally millions of times harder to hack than “Melbourne1”. The same goes for using the name of a loved one or a childhood hero – including their given name and surname is the safest option.
Responsible, waste-free disposal
If you have finished completely with a piece of hardware and wish to destroy it, you can do so sustainably through organisations like Planet Ark. With more than 3,500 locations Australia-wide, it's easy to find your closest drop-off point – there's even a handy look up tool.
