A Few Words About the Obvious: Sanitation Day

Set aside a regular sanitation day for yourself—say, the last Sunday of every month. This simple habit can significantly improve your personal security. Many obvious things can slip our attention, and to minimize or even eliminate the consequences, it’s important to stay disciplined. On this day, post a reminder (for example, on your forum or group) with a link to these instructions, outlining what should be destroyed or cleaned up to reduce the risk of exposing information about you and your activities.

Anything you get rid of on this day should meet two criteria: you don’t really need it, and it could harm you if it were discovered or made public. It’s that simple.

Today’s Checklist:

1) Information on Your Computer

• Unused passwords and account data: Permanently delete them using secure software methods.
• Browser bookmarks: Carefully review and remove anything unnecessary.
• Browsers: Clear all history and any other data saved by websites.
• Unused contacts: Review and delete unused contacts in ICQ, Jabber, Skype, other IM apps, and email programs/services.
• GPG keyrings: Review all keyrings and delete unused, forgotten, or unknown public and private keys.
• Messages: Delete unnecessary and old messages in email clients, ICQ, Jabber, Skype, and other messaging apps.
• Documents: Go through your document folders and securely delete old, unused, or unnecessary files.
• Backups: Check your backup storage locations and securely delete outdated backups.
• Downloads: Clear out your local downloads folder.
• Unused free disk space: Use programs like CCleaner or BleachBit to clean up.
• Passwords: Decide where it’s time to change your passwords.

2) Internet

• Private messages: Review all forums and social services you use and delete all private messages.
• Messages: Delete old and unnecessary messages in your email services.

3) Communication Devices & Mobile Computers

• Contacts: Go through your phone contacts and delete those you no longer need.
• Messages: Delete all SMS and other messages on your smartphone or tablet.
• Documents: Find and delete unnecessary or forgotten documents and books on your smartphone or tablet.
• Browser bookmarks: Carefully review and remove anything unnecessary.
• Browsers: Clear all history and any other data saved by websites.
• Unused contacts in IM apps: Review and delete unused contacts in ICQ, Jabber, Skype, other IM apps, and email programs/services.
• Apps: Identify and remove old or unnecessary apps, along with any data they’ve left behind.
• Passwords: Decide where it’s time to change your passwords.

4) Physical Items

• Flash drives and other storage devices: Check all accessible storage devices and destroy (break, burn, or otherwise dispose of) the data on them as you see fit.
• Phones, modems, Wi-Fi modules, and other communication devices: Physically destroy and discard any used, old, unnecessary, or otherwise “compromised” devices at least three blocks (or kilometers) away from your location.
• SIM cards: Identify and destroy (break, burn, or flush) all forgotten or unused SIM cards and other access cards.
• Documents: Find and destroy (preferably burn) any unnecessary or forgotten documents, notes, memos, or notebooks.

Having a day like this at least once a month won’t hurt anyone—and it could save you a lot of trouble!