Trending Now - Revitalize Your Digital Life With a Spring Cleaning Guide
WHO:
Fast Company - Michael Sherwood, product vice president at cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes.
ABC News - Chad Thunberg, chief information security officer at cybersecurity company Yubico.
WHAT:
Fast Company - Digital spring cleaning involves eliminating dormant accounts and forgotten files to protect personal data.
Fast Company - "Clutter is fuel for scammers. Old accounts, exposed data and forgotten apps give them more ways in," said Michael Sherwood.
ABC News - "Cleaning up your digital life is one of the simplest ways to shrink your attack surface in a threat landscape that’s getting smarter, faster, and more automated," said Michael Sherwood.
Fast Company - Users can free up storage space on devices by archiving important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
ABC News - Users are advised to sort or filter their inbox by size, sender, or date to delete old and unneeded emails.
ABC News - "Every dormant account is an open door. Scammers actively target abandoned logins because no one’s watching," said Michael Sherwood.
ABC News - Users should check for app store updates to ensure apps are the latest version and check for software updates on devices.
WHERE:
Fast Company - Users can check their iPhone storage in the settings menu under General and iPhone Storage.
Fast Company - Android devices have a similar Storage tab in settings for managing space.
ABC News - Users can check their Google account's "Third-party apps & services" tab for connected apps.
WHEN:
ABC News - Users are encouraged to consider deleting older posts on social media accounts.
WHY:
Fast Company - Cleaning up digital clutter helps protect personal data and reduces the risk of cyberattacks such as phishing and identity theft.
ABC News - "Limiting what personal information is publicly available helps to reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks such as phishing and identity theft," said Chad Thunberg.
HOW:
Fast Company - Users can declutter their inbox by unsubscribing from mailing lists or newsletters they no longer read.
ABC News - Users are advised to enable multi-factor authentication for their accounts.
ABC News - Passkeys, a modern login standard, are recommended for better security, requiring authentication via fingerprint, face scan, or PIN.
(UPDATED May 7, 2026 19:34 UTC)
Cybersecurity experts are urging individuals to engage in digital spring cleaning to protect their personal data, as clutter can provide opportunities for scammers. Michael Sherwood from Malwarebytes emphasizes that every dormant account is an open door for cybercriminals, while Chad Thunberg from Yubico highlights that limiting publicly available personal information is crucial in reducing the risk of phishing and identity theft. To enhance security, users should consider deleting old social media posts, enabling multi-factor authentication, and utilizing passkeys for a more secure login experience.