7.1 Maintenance Checklists

Monthly Checklist

Time Required: ~30 minutes

Backups

• Verify your computer backup completed successfully (check last backup date)

• Verify your phone backup completed successfully

• Check backup drive has sufficient free space

• For cloud backups, verify storage isn't full

• Check password manager is syncing properly across devices

Network Security

• Review devices connected to your home WiFi

• Remove any unknown or unauthorized devices

  • Disconnect them and reset your WiFi password

  • Do this at a time when convenient to reconnect all other devices on your network

• Check router firmware is up to date

Software & Updates

• Verify automatic updates are still enabled on all devices

• Check for pending updates and install if needed

Quarterly Checklist

Time Required: ~1-2 hours

Account Security Review

• Review authorized devices on critical accounts (email, banking, cloud storage)

• Remove old/unrecognized devices from authorized lists

• Check recent login activity on important accounts

• Verify recovery email addresses and phone numbers are current

• Check https://haveibeenpwned.com to see if any of your accounts have been compromised

Device Maintenance

• Review installed applications on computers and mobile devices

  • Remove apps you no longer use or recognize

• Review app permissions on computers and mobile devices

• • Revoke permissions from apps that don't need them

• Check privacy settings haven't been reset by updates (Windows, Mac, phone)

• Run full antivirus scan on computers

• Review third-party app access to Google/Microsoft/Apple accounts

• Review browser extensions and remove unused ones

• Review startup programs on computers, disable unnecessary ones

• Check for firmware updates on smart home devices

Annual Checklist

Time Required: ~2-3 hours (can be spread across multiple sessions)

Comprehensive Account Audit

• Delete online accounts you no longer use (through their website before you delete the password from your password manager)

• Use the password manager’s tools to check for reused passwords and update them

• Review recovery options and updated as needed

Backup & Recovery Testing

• Perform a test restore of at least one important file from backup

• Test "Find My Device" on all phones and laptops

• Review and update your emergency contact list

• Update digital legacy planning (who gets access if something happens to you)

• Review external backup drives, consider replacing if 3-5+ years old

Privacy Review

• Review and adjust privacy settings across all cloud platform accounts

• Review smart device voice history and delete (Alexa, Google Home)

• Opt out of data broker sites (or renew opt-outs)