In this day in age, it is very common to replace devices frequently. On average, a person replaces a phone every two years, if not sooner. Although it can a bad habit to have, sometimes it is necessary to update devices as it becomes obsolete and outdated. The latest and greatest devices of the year are usually able to handle whatever you throw at them, as long as they are picked according to what they are going to be used for. One of the most important parts of getting a new device is the set-up process. We have all been in the same scenario where frustration gets to the best of us when something doesn’t get set up just the way you want it.
The first process in setting up a device is choosing the right one. Anything from choosing the right kind of phone to the computer can mean the difference between loving and hating it. Pay careful attention to the specifications. The specs of a computer don’t always have to be the best of the best in order to satisfy your requirements. Depending on your use, a lower tier CPU, GPU, and less RAM will be needed and save you money. Forums are usually a good way to conduct research. Countless of users, who have had experiences with those products, could testify on what is the best use scenario for a new computer or a phone.
Once you have chosen your new device, the set-up process is relatively easy. These days, especially on phones, companies have made it easier and easier to transfer data between accounts and phones. Upon starting up your new device, save all of your data from your old phone onto the cloud service of your choice. Once that is done, your new device will prompt you for your cloud credential information. If you were to get a new device from the same company, it is even easier without the need to upload files to the cloud, as long as your old device is nearby. Apple does this for example if you are switching from an older iPhone to the newest model.
Computers can be a different story however. There are a series of steps to follow switching to a new computer depending on what your device is like. If you are building your own, it could be as easy as just moving your storage device, like a hard drive or SSD, onto your new mother board. The next most common way to transfer your previous device information to a new device, especially like laptops or prebuilt computers, can be done in two different ways. For the first method specifically for Windows, they have created this cloud-based tool called OneDrive. When you go into your apps and features search bar, type in OneDrive. This cloud service uploads all your documents and settings so that they can be accessed by a new computer if you were to get a new one. Uploading data might take a while depending on how many documents you have; sometimes you may need to purchase more storage space via the cloud if you have a lot of data that needs transferring. On your new device all you have to do is sign into your Microsoft account, then follow the steps on the screen. The computer will do the rest of the job for you.
Another way to transfer data to a new computer is by doing it manually via a storage device. This is useful if you are switching Operating Systems to like Linux or MacOS. All you need is either a high storage flash drive or an external removable drive. Removable disks can be purchased at your local tech store, like a Best Buy, and can vary in price from just $20-$100+. From there, you just plug in your removable drive. You then let the computer sit for a minute or two while the computer recognizes it; after that you are free to create folders to organize your data in the removable drive. Then copy everything over that you need transferred.
Some of the common file locations that may need to be copied are documents, pictures, and cached data like passwords. If you are unable to find your saved passwords folder, if you have them saved by your browser like google chrome, you can sign in with your email account. Once your signed in, if you log into the browser of your new device, all your bookmarks and passwords should automatically be loaded. Sometimes you might have to opt into syncing your account data to your email account in the settings page of your browser.
Once you have set up your new device(s) it is important to protect your data. Even if you didn’t protect your data previously, it is never too late to take extra precautions. Some of the best ways to protect your data is by taking preventative measures. You can do this by obtaining endpoint protection and a firewall from reputable vendors, like us at Firestorm Cyber. With a firewall and/or endpoint protection, network activity is monitored to prevent any attempts of data theft. Although any sort of protection is greater than none, not every vendor gives the same effort in protecting your data. For this reason, we are partnered with excellent providers, like Sophos, which deliver the best quality protection against suspicious network activity so that you don’t have to go through the hassle of dealing with a cyber-attack.