Each day, the directives to be more cautious amid the COVID-19, Coronavirus outbreak become more and more stringent and people around the globe are urged to remain home if they do not have to be outside. Children have been taken out of school and many employees are also getting accustomed to working remotely.

Computer, smartphone, and internet lifelines have become extremely important and with that has also come a need to also take better care of not only our own health but the wellbeing of devices, connectivity, and online resources. Here’s are some suggestions, by consumer electronics expert and founder of Big Sky Recycling, Wesley Poritz, on how to keep your virtual life up and running as we live through this pandemic.

Sanitize your devices

Amid the spread of this very infectious disease, we are reminded that many electronic devices we use daily are riddled with germs; smartphones in particular. Studies have revealed that coronaviruses can survive on surfaces, such as metal, glass or plastic for well over a week, but can easily be killed with antibacterial agents, such as 62–71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite.

Users should wipe down not only mobile devices but also keyboards, remotes, key fobs, and any other products that may be used more frequently as people spend more time indoors. Alcohols and other harsh chemicals may not be ideal for cleaning smartphones, but users can wipe mobile devices down with lint-free cloths dampened with soapy water, according to Apple and Google. Users can opt for 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to clean various electronic accessories.

Update your passwords 

With more workers set up at home, hackers are also taking the opportunity to deploy a number of cybersecurity threats, including malware and ransomware. Users should update important passwords and login information, especially those that have not been changed in a while. This may also be a good time to delete inactive accounts of any kind. Others have suggested remote workers purchase as set up private internet access points via a VPN.

Learn something new 

Being cooped up in the house for extended periods of time can get boring, but the world remains at our fingertips with a solid internet connection. This could be a good opportunity to find a new learning hobby to kill time. This is an especially viable time to look into learning a new language, get into coding, or adopt a new workout routine as many services are offering their products for free or for extraordinary discounts for several weeks to several months.

Backup your data and install updates

While the global health crisis continues to develop, it may seem all too ironic that various electronics may also decide to go on the fritz. It may now be challenging to get a smartphone or computer fixed, with many retail and service stores now closed or functioning at reduced hours. This may be a good time to back up important data on an external hard drive or on a cloud service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive. If anything happens to your hardware at least your data will be salvageable.

Properly dispose of old electronics 

Many may also be using their extended time indoors to do some spring cleaning. While throwing out old clothes and knick-knacks may be simple, people looking to dispose of old smartphones should consider recycling. Smartphones are considered one of the top global pollutants of our time and simply tossing and old device in the garbage can be especially harmful to the planet.

Companies, such as Big Sky Recycling, offers free shipping and pickup of devices to avoid in-person contact and also donates functioning devices to charities. Other services, such as Gazelle and BuyBackWorld offer selling options, where owners can get a quote on the value of their devices and then in their smartphones for cash. They also offer recycling options for devices that may be too old or damaged for purchase. Both companies have released statements on the safety precautions they are taking to keep services running during the Coronaviris outbreak.