Today we interact with more gadgets in our daily lives than ever before. In fact, many of us have become so dependent on them that we wouldn’t be able to function without them. And it’s not just desktop computers anymore. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, you name it. But with this ever-increasing connectivity, we’re also faced with more threats. Therefore we’ve put together a list of 7 dead simple ways to protect your data across multiple online devices… before it’s too late.

1. Save as you work. There’s nothing worse than spending hours on a project, only to watch it disappear in front of your eyes because the power goes out, or your battery dies. While most applications now have an auto-save feature, make sure that’s the case, and adjust the settings to your comfort level.

2. Backup often. Ask yourself this question: If you lost all of your data today, what would the consequences be? The truth is, all of us are susceptible to theft, fire, or being hacked. But few of us have a backup plan. Work and school files, photos, contacts… they could all be gone in the blink of an eye. Consider backing up your data and keeping a copy offsite (e.g. in a safety deposit box). There are also plenty of cloud storage services now available (such as Google Drive), allowing you to not only store your data, but also access it from anywhere, on all of your devices.

3. Update your software. The next time you get a notification to update your software, think twice