New Kaspersky research* shows that nearly 90% of users occasionally clean up their devices, deleting old photos or clearing browser history. However, not all of them adopt practices that are truly beneficial for the device’s security. Kaspersky experts point out that digital cleanups do more than boost performance, they also tighten device security by clearing out stale data that could be exploited.
According to recent statistics, the average person spends 4-6 hours a day looking at a screen – roughly 70 days each year. This relentless interaction leaves a noticeable footprint on a device: unwanted files, duplicate photos and forgotten apps pile up, gobbling memory, creating clutter and dragging performance down. Yet, despite the obvious impact, regular device‑cleaning isn’t a habit most users have adopted. Kaspersky experts explain why recurring cleanups are truly beneficial for gadgets, not only from performance, but also from the security point of view.
What are the most popular cleanup actions?
Kaspersky data shows that 83% of survey participants regularly update their operating system and apps. Security experts highlight that this practice is beneficial for the device’s protection, because once an operating system or the version of the app reaches its end of life, it no longer receives security updates or patches. As a result, newly discovered vulnerabilities remain unaddressed, increasing the risk of exploitation by cybercriminals.
Eighty percent of those surveyed delete unused or rarely used applications, and 79% clear browser history and cache, manage photos and videos, or remove duplicate files. Organizing files and email is performed by 69% of respondents. Deleting old files and photos frees up storage, while organizing content on the phone makes everyday use more comfortable. Not only does a tidy device help speed up the search for important items, it also contributes to better system stability and enhanced security.
Only 60% of survey participants review or delete old online accounts, while forgotten accounts, especially those that reuse passwords, can serve as easy entry points for cybercriminals. Fifty eight percent remove saved payment methods, a practice that helps safeguard finances if an account is compromised.
Backups are even less common: just 35% of respondents regularly back up important data, leaving valuable information vulnerable to loss or device failure. Although 63% claim to move files to external storage or cloud services, Kaspersky experts note that a truly effective backup strategy requires copying critical data to several independent locations.
The most concerning figure is that only 36% of users change their passwords on a regular basis. According to the latest research by Kaspersky more than a half of passwords can be cracked in less than an hour due to the use of common symbols and insufficient complexity. Therefore, it is extremely important to update passwords regularly and make them truly random.
Just 23% of those surveyed check or update app permissions and privacy settings, underscoring a significant gap in everyday security hygiene.
How to make digital cleaning a regular habit
As the data show, the most popular cleanup actions are those whose benefits are immediately visible. However, Kaspersky experts underscore that it’s cruсial not to forget about actions that don't give instant results, but in the long run can save users’ data and money.
To easily get rid of the digital clutter and automatize updates Kaspersky recommends using dedicated software. For example, Performance functionality in Kaspersky Premium helps to declutter Windows PCs of duplicate and large files, as well as unused apps on Android devices. Starting from June in Kaspersky for macOS new functionality App Cleaner will be available. It removes unwanted apps along with all associated files that standard drag-to-trash deletion leaves behind. Additionally, it scans for leftovers from applications that have been already removed in the past, regardless of how long the original deletion occurred, and deletes them as well.
Meanwhile, App and Software Updater in Kaspersky Premium for Windows regularly searches for updates, automatically downloads and installs all updates for known applications and notifies users if the update needs to be done manually.
It’s also recommended to set up automatic backups where possible. Kaspersky Premium allows users to make regular backups and restore information on Windows devices. Backup copies of data can be easily saved on removable drives or in cloud storage in an encrypted format.
To avoid account hacking and data breaches, regularly review and delete old unused accounts and saved payment methods. In order not to forget about sites and applications you have registered on, store all credentials and financial data in a password manager.
To create passwords that meet all security standards, use Kaspersky Password Generator website. For easy and secure password management, auto-fill and cross-device synchronization consider using a Kaspersky password manager in which all credentials are stored in a secure vault and protected by a single master password.
“At a first glance, maintaining devices free of digital clutter may appear to require considerable effort and almost daily engagement. The secret, however, is to build a system that leans heavily on automation. For instance, imposing limits on mobile‑data usage for messengers and other applications reduces background activity, curtails the flow of unnecessary content and enables more deliberate control of digital consumption. Likewise, employing tools like password manager or cleanup functions embedded within security solutions assumes the majority of digital‑cleaning responsibilities, safeguarding valuable data and preserving devices’ security,” comments Vladimir Nestor, lead security researcher at Kaspersky GReAT (Global Research and Analysis Team)
*The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research center in March 2026. 7200 respondents from 18 countries (Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam) took part in the survey.
