Day 6: Remove Old and Unused Accounts

Why Removing Old Accounts Matters

Over time, we create accounts for various services—some we forget about entirely. Every unused account is a potential security risk, especially if:

• The company suffers a data breach.
• You reused a password that may have leaked.
• The account contains personal information that could be exploited.

Reducing the number of online accounts limits your exposure to future breaches and makes managing your digital life easier.

Step 1: Find Your Old Accounts

To identify old accounts:

1. Search Your Email – Look for old account sign-up confirmations (search for “Welcome to” or “Your account”).
2. Use Have I Been Pwned – Check if your email appears in breached databases, which may remind you of old accounts.
3. Try Signing In – If you suspect an account exists, attempt a login or password reset.
4. Use Bitwarden – this isn’t so useful now, since we’re just getting started with it, but this should become a regular habit, so doing this once a year will be good.

Step 2: Delete Unused Accounts

For each unused account:

1. Log in and go to the settings or account section.
2. Look for “Delete Account”, “Close Account”, or similar options.
3. If you can’t find a deletion option, search online for “how to delete [service] account”.
4. If account deletion is unavailable, remove personal data, change to a random password (stored in Bitwarden), and remove recovery options.

🔹 Tip: Some sites require contacting support to request account deletion.

Step 3: Unsubscribe from Unwanted Services

While reviewing old accounts, take a moment to unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists. This reduces spam and improves online hygiene.

Next Steps

Tomorrow, we’ll focus on reviewing and securing your account recovery methods, ensuring you can regain access if something goes wrong.

✅ Action for Today:

• Identify and delete old accounts.
• Unsubscribe from unwanted services.
• Secure any remaining accounts with strong passwords and 2FA.

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🔒 Fewer accounts mean fewer risks—keep your digital footprint lean!