If you’re a media buyer, chances are your digital life is more complicated than most. You’re dealing with sensitive information, client ad budgets, campaign tools, analytics dashboards, and probably a dozen logins a day. Just like you (hopefully) brush your teeth each morning, practicing good digital hygiene should be part of your everyday routine. It helps protect your devices, your data, your team, and your reputation from cyber threats like identity theft, cyber attacks, or worse: showing up on the dark web. Let’s walk through what cyber hygiene really means for media buyers, and how to build strong, simple habits that last.
1. Lock It Down with Unique Passwords & Factor Authentication
Still using the same password across multiple ad platforms? Stop. Now. Use unique passwords for every single tool you use: Google Ads, Meta, DSPs, billing systems, and even your work email. Then store them in a password manager like 1Password or NordPass.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every account that offers it. Use an app or a hardware key (not just a text message) to prevent identity theft.
2. Keep Your Operating System and Apps Up-to-Date
It’s not exciting, but updating your operating system and browser is one of the easiest ways to block cyber attacks. Security patches fix vulnerabilities hackers love to exploit. Hygiene involves small things like auto-updates, set them and forget them.
3. Protect Your Devices & Networks
Make sure to always:
- Lock screens when you’re away.
- Encrypt your hard drives (use FileVault or BitLocker).
- Avoid random USB drives or unknown sources of downloads.
- Use antivirus software and a firewall.
- On public Wi-Fi? Use a VPN. Always.
4. Clean Up Your Digital Footprint
Your personal information can end up all over the internet without you realizing. Set Google Alerts for your name, company, or team. Delete old social posts that overshare. Remove data from people-search directories. These may seem harmless until your email address and job title land on the dark web.
5. Be Skeptical of Everything in Your Inbox
Phishing scams are more sophisticated than ever. Never click links from unknown sources. If you get a suspicious message, even a legit-looking text message from “Google Ads Support”, make sure that it’s for real.
6. Manage Your Campaign Assets Like a Pro
Back everything up. Creative files, reports, invoices: keep secure, encrypted copies in cloud storage. Use team folders with controlled access. Avoid shady third-party plugins that sneak in malicious scripts.
7. Watch the Money
Don’t let scammers impact your ROI:
- Set up billing alerts to catch strange spending.
- Use virtual credit cards where possible.
- Segregate billing credentials from your main ad login.
8. Practice Ethical Media Buying
Good digital hygiene isn’t just about your internal systems, it also means making clean, ethical choices in what you promote and where:
- Avoid running scammy, misleading, or unethical offers. If the product seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Don’t push obviously false claims (“miracle cures”, bait-and-switch tactics, etc.).
- Stay away from malvertising-laden traffic sources and only use transparent, compliant traffic.
- Choose to work with advertisers and products that stand behind their claims and have real, verifiable value.
- Work with DSPs that prioritize inventory quality.
- Don’t tolerate click fraud, misleading creatives, or shady redirect chains.
- Use contextual targeting that aligns with audience intent and offers value instead of exploiting sensitive data.
- Build long-term client and audience trust by avoiding deceptive practices.
9. Train Your Team and Build Healthy Habits
Cyber hygiene is a team sport. Onboard everyone with basic security training. Rotate shared credentials. Revoke access when people leave. Set a culture where everyone knows hygiene involves constant attention, not one-time checklists.
10. Don’t Burn Out, Log Off Sometimes
Yes, seriously. Good digital hygiene also means protecting your mental bandwidth. Encourage device-free breaks. Try grayscale mode to reduce compulsive scrolling. Even something as small as journaling or handwritten brainstorming can reset your focus and help you make better campaign decisions.
Final Thoughts
Digital security practices for media buyers aren’t optional. From factor authentication to avoiding unknown sources to deleting what you no longer use: every small habit adds up. Good digital hygiene means fewer interruptions, less risk of identity theft, better client trust, and a stronger team.
And remember: practice digital hygiene every day, just like brushing your teeth.
