We use our computers and electronic devices for a variety of reasons. Most of us use it for personal reasons that include sensitive activities such as online banking, shopping, personal and professional emails, paying bills, etc. These types of activities require us to input personal information that, at the hands of hackers, can leave us hurting if they gain access to it.
So, in this two part blog post we are going to share 10 ways to ensure that your computer security is kept at top notch!
1) Install and update antivirus and firewall protection
Antivirus/malware software is an important part of computer security. This software is designed to detect and destroy computer viruses and infections. A computer virus is a piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. A computer virus can make a copy of itself over and over again and can quickly use up all available memory causing your system to stop working.
Firewall is a software or hardware that acts as a barrier between trusted networks and untrusted networks.
2) Secure your router
A router is a small box that allows multiple computers to join the same network. It is important to secure this because leaving a router unsecured could lead to someone gaining access to it and potentially every device connected to it. This can be a fairly daunting process so if you don’t feel confident in doing it yourself, it is best to reach out to a friend who can or to a trusted IT professional for help.
3) Use a non-administrator account
An administrator account is an account that is set up during operating system setup. An administrator account has the ability to change settings, install programs, has full control of the operating system, etc. If your computer were to be hacked this could be very harmful in the hands of someone that wants to access your personal data and computer. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have an administrator account, that is necessary, but for everyday use a standard account is the better option.
4) Keep your software and operating system up to date
Manufacturers are frequently updating and fixing their software in order to keep everything running well. It is important to accept and run those updates on your computer to keep everything current and up to date as many of these updates patch security holes. It can be frustrating having to think about yet another thing to do with your computer, however this task can be done simply by turning on auto updates and it is something that you won’t have to think about.
5) Practice good password use
For pretty much all of our uses on daily internet usage, we have to have a password. Coming up with good and secure passwords is a process and one that often leaves us creating passwords that aren’t secure. The best way to create a password is with a variety of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. There are a variety of options out there as well to keep track of your passwords in case you think you may forget them. The bottom line is, the more difficult the password, the more secure the account.
These are just five of the ten tips for computer security. Stay tuned later this week for more tips!