Despite the fact that we are all abundantly aware of the need to be vigilant and cautious when using our PC online it only takes a moment to be caught off-guard, leaving you exposed to malware and fraudsters.
A quick call to IT support might fix the problem without any lasting damage but it makes sense to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach to the issue of making your PC as secure as possible.
Here are some leading suggestions that should help you resist any attempts to compromise your security and data.
Always on isn’t such a great idea
It stands to reason that you are more likely to want to have your PC connected to the internet permanently than keep logging on every time you want to access the web.
However, it should be remembered that even if you have your computer running almost permanently that doesn’t mean your internet router has to be just as active.
Hackers deliberately search out devices that are in a permanent state of connection to the internet. If you can’t see yourself turning off the internet connection when not in use, make sure you have security protocols that protect your router.
Let’s talk firewall’s
A firewall is an essential layer of protection and you need to take steps to ensure your router and computer have the right level of protection from this valuable software or hardware.
Check that your default firewall protection is up to scratch. If not, investing in an upgrade could be money well spent.
Updates are a necessary evil
Let’s be honest, most of us really hate the idea of going through the process of carrying out a system update. However, it often pays to put your cynicism to one side and agree to official updates that you know come from a genuine source, such as Microsoft, for example.
The reason for this is that these updates often contain vital security patches that fix any potential weaknesses, so they are important when it comes to keeping your PC safe.
Don’t be lazy with your password
Making your password difficult to crack often means you think it will be hard to remember, which is why so many of us opt for the default option of a password that is easy to recall.
If you are worried about remembering different passwords you could use a trusted password manager program. It even has a password generator that allows you to create separate passwords for each site without having to worry about remembering them when you log in.
Keeping your password safe and secure is one of the best ways to protect your PC.
Use a trusted web browser
If you are using the default browser that comes with your PC, such as Internet Explorer, it could be a smart move to upgrade to something more secure.
Google Chrome tends to score highly as a browser that ticks the most boxes in terms of security.
Security is always better at home
Using a public WiFi connection will always leave you exposed to potential security loopholes.
If you must use a public WiFi hotspot while on the move, invest in a subscription to a VPN service so that you have more encryption options.
Choose your sites carefully
There are websites that have been deliberately created with the sole intention of infecting your computer with a virus.
Make sure you visit sites you know you can trust and display the right security symbols, and keep your ant-virus software up to date just to be sure that you have done what you can to avoid being compromised.
It should pay to follow these quick tips if you want to keep your PC as secure as possible.
