Windows has valuable features, including comfortable tools for user PCs and confidential data protection. Unfortunately, hackers are interested in breaking into this operating system, as Windows occupies more than 85% of user devices. Also, this OS has many vulnerabilities that attackers try to use. In the following guide, you will find some essential tips on ensuring your Windows security.
Windows Security Tips
1. Update Your Software Regularly
Updating Windows and every piece of software on your computer is crucial to preventing hackers from accessing them. Creating updates for software is a way to keep hackers from accessingprivate information. However, making these updates requires developers to look for code bugs and incompatibilities. As a result, larger pieces of software are more likely to contain vulnerabilities that hackers can find.
The developers create new versions of the update for the PC each time the attackers find new loopholes and methods to hack. Unfortunately, many users use outdated software versions so that hackers can exploit the same vulnerabilities.
2. Turn on your firewall
Windows Firewall is a network security system built into recent versions of Windows operating systems, including Windows 10. That is a sophisticated tool to protect internal networks from threats from external sources such as intruders or malware. It can look at both hardware and software. The firewall works by tracking incoming and outgoing traffic. Thus, the program allows or blocks passing data packets according to security rules. It should be noted that a firewall is a barrier between the user network and incoming traffic.
3. Use Device Encryption or Bitlocker to Protect Your Hard Drive
A computer-generated complicated cipher is used to encode data through encryption. Without the correct password, encrypted data appears as a mess of random characters. Windows Device Encryption is included in many Windows 10 Home machines. This function can encrypt files and folders on command and create disk partitions to store encrypted bulk data. With this feature, users have a better chance of maintaining the integrity of their files and documents. In addition, because someone with a password can decipher them in this way, unauthorized users will not be able to access any of the encrypted information. The downside of this Windows security method is that disk encryption utilities may cause performance issues on weak systems, or systems equipped with HDD.
4. Use a Secure Password Manager with Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
User accounts are easier to hack if you need an easy password to log in. Therefore, it is necessary to create a password with a complex combination of letters and characters for more excellent protection. However, the problem is that users can’t always memorize all complex passwords. In this case, it is better to use password managers that save, automatically fill and generate your passwords. In addition, most password managers support two-factor authentication. Finally, the last protection method requires an additional confirmation form when logging into an account. It could be many things, like fingerprints, cell phone confirmation codes, or facial scans.
5. Enhance Your Windows Security by Uninstalling Flash Player ASAP
Adobe Flash Player was the most popular internet media player. However, it was also the favorite tool of hackers and cybercriminals, since it was very easy to exploit. Because of this, Flash required weekly security updates to patch vulnerabilities hackers had discovered. Consequently, many hackers would trick users into installing malicious programs by posing as legitimate Flash updates.
Adobe announced in 2019 that they would be phasing out Flash entirely in 2020. Since then, HTML5 has replaced Flash as a web browser plugin. Because of this, there is no reason to keep Flash on your computer; it provides hackers with an easy entry into your system. However, uninstalling Flash on Windows computers is easy. You can remove it using Adobe’s uninstaller app on their website.
6. Keep Your Browsing Private with a VPN, Especially on Public WiFi
A VPN provides anonymity and privacy by creating a private network from a public Internet connection. This security method masks your protocol address and makes your online activity almost impossible to track. Moreover, a VPN sets encrypted and secure connections than a secure WiFi hotspot. A virtual private network creates a tunnel type that helps hide your activity on the network. This way, you can connect to websites that are banned in your region and not be seen.
7. Avoid Dangerous Pop-Ups
Annoying pop-up windows bore the user, wasting their time and slowing down the PC’s work, but they can also infect the device with malicious software. These pop-up banners do not harm anything; their damage is activated only by clicking on them. Therefore, users must be careful what to switch to and click on. To avoid this, use an ad blocker, or try not to visit the sites that post dubious pop-ups. If ad blockers are ineffective, you likely have malware that shows these things to you. Scan your device with anti-malware software to get rid of the intruder.
8. Enable or install antivirus protection tools
Antivirus software will be your next level of protection against malware. For example, GridinSoft Anti-Malware can remove all malware from your computer. In addition, it scans the system for viruses, spyware, and adware and prevents rootkits or backdoors from invading your PC.
This antivirus protection can function without conflict with other antivirus programs as additional protection. GridinSoft Anti-Malware can free the user’s browser from third-party control and return it to its working state.
