Computer safety is a highly topical subject at the moment. With this in mind we have put together 5 tips on how to keep your computer virus free.
Up to Date Software.
One of the first things to consider when trying to keep your computer and other devices safe is to ensure all your software up to date. Software that is outdated is a risk; hackers have had time to crack older software. And updates are developed to fill gaps in the security of earlier versions to prevent attacks that may try to take advantage of past weaknesses. The easiest way to check all your software for updates is to type into the windows search bar “updates.” “Check for update” will appear and you can then run a scan which will search for any updates and automatically update your software.
Anti-Virus Software.
Anti-Virus software is specially developed to protect your computer from malicious software. Good antivirus software uses live protection to automatically block viruses and malware from running at all.
They can even stop you from visiting malicious websites or opening infected emails. Others, known as remediation tools, offer scanning functionality only and must be run in order to clean up a malware infection after it has taken hold..
Manual Practice.
Creating good habits can keep your computer safe from harm. Here are a few things you can do that will prevent malicious software nesting in your computer. Some suggestions have blogs on our website that support these practices so feel free to check them out and educate yourself on the specifics.
Read Emails Carefully – The person that sent you the email may be impersonating someone, or the email may be mimicking another email you have or might receive.
Do not Repeat Passwords – Always use unique and strong passwords for important login details, try not to repeat or make passwords similar. If you struggle with this, use a password manager, and set up 2FA if possible.
Sign out when letting others use your computer
Back Up your data onto another drive, USB or use virtual drives such as OneDrive
Password Strength
When setting passwords for any account you must be careful that they are not weak. Having a weak password increases the chances of it being guessed or cracked and as a result, your account will be compromised.
Use unique and strong passwords for accounts all accounts, especially those which are particularly important. If you struggle to remember passwords, you could use a password manager which has been mentioned in one of our previous blogs.
Another popular method is the three random words method. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but add it a number and a special character and you have yourself an amazingly strong password!
Firewall and Additional Security.
You may think that just because you have antivirus software on your computer you do not need your firewall to be enabled.
Firewalls are the most important aspect to your computer and network security, they limit outside network access to a computer or network by blocking inbound ports. Think of it like call barring on your phone, once you block a number they cant reach you anymore.
They do not protect you from viruses but are an added security measure to prevent attacks that could lead to viruses spreading onto your device.
An Antivirus complements a firewall and it is highly recommended to have both enabled.
Keeping your computer virus-free seems more complicated than it is, practicing preventions methods, keeping software up to date, and having security measures in place will keep your computer safe.
Contact us at www.norfolkcs.co.uk or 01953 857980 for a free audit and friendly discussion on how we can help.