Secure PC software is the most important factor in safeguarding your device, computer and data from hackers. Hackers, also referred to as cybercriminals, hack your computer for a variety reasons. They may steal, alter, or delete data that you value. As opposed to other thieves, who typically have legitimate uses for the stolen goods, hackers have malicious intentions. They are most concerned with unauthorised access to sensitive information. This can happen before you even realize that something isn’t right.
The three key steps to secure your computer software include passwords, firewalls and virus protection. If you adhere to these best practices your computer will be significantly less vulnerable to being hacked by malware, hackers or ransomware (software which encrypts your data and requires payment to unlock it).
Change the name of your administrator account. Make sure you choose an extremely secure password that includes lower and uppercase numbers, letters, and computer symbols. Avoid using a simple password like 1234 because hackers can employ automated software to crack passwords that are easy to guess in minutes.
Make sure that your operating system (OS) and other software up-to-date. bitdefender vs avast internet security Most software updates contain security fixes that help protect against hacking. Install all patches and turn on automatic updates if they are they are available to reduce the amount of time you’re at risk to intruders.
If you have a laptop or another portable device, make sure your drive is protected when not in use. This is particularly important for UF students. Windows allows users to enable encryption by going to Settings > Update and Security > Device encryption. This will protect your entire internal drive and most external drives, such as SD cards.