Three Key Steps to Secure PC Software

The most effective way to secure your devices, computers and data from hackers is to use secure PC software. Hackers, also known as cybercriminals, hack your computer for a variety reasons. They may steal and alter or erase information you consider important. Hackers are malicious, unlike other thieves who may use stolen goods for legitimate reasons. They are most interested in unauthorized access to your personal information, often before you even realize there’s been a problem.

Passwords, a virus protection program and a firewall are the three most important steps to protect your computer software. If you adhere to these best practices your computer will be less likely to be hacked by hackers, malware or ransomware (software that locks your data and demands payment for unlocking it).

Change the name of your administrator account. Make sure you choose an effective password that has lower- and uppercase numbers, letters, and computer symbols. Do not use a password that is simple such as 1234 since hackers can use automated software to crack passwords that are simple to guess in just a few minutes.

Keep your operating system (OS) and other software up-to-date. Most software updates contain security fixes that protect against hacking. Install all patches and enable automatic updates http://www.pcinfoblog.com/best-data-room-providers-for-most-respectable-companies as they become available to minimize the window of time you’re vulnerable to intrusions.

If you own a laptop, or any other portable device that’s not being used, ensure that the drive is protected. This is especially important for UF Students. You can enable encryption in Windows by going to Settings > Update and security > Device encryption. This will secure the entire internal drive as well as all external drives like SD cards.