Each subsequent year brings progress in the development of technology, and people tend to use more and more computer equipment to do different things. Taking into consideration increasing threats coming from cyber attacks on computers, it becomes important to boost computer security. This article discusses the topic of computer security setup and reveals the necessary settings that should be changed.
Configuring Your Computer Firewall
The first configuration step you should undertake in order to enhance computer security is setting up your firewall. A firewall is a function responsible for blocking unnecessary connections and preventing any intruders from entering your computer system. You should do the following in order to configure your firewall:
On Windows: Press the start button and choose the Control Panel tab, then select the System and Security tab and click on Windows Defender Firewall.
On Mac: Press the Apple button, select System Preferences, and find Security & Privacy tab.
It is necessary to configure your firewall and ensure that it blocks all incoming and outgoing connections apart from those that you allow.
Two-Factor Authentication
As for two-factor authentication, it allows adding an extra level of security to the accounts. By using two-factor authentication, users are asked not only for a password but also a verification code received via SMS or some biometric method. You should activate this feature in order to protect your computer accounts from intruders. You can follow these steps:
Find your account settings in the platform or website where you have your accounts (e.g., Google, Facebook, or Microsoft);
Activate two-factor authentication and follow instructions.
Thus, you will protect your personal data and make the work with your accounts safer.
Regular Updating of OS and Software
There can be many vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems and software that might become the cause of security breaches. That is why it is necessary to update your computer system to eliminate such problems and receive new security updates developed by companies. Here are the recommendations to update your computer:
On Windows: Launch Windows Settings app and go to Update & Security tab. Then click on Windows Update.
On Mac: Go to Apple menu, select System Preferences tab, and open the Software Update window.
It is better to update your computer automatically to eliminate potential risks.
Choosing Secure Passwords
One of the most important things to ensure computer security is choosing reliable and unique passwords for each of your accounts that are hard to guess. Nevertheless, generating secure passwords might be rather difficult. For that reason, one should consider using special password management software, such as LastPass or 1Password. It will help manage many passwords and stay safe.
Implementing Regular Backups
Hardware failure may entail losing important data and documents. For this reason, it is necessary to make regular backups in order to be able to restore them easily. You should do the following in order to set up your computer backups:
Choose an external hard drive or a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox and adjust it to your preferences;
Encrypt your backup to increase the level of security;
Add an extra security feature like passwords to prevent anyone from accessing them.
Installing Anti-Virus Programs
The main function of anti-virus software is detecting computer viruses and malware. Moreover, anti-virus software usually provides users with real-time protection. In such a way, one can consider installing anti-virus software for increased computer protection. There are many such programs nowadays, but the following characteristics are very important for the selection:
Real-time protection and automatic updates;
Additional features (firewall, password management software);
Operating system compatibility.
Thus, you will be able to choose the right software.
Educating Yourself in Computer Security Issues
Being well-informed about current computer security threats can help avoid many issues connected with it. It is possible to look at the information posted online and subscribe to different websites that provide articles concerning this topic. Besides, there are many forums where computer experts discuss this issue.
