In a time where many people are now using their desktop PC for both work and leisure, along with an increase in cybercrime during the pandemic, it has become hugely important for PC owners to know how to protect their computer. There are many security threats to your com-puter that you need to be aware of, and it is vital that you take action to protect your computer and data. So, what are a few of the best ways to protect your desktop? Read on to find out all that you need to protect your machine and to be able to use it happily and with confidence each day.
Use High-Quality Antivirus Software
One of the most important defense layers is to use antivirus software and have it set to perform regular scans and make sure that it is always up to date. When you buy a desktop computer, you should look into ones that come with antivirus protection, which will protect you against the latest threats.
Use A Firewall
A firewall is another important layer of defense when it comes to cybercrime. Essentially, a fire-wall constantly monitors and controls the network traffic in line with previously established se-curity practices. This is usually a barrier between a private internal network and the internet, helping to block potentially dangerous threats from gaining access.
Keep All Software Up to Date
All of the software systems that you use should be kept up to date at all times. There are often updates made available to improve security and protect you against the latest threats - this is why it is a good idea to turn on automatic updates so that you always have the latest protec-tion.
Use Strong Password Protection
People tend to think of hackers using complex and advanced tactics, but more often than not, they can gain access simply through guessing or obtaining passwords. This is why you need to use strong password protection for all accounts, including creating random, complex and dif-ferent passwords that are changed regularly.
Learn About the Common & Latest Scams
Education is key when it comes to protecting your PC, so you should educate yourself on the most common and latest scams and how to avoid them. Phishing attacks are highly common and on the rise during the pandemic, so you need to be wary of suspicious attachments, unso-licited emails, and unusual links even if it looks like it comes from a reliable source.
Create External Backups
Finally, it is always intelligent to have external backups made. This will help protect your data in the event of a successful cybersecurity attack and help to provide peace of mind knowing that you have other versions of data available.
These are the main steps that you need to take to protect your PC. Cybercrime is on the rise with so many people working from home, so it is vital that you know how to protect your device and data for safe usage.