Secure pc software is the key to safeguarding your device, computer and data from hackers. Hackers (also called cybercriminals) hack into your computer or other device for many reasons, including http://www.pcinfoblog.com/nordvpn-vs-pia-the-battle-for-users-choice stealing, altering and deleting data you consider valuable. In contrast to other thieves, who usually have legitimate reasons for the stolen items hackers have ulterior motives. They are more concerned with unauthorized access to your personal information, often before you even realize something has gone wrong.
The three main steps to ensure the security of your computer software include passwords, firewalls and protection against viruses. If you follow these best practices your computer will be significantly less likely to be hacked by malware, hackers or ransomware (software that encrypts your data and requires payment to unlock it).
Change the name of your administrator account. Select a strong password that includes upper- and lowercase letter, numbers and computer symbols. Avoid using a password such as 1234 since hackers can use automated software to crack passwords that are simple to guess in just a few minutes.
Maintain your operating system (OS) and other software up-to-date. Most software updates contain security fixes to help protect against hacking. Install all patches and set up automatic updates if available, to minimize the amount of time you’re vulnerable to hackers.
If you have a laptop or other portable device, be sure that the drive is encrypted when it’s not being used. This is especially crucial for UF students. Windows allows you to enable encryption by going to Settings > Update and Security > Device encryption. This will protect the entire internal drive as well as all external drives, such as SD cards.
