Are you looking for the simple steps for keeping your laptop secure in 2021? You are in the right place. Whether to help in the execution of work tasks, assist with school activities, or be part of leisure time, the notebook is always an excellent companion for those who do not dispense with a high-performance portable device. However, even the most advanced and resistant equipment needs special care to guarantee smooth operation and protect your personal data. After all, the better you take care of your laptop, the longer it will accompany you.
10 Simple Steps for keeping your Laptop Secure
The Internet is fraught with dangers that can put your privacy at risk. Spam emails, suspicious links, and bank scams are among the most common on the list, and you need to know how to protect yourself from having your data stolen or sold on the black market as a profit for cybercriminals. You should definitely know how to keep your laptop secure at home. There are ten quick and simple steps you can take to increase the security of your laptop.
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Have antivirus and keep it updated
This is probably the most important recommendation. It is essential to have a good antivirus and AntiSpyWare to help you protect your device against threats such as Trojans, spyware.
Although this tool is not a 100% secure shield against the most dangerous viruses, it is the most effective with low or medium-level attacks, which are the most widespread on the other hand. Remember that for its correct operation, like the rest of the applications or programs that you have installed on your computer, the antivirus has to be updated periodically.
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Update the software periodically
This is another of the tips that must be followed to the letter. Although we are often reluctant to update our software due to laziness or even ignorance, we must understand that its outdated implies greater vulnerability. Usually, the latest versions provide more excellent protection and the solution of bugs of previous versions.
Therefore, it is a great idea to have applications that check if there are available updates to our software and recommend their download.
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Use strong passwords and change them regularly
Although we often despair that passwords must contain uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols and must have at least 8 characters, these requirements have an explanation. The greater the difficulty of the password, the greater the security. In this sense, we must use secure passwords in those applications that require it, especially those that contain confidential personal information.
In addition, it is advisable not to use the same password in all our accounts since any identity theft in one of them could lead to unlimited access to all the others.
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Beware of attachments and strange links in emails
Distrust strange or unknown emails, especially if they contain links or attachments, is another of the essential tips. Furthermore, if an email seems suspicious to us, even if it comes from someone we know, it is always advisable to make sure that it is safe by consulting directly with the person who sent it. In most operating systems, there are applications to analyze our email and rule out possible threats.
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Disconnect the Internet when not needed
Most infections occur when the device is connected to the network. The malware performs its actions by communicating with servers or by forwarding information using open ports on its connection. Therefore, disconnecting the Wi-Fi connection when you are using the computer for other purposes and also before turning it off is recommended.
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Avoid private operations on public and open networks
It seems like obvious advice, but the reality is that on occasion, we have been forced to use a public network to carry out operations that put confidential information and data at risk, such as banking transactions. On these occasions, it is advisable to share the connection but not the data. If you find yourself in need to compromise your personal information due to an emergency, there is the possibility of using more secure servers.
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Check the security of the Wi-Fi network used
This recommendation is closely linked to the previous one. It is that, in the same way that we must try to avoid public networks when we carry out specific actions. We must also keep in mind to review the security of our usual network at home. In this sense, although wireless or wireless networks are increasingly popular, in terms of safety, wired networks are preferable.
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Close the session when finished
Although it is indeed much more comfortable to keep our sessions open in most applications, since this way we do not have to re-enter our username and password every time we want to enter, this is not a very good idea. Even more so on shared computers, we must get used to logging out, especially in applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Gmail … It would not be the first time that someone has seen their identity be impersonated or personal data stolen for leaving a session open.
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Make backup copies
Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if you lost all the content on your computer? Sometimes, the action of a virus, malicious users, or, simply, due to failures in the operating system, we can lose photographs, files, confidential information. Therefore, making backup copies is a great idea and will save us on more than one occasion. Having an external hard drive with a backup copy or uploading what we consider essential to the cloud is an excellent preventive measure.
10. Teach those who share a computer with us and create different users
Taking care of the security of our devices is an attitude that we must instill in those who share it with us. It is always positive to explain basic safety concepts and behaviors to these people since the more informed they are, the less they will be exposed to the network. In this sense, it is good practice to create different users on the same computer and for each person to use theirs.
Conclusion
Following these recommendations can help reduce the threats that both novice and experienced users are exposed to. But also, remember that you can always ask for help from a professional who will advise you in the world of security and privacy on the Internet.
