1. Install an Anti-virus : Probably one of the first thing which comes into one's mind when thinking about security. An anti-virus is an inevitable tool for the security of a PC. One can either select a paid version of the anti-virus of his choice or opt for the equally effective free antivirus alternatives. Before selecting any anti-virus, it is necessary to check whether the anti-virus has resident protection or not. Resident Protection automatically detects viruses when they are loaded into the memory and takes the appropriate action thus saving a user from sitting for hours in front of the PC scanning for viruses. After selecting an anti-virus, it is important to check regularly for updates. It is also necessary to do a quick scan (scanning the Windows folder, Registry, Documents and recent downloads) at least once a week and a full scan at least once a month even if your PC appears fine.
Note: The default Virus & threat protection software (Microsoft Defender) that comes pre-installed in latest versions of Windows is sufficient for most users.
2. Install an Anti-spyware program: A spyware is a program which collects private information and sends it to its programmer. Spywares are considered more dangerous than viruses as they steal private information like Windows registration number, bank account details, credit card information, site logins etc.; which can be used to harm a user in all possible ways. Thus, it is necessary to have a good anti-spyware software with resident protection, registry monitoring and browser monitoring features to stay safe from such threats. Again, it is the user's choice to either opt for a paid software or a free one. With any anti-spyware, it is important to enable the automatic update function and to do a quick scan of the PC once a week. It is also necessary to do a full scan once every month for best results.
Note: The default Virus & threat protection software (Microsoft Defender) that comes pre-installed in latest versions of Windows is sufficient for most users.
3. Install a Firewall: A firewall prevents unauthorized or malicious applications from reaching a computer. A firewall is needed to protect a PC against Trojans, spyware, worms, hackers, hijackers and other known and unknown threats by controlling program interactions. However, a firewall must not be assumed an alternative to the anti-virus or anti-spyware software. Before selecting a firewall, important things to keep in mind are the ease of use and the amount of customization possible. An often overlooked factor upon selecting a firewall is the amount of resources consumed by it. Keeping all these factors in mind, a good firewall software (free or paid) must be selected. After selecting the firewall, it is important to read the alerts displayed by it carefully, and to select an appropriate action to do based on the alert displayed.
Note: The default Windows Firewall that comes pre-installed in Windows is sufficient for most users.
4. Install an Anti-spam software: Anti-spam software has become important because of the amount of spam messages received by internet users frequently. These spam messages are the most common cause of cyber crimes. Installing an anti-spam software and using it is easy. So don't worry about how to use one. The only difficult thing is to be patient with it. Its performance will improve over time. You can download any of the free anti-spam software available over the web or can opt for a paid version of the software of your choice.
5. Update Windows: A very important aspect of PC security is updating Windows. It is necessary to not disable automatic updates in Windows as they help in getting the latest security fixes. Getting these updates will help Windows work better and make one's working more secure.
6. Back up your important data: It is important to back up all your important data to have a copy of it whenever needed in case of data loss due to malware or other causes.
7. Create strong passwords: Always use strong passwords of sufficient length (8 or more characters) having a combination of numbers, special characters, upper case letters and lower case letters.
Also: PC security tips to make your computer secure.
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