Let’s face it; we all worry about people hacking into our computer systems and stealing our data! The sad truth is that malicious hacks aren’t a problem that will likely go away soon. In fact, if anything, we hear more stories in the media about people or criminal gangs hacking into the PCs of well-known companies!
The only true way to have a hack-proof PC is to keep it switched off and disconnected from the Internet! Of course, such a solution isn’t practical at all. The good news is that there are many steps we can take to secure our computers from Internet-based intrusions and malware.
So, just what can we do to turn our PCs into Fort Knox? By following the below steps, you’ll soon keep your computer more secure and private than ever before!
Keep all wireless networks secure
The first point of entry for any Internet hacker is to bypass your router. You may not know this, but most routers aren’t configured with top security measures by default! You can lock down your Internet router by doing the following:
- Use WPA2 Wi-Fi security;
- Use a long and complicated passphrase;
- Change the default username and password for the router login;
- Enable the option to hide your wireless network’s SSID;
- Enable the hardware firewall in your router and only open required TCP/UDP ports.
Install Internet security software on your PC (and keep it up-to-date)
Aside from trying to bypass your Internet router, hackers can attempt to gain control of your computer via malware infections. To combat that problem, install a good Internet security software solution on your PC. Avoid the free ones; they seldom do anything other than slow your system down!
Also, be sure to enable automatic updates for your antivirus software. Doing so will lower the risk of new, unknown malware from attacking your PC.
Store your data in the cloud
The brilliant thing about solutions like Microsoft cloud file storage and Dropbox is that you can easily store your important files in a secure, off-site environment. An advantage of that approach is that your data gets kept safe and backed up even if hackers somehow manage to control your PC remotely.
Use a VPN connection
VPN stands for Virtual Private Networking, in case you wondered. How can it help keep your computer secure, you might be wondering? Well, it provides a secure way of going online from any Internet connection.
VPN connections offer a couple of advantages. First of all, they offer extra privacy to those that wish to go online without third parties looking at their Internet connections. That’s because VPN connections are all encrypted. And, second, they can increase wireless security if your PC doesn’t use an Ethernet connection (or you happen to be using a laptop).
And, if you are sharing files through legal torrenting methods, a secure VPN is essential. Not all VPNs are created equal, however, so it’s best to find out which are the best vpns for torrenting and select one of these.
Use a secure web browser
Last, but not least, don’t just stick with the browser that comes as standard with your PC. Stick to a strong and secure one like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Those two browsers allow you to install “extensions” that can block tracking ads and help prevent malware from getting downloaded to your PC in the background.
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