Best Ways to Secure and Protect Your Computer

Sahil Verma
Sahil Verma linkedin | Updated On - November 16, 2022 |

Read time: 10 minutes

Growing up in the era of the World Wide Web has presented us with a plethora of possibilities. But it also many downsides. Mail accounts began receiving tons of spam, and computer viruses caused havoc on business networks. The more and more people use computers, the more vulnerable they become to cybercriminals and hackers. No matter which operating system you are running, whether Windows, Mac OS, Linux, or Android, they all can be affected by them.

People may not have time to secure their computers, or they may not be technically proficient in doing so. The information available about computer security is rather confusing and difficult to understand. This does not have to be the case. We will go through the top ways to secure your system via manual methods and also with a top-notch employee monitoring software.

7 Top Ways to Secure Your PC

Today, we will help you with the best methods to secure your computer in the easiest way possible.

Use Strong Passwords

Password security is the most important method for preventing network intrusions. Passwords should be as secure as possible to reduce the likelihood of a hacker breaching your system.

When it comes to security, longer and more complex passwords are often better. Passwords should contain a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols, with at least eight characters. It takes only minutes to crack short, simple passwords. Never use words or combinations that can be connected to your birthday or other identifying information.

We will help you with setting up your password in Windows & Mac separately. Here’s what you need to do:

Windows
  1. To start with, tap on the Search button.
  2. Type up settings and tap on the Settings menu.tap on the Settings menu
  3. Look for the tab Accounts and click on the tab Sign-in options.click on the tab Sign-in options.
  4. Navigate to the right side of your window and tap on Password.tap on Password
  5. Click on the Add button. If a password already exists, then you can modify it by clicking on the option Change.Add button
  6. Now you can type a new password with perfect combinations and tap on Next.tap on Next
  7. Lastly, tap on Finish.
Mac
  1. Access the Apple menu and tap on System Preferences.
  2. Next, go to the tab General and tap on the Security and Privacy section.
  3. Click on the lock icon coming on the bottom of your window.
  4. If you are setting a password for the first time, click on the option Unlock.
  5. Checkmark the box Require Password and choose the period when your PC asks you to enter a password.
  6. Lastly, tap on the lock icon and save the changes.
Activate Firewalls

Firewalls are security devices that monitor traffic entering and leaving the network. Firewalls are designed to make your device immune to malicious traffic from the internet. There are basically two types of firewalls: Software & Hardware.

A hardware firewall is the best option for medium to large networks, while a software firewall is suitable for small networks & PCs. For PCs, installing a software firewall is recommended.

If you have accidentally or intentionally turned off your PC’s firewall, here’s how you can reactivate it:

Windows
  1. To start with, tap on the Search button.
  2. Type Windows Security and tap on it.tap on it
  3. From the left side menu, tap on the tab Firewall and Network Protection. Three options will come up namely: Domain Network, Private Network, & Public Network.tap on the tab Firewall and Network Protection
  4. Under these names, you can check the status of your firewall.
  5. To modify each network setting, you need to click on that network and turn it on or off as per your desired requirements.click on that network and turn it on or off as per your desired requirements
Mac
  1. Access the Apple menu and tap on System Preferences.
  2. Next, go to the tab General and tap on the Security and Privacy section.
  3. To enter your password, click on the lock icon at the bottom of the screen. Type in your password.
  4. The Firewall can be turned on (or off) once it’s unlocked.
  5. Lastly, tap on the lock icon and save the changes.
Keep Your Operating System & PC Updated

Your operating system should always be updated. The majority of updates include security patches that block hackers from intercepting and exploiting your data. The same is true for apps. In today’s world, web browsers are becoming more sophisticated, particularly in regard to privacy and security. In addition to updating your browser, you should check your browser’s security settings.

Follow these steps to install your system updates automatically:

Windows
  1. To start with, tap on the Search button.
  2. Type Settings and tap on the settings menu. Look for the tab Update and Security and click on it.Update and Security
  3. Click on the option Windows Update.Click on the option Windows Update
  4. Choose the Advanced options and then you can modify or update settings as per your needs.
Mac
  1. Access the Apple menu and tap on System Preferences.
  2. Tap on Software Update to check whether any updates are available or not. In case any update pops up, click on Update Now.
  3. Make sure the Automatically keep my Mac up to date option is checked if you want future updates installed automatically.
Use Two-factor Authentication

The first layer of defense against computer hackers is a password, but a second layer increases security. In addition to your password, two-factor authentication allows you to enter a numeric code sent to your phone or email address when you log in. This enhances security by preventing unauthorized users from accessing your account.

Also, Windows 10 offers a biometric authentication system called Windows Hello. Three authentication methods are available in this security feature: Windows Hello Face, Windows Hello Fingerprint, & Windows Hello PIN. You can also sync with password manager apps like Keeper & Dashlane.

How to check whether your PC is compatible with Windows Hello:

  1. To start with, tap on the Search button.
  2. Type Settings and tap on the settings menu. Look for the tab Accounts and click on it.tap on the settings menu
  3. From the left side dashboard, tap on the tab Sign-in options.tap on the tab Sign-in options
  4. On the right side of your window, you can check for Windows Hello. Tap on the desired password protection you want and set your security measures accordingly.Tap on the desired password protection
Install Antivirus

The Internet is full of computer viruses and malware. Computers can be protected against unauthorized code or software via antivirus software such as Panda Free Antivirus, Bitdefender, Avast, etc. In some cases, viruses are easy to detect – for example, they might slow down your computer or delete important files – and in others they are less obvious.

The role of antivirus software is to protect your system from real-time threats by detecting them in real-time. Advanced antivirus software comes with automatic updates, further protecting your computer from the new viruses emerging every day. Make sure to use your antivirus software after installing it. You should run regular virus scans to protect your computer.

Microsoft Defender Offline

Microsoft Defender Offline is available to all Windows users, including those who do not have Windows Security installed. Windows Defender Offline is a tool that detects rootkits and other threats that are hidden from the OS. In this tool, evasive threats cannot hide from anti-malware scanners, since they operate in a small, separate operating environment.

As of Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft Defender Offline is integrated into Windows Security and can be run from there. For the older versions of Windows, you can download them separately.

Using a Virtual Private Network

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best ways to improve your online security. The internet traffic you send through a VPN is encrypted and tunneled through a server located at a separate location. By masking your IP address, you make it impossible for your ISP to track your activities.

Furthermore, the server location can often be chosen based on individual needs, such as unblocking geo-blocked content or allowing fast speeds. Also, a VPN allows you to access censored content and browse securely through open Wi-Fi networks.

With all these ways, it is possible to make your PC perfectly secured but in case you need better and more reliable security, you can look for an easy-to-use tool, Kernel Computer Activity Monitor. This tool automatically removes outdated monitoring logs, keeps track of all your internet activities, and offers stealth monitoring in a totally hidden manner. The software also provides the entire details of all your emails accessed without the use of the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection.

Moreover, its advanced features include Unique Tracking Ability, Monitoring Schedule, Unified Log Recording, Accessed Applications Report, and more. This tool can also monitor employee Skype chat conversations
on an unlimited number of computers simultaneously and all this makes it a reliable tool to maintain top security of your system.

Ending Notes

There are many other ways to secure your system, but they need more time and expertise to be executed. This blog outlines the easiest and the best ways to secure your PC in the least time possible. Hopefully, you will secure your system with these above methods. To monitor the security and keep track of your system’s activities, you should opt for the Kernel Computer Activity Monitor tool and maximize your layers of security and protection. Also, this tool is available for free with a demo version present online.

Kernel Computer Activity Monitor