Even this short breakdown of the main issues of Windows computer protection allows highlighting the massive problems any business can face if they prefer to leave the matter unattended. Luckily enough, there are multiple solutions for each of the aforementioned issues, and we will list them too.<\/p>\n
1. Update Windows and Software Regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\nDisabling the automatic Microsoft Windows update is the easiest way to ensure the system won\u2019t begin to upgrade while you are playing your favorite online game, yes. However, this is the shortest route for the hackers to get access to your system once they are inside the network. Still thinking that providing that full access to anyone was a great idea?<\/p>\n
When you use only licensed and fully updated software, the risk of catching a virus is significantly reduced. Do you recall the 2017 Petya ransomware attacks<\/a> in Europe? It turned out the major part of infestation was done through a security backdoor that was fixed by a Windows update released\u2026 6 months prior to the attacks! If only the users had 10 minutes to download an install it\u2026Instead, they either paid ransom or lost their sensitive data.<\/p>\nEnable automatic Windows updates<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor Windows 7 update just go to your Windows control panel from the Start <\/strong>menu, there go to System and Security<\/strong>>Windows Update<\/strong>>Change Settings.<\/strong><\/p>\nThen choose the time when you can spare about 15-30 minutes to download the Windows upgrade files, install them and reboot the computer \u2014 and rest assured your Windows system files are up-to-date. The same goes for all the software you use, as new vulnerabilities in multiple software and hardware tools are discovered daily, like these Meltdown and Spectre processor vulnerabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.protectimus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/windows-computer-safety-tips-img-4.png\")
<\/p>\n
Create a restore point<\/strong><\/h3>\nOne of the best ways to secure Windows computers is to create a Windows restore point. Sometimes the new drivers are incompatible with some of your hardware, or update process may go awry, etc. There is a widely-known case when Windows 7 users have to download the outdated Nvidia drivers to play Heroes of Might & Magic VI<\/a>, as any new version of the video drivers results in black screen. However, the consequences might be much more serious than the inability to play one of the best turn-based games of all times.<\/p>\nTo create a system restore point on Windows 7 go to the Start <\/strong>menu, there to Control Panel<\/strong>>System<\/strong>and Security<\/strong>>System <\/strong>and go to System Protection<\/strong> tab. Press the Create <\/strong>button and choose the name for the new restore point.<\/p>\n![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.protectimus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/windows-computer-safety-tips-img-3.png\")
<\/p>\n
Obtain a habit of creating Windows restore points from time to time, before installing the new computer software even if it\u2019s computer security software. Make at least one restore point immediately after installing a clean Windows operating system, and rest assured you enabled one of the most efficient tools for security Windows can provide.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> Ransomware \u2013 to Pay or Not to Pay<\/a><\/p>\n2. Install Windows antivirus<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis might seem ridiculous, but many people don\u2019t bother with installing and configuring antivirus software for Windows until it\u2019s too late and their computer is infected with viruses and spyware. How to protect your computer from virus attacks then and what is the best antivirus for Windows 7, 8, and 10?<\/p>\n
A good antivirus software should include the features like:<\/p>\n
\n- Email checker to block email malware,<\/li>\n
- Net security screens to identify and drop dangerous Internet connections,<\/li>\n
- Javascript blockers to prevent malicious code from phishing sites from infecting your Windows PC<\/li>\n
- Anti spyware module to ensure your Internet security<\/li>\n
- Archive scanner to prevent executing malicious .exe<\/em> files, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These functions are available by default with the majority of antivirus software for Windows. The only difference is the fullness of the virus databases, the frequency of their updates and the range of options available towards the infected files. A really good antivirus must be able to identify the threat and disarm it, without damaging the file in the best-case scenario. However, such functionality is available only with the leaders of the market, which raises an obvious question \u2014 why opt for anything less than the best antivirus for PC?<\/p>\n
There are many good examples of antiviruses for Windows, namely Dr.Web<\/a> and Avast Antivirus. Kaspersky Lab was banned from use on the territory of USA<\/a> and is increasingly considered more a spyware, than a virus protection software. Thus said, opting for either Dr. Web or Avast<\/a> free virus protection ensures a decent degree of security for your PC.<\/p>\nAs for Windows 10, one of the main questions about its security sounds like this: \u201cIs Windows Defender enough, or should I install any additional antivirus for Windows 10?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nWindows Defender is a default antivirus software for Windows 8 and 10. It provides all the basic<\/em> security options, runs quietly in the background and reminds about itself only when it detects a threat. Being maintained and updated by the Microsoft team, this is a decent all-around capable firewall protection and computer virus protection suit.<\/p>\nUnfortunately, Jack-of-all-trades cannot be an expert in anything. Windows Defender can protect your computer from spyware and various malware floating around, yet it cannot protect a Windows 10 laptop or PC from ransomware, malware and other highly sophisticated threats<\/a> that are on the rise nowadays.<\/p>\nAfter all, it is strongly presumed that Kaspersky Lab products are spying after their users and provide much more admin access to your computer and data than they should. Thus said, we recommend opting for a paid version of a good antivirus for Windows 10, like Avast, ESET Nod32<\/a> or Dr.Web.<\/p>\n| Read also:<\/span> Malvertising: Can It Be Stopped?<\/a><\/p>\n3. Enable Windows Firewall<\/strong><\/h2>\nMany Windows users have inexplicable hate towards Windows firewall \u2014 yet it is a highly useful feature that can block wireless intrusions, malware infiltrations, and other Windows security threats. Configuring the firewall protection might seem a daunting task, yet it must be only done once and you will enjoy the safety of mind and data security from that point onwards.<\/p>\n
Windows 10 Firewall is actually a decent tool that protects your Windows PC against a wide variety of known Internet security threats. If you still prefer to stay away from Windows products \u2014 you can choose between several decent alternatives like Comodo Free Firewall<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n4. Do Windows Backups regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\nComputers are great for storing information, yet they are not ideal. A hard drive might fail tomorrow, a fire can ruin the equipment, etc. In addition, burglars can steal your laptop leaving you devoid of personal data and obtaining the means for identity theft in the process. Do you have \u201cautofill passwords\u201d turned on and your banking accounts in the bookmarks? Well, there goes your money if the criminals obtain your device. Just never do that.<\/p>\n
How to secure your personal data then? Regular backups help a ton with that task. There are three possible ways of doing Windows backups:<\/p>\n
\n- Copying the content to external HDD\/SSD drives<\/li>\n
- Syncing the content with cloud backup services<\/li>\n
- Storing all the important data in the cloud from the get-go<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Copying your files to an external device is the cheapest and easiest way of doing a data backup, yet these devices must be stored offsite \u2014 in the office, at friend\u2019s house or in the bank\u2019s safe in order for such a backup to be efficient (and the questions of fires, earthquakes, and theft during commuting are still in place). File History tool helps to do this with Windows 8 and 10, while Windows Backup does the job for Windows 7.<\/p>\n
![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.protectimus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/windows-computer-safety-tips-img-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Copying your personal data to the cloud using multiple online backup services like Backblaze<\/a>, MozyHome<\/a> or Carbonite<\/a> ensures your files are always synced to the cloud, so losing an on-site device due to force-majeure or theft is now not so damaging. The only downsides include the fact that these services should be paid for and the backups usually last for no longer than 30 days.<\/p>\nThe third way of enabling backups is storing all the essential data in your Google Drive, DropBox, iCloud or other cloud storage services. The downsides of this approach are the limited size of free storage available with such platforms, and the security considerations, as many naked celebrity photo leaks showed us. However, if you are not a movie star and are able to look after your passwords \u2014 your personal data will be absolutely safe with Google Drive or other cloud data storages.<\/p>\n
As for data encryption, Windows BitLocker is provided by default with the latest versions of Windows. All you need to do is enable it in the control panel and it will quietly work in the background encrypting all the content of your Windows PC or laptop. As it encrypts the disk as a whole, you can no longer be afraid of losing your device or having it stolen \u2014 the criminals will not be able to get access to the encrypted data. As BitLocker does not require any additional configuration or installation, it is a very easy and reliable tool for ensuring your Windows security.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> How to Backup Google Authenticator or Transfer It to a New Phone<\/a><\/p>\n5. Follow strict security standards<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis is especially applicable to company workers who are frequently working from home while commuting or from a business trip. Their Windows OS\u2019s need to connect to corporate servers through public WiFi networks or via a 3G\/4G\/5G connection. The company must ensure such users leverage SSL access for their Outlook, a PPTP VPN connection for public networks or a WPA2-PSK protection for their home WiFi connection. Unfortunately, too many businesses care little about such cases \u2014 till the security breaches happen.<\/p>\n
In order to prevent such damaging results, every Windows user must follow strict security standards when logging into their accounts over the public networks, from home or using the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to login corporate network.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> Securing VPN with Two-Factor Authentication<\/a><\/p>\n6. Avoid enabling full access and separate the accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\nWindows system administrator account has supreme access rights to your system and personal data. Working under this account on your corporate workstation of from home is highly insecure. As a matter of fact, all user accounts must be set to Default security level in Windows User Access Control center, so each action that can involve altering the system settings must be approved by entering the administrator password.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.protectimus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/windows-computer-safety-tips-img-2.png\")
<\/p>\n
The same applies to the access rights for shared files and folders. These should NEVER <\/strong>be put to full access, as there are many backdoors for malicious actors whenever they get FULL ACCESS to anything inside your corporate network.<\/p>\n7. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe have mentioned this before, yet this is such an overwhelming problem (which has been around since dinosaurs), that this deserves a separate point of the list. Login\/password combinations like Admin\/admin<\/em>, or 123456<\/em>, or qwerty<\/em> are too widespread. There is no excuse for such a situation \u2014 yet the people are lazy\u2026<\/p>\nThe only solution known so far is enforcing a strict password strength policy across the corporate network, along with enabling two-factor authentication for Windows login.<\/p>\n
Read how to create strong passwords and remember all of them in the article How to Choose and Use Strong Passwords<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Enable automatic Windows updates<\/strong><\/h3>\nFor Windows 7 update just go to your Windows control panel from the Start <\/strong>menu, there go to System and Security<\/strong>>Windows Update<\/strong>>Change Settings.<\/strong><\/p>\nThen choose the time when you can spare about 15-30 minutes to download the Windows upgrade files, install them and reboot the computer \u2014 and rest assured your Windows system files are up-to-date. The same goes for all the software you use, as new vulnerabilities in multiple software and hardware tools are discovered daily, like these Meltdown and Spectre processor vulnerabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Create a restore point<\/strong><\/h3>\nOne of the best ways to secure Windows computers is to create a Windows restore point. Sometimes the new drivers are incompatible with some of your hardware, or update process may go awry, etc. There is a widely-known case when Windows 7 users have to download the outdated Nvidia drivers to play Heroes of Might & Magic VI<\/a>, as any new version of the video drivers results in black screen. However, the consequences might be much more serious than the inability to play one of the best turn-based games of all times.<\/p>\nTo create a system restore point on Windows 7 go to the Start <\/strong>menu, there to Control Panel<\/strong>>System<\/strong>and Security<\/strong>>System <\/strong>and go to System Protection<\/strong> tab. Press the Create <\/strong>button and choose the name for the new restore point.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Obtain a habit of creating Windows restore points from time to time, before installing the new computer software even if it\u2019s computer security software. Make at least one restore point immediately after installing a clean Windows operating system, and rest assured you enabled one of the most efficient tools for security Windows can provide.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> Ransomware \u2013 to Pay or Not to Pay<\/a><\/p>\n2. Install Windows antivirus<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis might seem ridiculous, but many people don\u2019t bother with installing and configuring antivirus software for Windows until it\u2019s too late and their computer is infected with viruses and spyware. How to protect your computer from virus attacks then and what is the best antivirus for Windows 7, 8, and 10?<\/p>\n
A good antivirus software should include the features like:<\/p>\n
\n- Email checker to block email malware,<\/li>\n
- Net security screens to identify and drop dangerous Internet connections,<\/li>\n
- Javascript blockers to prevent malicious code from phishing sites from infecting your Windows PC<\/li>\n
- Anti spyware module to ensure your Internet security<\/li>\n
- Archive scanner to prevent executing malicious .exe<\/em> files, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These functions are available by default with the majority of antivirus software for Windows. The only difference is the fullness of the virus databases, the frequency of their updates and the range of options available towards the infected files. A really good antivirus must be able to identify the threat and disarm it, without damaging the file in the best-case scenario. However, such functionality is available only with the leaders of the market, which raises an obvious question \u2014 why opt for anything less than the best antivirus for PC?<\/p>\n
There are many good examples of antiviruses for Windows, namely Dr.Web<\/a> and Avast Antivirus. Kaspersky Lab was banned from use on the territory of USA<\/a> and is increasingly considered more a spyware, than a virus protection software. Thus said, opting for either Dr. Web or Avast<\/a> free virus protection ensures a decent degree of security for your PC.<\/p>\nAs for Windows 10, one of the main questions about its security sounds like this: \u201cIs Windows Defender enough, or should I install any additional antivirus for Windows 10?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nWindows Defender is a default antivirus software for Windows 8 and 10. It provides all the basic<\/em> security options, runs quietly in the background and reminds about itself only when it detects a threat. Being maintained and updated by the Microsoft team, this is a decent all-around capable firewall protection and computer virus protection suit.<\/p>\nUnfortunately, Jack-of-all-trades cannot be an expert in anything. Windows Defender can protect your computer from spyware and various malware floating around, yet it cannot protect a Windows 10 laptop or PC from ransomware, malware and other highly sophisticated threats<\/a> that are on the rise nowadays.<\/p>\nAfter all, it is strongly presumed that Kaspersky Lab products are spying after their users and provide much more admin access to your computer and data than they should. Thus said, we recommend opting for a paid version of a good antivirus for Windows 10, like Avast, ESET Nod32<\/a> or Dr.Web.<\/p>\n| Read also:<\/span> Malvertising: Can It Be Stopped?<\/a><\/p>\n3. Enable Windows Firewall<\/strong><\/h2>\nMany Windows users have inexplicable hate towards Windows firewall \u2014 yet it is a highly useful feature that can block wireless intrusions, malware infiltrations, and other Windows security threats. Configuring the firewall protection might seem a daunting task, yet it must be only done once and you will enjoy the safety of mind and data security from that point onwards.<\/p>\n
Windows 10 Firewall is actually a decent tool that protects your Windows PC against a wide variety of known Internet security threats. If you still prefer to stay away from Windows products \u2014 you can choose between several decent alternatives like Comodo Free Firewall<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n4. Do Windows Backups regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\nComputers are great for storing information, yet they are not ideal. A hard drive might fail tomorrow, a fire can ruin the equipment, etc. In addition, burglars can steal your laptop leaving you devoid of personal data and obtaining the means for identity theft in the process. Do you have \u201cautofill passwords\u201d turned on and your banking accounts in the bookmarks? Well, there goes your money if the criminals obtain your device. Just never do that.<\/p>\n
How to secure your personal data then? Regular backups help a ton with that task. There are three possible ways of doing Windows backups:<\/p>\n
\n- Copying the content to external HDD\/SSD drives<\/li>\n
- Syncing the content with cloud backup services<\/li>\n
- Storing all the important data in the cloud from the get-go<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Copying your files to an external device is the cheapest and easiest way of doing a data backup, yet these devices must be stored offsite \u2014 in the office, at friend\u2019s house or in the bank\u2019s safe in order for such a backup to be efficient (and the questions of fires, earthquakes, and theft during commuting are still in place). File History tool helps to do this with Windows 8 and 10, while Windows Backup does the job for Windows 7.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Copying your personal data to the cloud using multiple online backup services like Backblaze<\/a>, MozyHome<\/a> or Carbonite<\/a> ensures your files are always synced to the cloud, so losing an on-site device due to force-majeure or theft is now not so damaging. The only downsides include the fact that these services should be paid for and the backups usually last for no longer than 30 days.<\/p>\nThe third way of enabling backups is storing all the essential data in your Google Drive, DropBox, iCloud or other cloud storage services. The downsides of this approach are the limited size of free storage available with such platforms, and the security considerations, as many naked celebrity photo leaks showed us. However, if you are not a movie star and are able to look after your passwords \u2014 your personal data will be absolutely safe with Google Drive or other cloud data storages.<\/p>\n
As for data encryption, Windows BitLocker is provided by default with the latest versions of Windows. All you need to do is enable it in the control panel and it will quietly work in the background encrypting all the content of your Windows PC or laptop. As it encrypts the disk as a whole, you can no longer be afraid of losing your device or having it stolen \u2014 the criminals will not be able to get access to the encrypted data. As BitLocker does not require any additional configuration or installation, it is a very easy and reliable tool for ensuring your Windows security.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> How to Backup Google Authenticator or Transfer It to a New Phone<\/a><\/p>\n5. Follow strict security standards<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis is especially applicable to company workers who are frequently working from home while commuting or from a business trip. Their Windows OS\u2019s need to connect to corporate servers through public WiFi networks or via a 3G\/4G\/5G connection. The company must ensure such users leverage SSL access for their Outlook, a PPTP VPN connection for public networks or a WPA2-PSK protection for their home WiFi connection. Unfortunately, too many businesses care little about such cases \u2014 till the security breaches happen.<\/p>\n
In order to prevent such damaging results, every Windows user must follow strict security standards when logging into their accounts over the public networks, from home or using the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to login corporate network.<\/p>\n
| Read also:<\/span> Securing VPN with Two-Factor Authentication<\/a><\/p>\n6. Avoid enabling full access and separate the accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\nWindows system administrator account has supreme access rights to your system and personal data. Working under this account on your corporate workstation of from home is highly insecure. As a matter of fact, all user accounts must be set to Default security level in Windows User Access Control center, so each action that can involve altering the system settings must be approved by entering the administrator password.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The same applies to the access rights for shared files and folders. These should NEVER <\/strong>be put to full access, as there are many backdoors for malicious actors whenever they get FULL ACCESS to anything inside your corporate network.<\/p>\n7. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h2>\nWe have mentioned this before, yet this is such an overwhelming problem (which has been around since dinosaurs), that this deserves a separate point of the list. Login\/password combinations like Admin\/admin<\/em>, or 123456<\/em>, or qwerty<\/em> are too widespread. There is no excuse for such a situation \u2014 yet the people are lazy\u2026<\/p>\nThe only solution known so far is enforcing a strict password strength policy across the corporate network, along with enabling two-factor authentication for Windows login.<\/p>\n
Read how to create strong passwords and remember all of them in the article How to Choose and Use Strong Passwords<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Then choose the time when you can spare about 15-30 minutes to download the Windows upgrade files, install them and reboot the computer \u2014 and rest assured your Windows system files are up-to-date. The same goes for all the software you use, as new vulnerabilities in multiple software and hardware tools are discovered daily, like these Meltdown and Spectre processor vulnerabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to secure Windows computers is to create a Windows restore point. Sometimes the new drivers are incompatible with some of your hardware, or update process may go awry, etc. There is a widely-known case when Windows 7 users have to download the outdated Nvidia drivers to play Heroes of Might & Magic VI<\/a>, as any new version of the video drivers results in black screen. However, the consequences might be much more serious than the inability to play one of the best turn-based games of all times.<\/p>\n To create a system restore point on Windows 7 go to the Start <\/strong>menu, there to Control Panel<\/strong>>System<\/strong>and Security<\/strong>>System <\/strong>and go to System Protection<\/strong> tab. Press the Create <\/strong>button and choose the name for the new restore point.<\/p>\n Obtain a habit of creating Windows restore points from time to time, before installing the new computer software even if it\u2019s computer security software. Make at least one restore point immediately after installing a clean Windows operating system, and rest assured you enabled one of the most efficient tools for security Windows can provide.<\/p>\n | Read also:<\/span> Ransomware \u2013 to Pay or Not to Pay<\/a><\/p>\n This might seem ridiculous, but many people don\u2019t bother with installing and configuring antivirus software for Windows until it\u2019s too late and their computer is infected with viruses and spyware. How to protect your computer from virus attacks then and what is the best antivirus for Windows 7, 8, and 10?<\/p>\n A good antivirus software should include the features like:<\/p>\n These functions are available by default with the majority of antivirus software for Windows. The only difference is the fullness of the virus databases, the frequency of their updates and the range of options available towards the infected files. A really good antivirus must be able to identify the threat and disarm it, without damaging the file in the best-case scenario. However, such functionality is available only with the leaders of the market, which raises an obvious question \u2014 why opt for anything less than the best antivirus for PC?<\/p>\n There are many good examples of antiviruses for Windows, namely Dr.Web<\/a> and Avast Antivirus. Kaspersky Lab was banned from use on the territory of USA<\/a> and is increasingly considered more a spyware, than a virus protection software. Thus said, opting for either Dr. Web or Avast<\/a> free virus protection ensures a decent degree of security for your PC.<\/p>\n As for Windows 10, one of the main questions about its security sounds like this: \u201cIs Windows Defender enough, or should I install any additional antivirus for Windows 10?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Windows Defender is a default antivirus software for Windows 8 and 10. It provides all the basic<\/em> security options, runs quietly in the background and reminds about itself only when it detects a threat. Being maintained and updated by the Microsoft team, this is a decent all-around capable firewall protection and computer virus protection suit.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Jack-of-all-trades cannot be an expert in anything. Windows Defender can protect your computer from spyware and various malware floating around, yet it cannot protect a Windows 10 laptop or PC from ransomware, malware and other highly sophisticated threats<\/a> that are on the rise nowadays.<\/p>\n After all, it is strongly presumed that Kaspersky Lab products are spying after their users and provide much more admin access to your computer and data than they should. Thus said, we recommend opting for a paid version of a good antivirus for Windows 10, like Avast, ESET Nod32<\/a> or Dr.Web.<\/p>\n | Read also:<\/span> Malvertising: Can It Be Stopped?<\/a><\/p>\n Many Windows users have inexplicable hate towards Windows firewall \u2014 yet it is a highly useful feature that can block wireless intrusions, malware infiltrations, and other Windows security threats. Configuring the firewall protection might seem a daunting task, yet it must be only done once and you will enjoy the safety of mind and data security from that point onwards.<\/p>\n Windows 10 Firewall is actually a decent tool that protects your Windows PC against a wide variety of known Internet security threats. If you still prefer to stay away from Windows products \u2014 you can choose between several decent alternatives like Comodo Free Firewall<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n Computers are great for storing information, yet they are not ideal. A hard drive might fail tomorrow, a fire can ruin the equipment, etc. In addition, burglars can steal your laptop leaving you devoid of personal data and obtaining the means for identity theft in the process. Do you have \u201cautofill passwords\u201d turned on and your banking accounts in the bookmarks? Well, there goes your money if the criminals obtain your device. Just never do that.<\/p>\n How to secure your personal data then? Regular backups help a ton with that task. There are three possible ways of doing Windows backups:<\/p>\n Copying your files to an external device is the cheapest and easiest way of doing a data backup, yet these devices must be stored offsite \u2014 in the office, at friend\u2019s house or in the bank\u2019s safe in order for such a backup to be efficient (and the questions of fires, earthquakes, and theft during commuting are still in place). File History tool helps to do this with Windows 8 and 10, while Windows Backup does the job for Windows 7.<\/p>\n Copying your personal data to the cloud using multiple online backup services like Backblaze<\/a>, MozyHome<\/a> or Carbonite<\/a> ensures your files are always synced to the cloud, so losing an on-site device due to force-majeure or theft is now not so damaging. The only downsides include the fact that these services should be paid for and the backups usually last for no longer than 30 days.<\/p>\n The third way of enabling backups is storing all the essential data in your Google Drive, DropBox, iCloud or other cloud storage services. The downsides of this approach are the limited size of free storage available with such platforms, and the security considerations, as many naked celebrity photo leaks showed us. However, if you are not a movie star and are able to look after your passwords \u2014 your personal data will be absolutely safe with Google Drive or other cloud data storages.<\/p>\n As for data encryption, Windows BitLocker is provided by default with the latest versions of Windows. All you need to do is enable it in the control panel and it will quietly work in the background encrypting all the content of your Windows PC or laptop. As it encrypts the disk as a whole, you can no longer be afraid of losing your device or having it stolen \u2014 the criminals will not be able to get access to the encrypted data. As BitLocker does not require any additional configuration or installation, it is a very easy and reliable tool for ensuring your Windows security.<\/p>\n | Read also:<\/span> How to Backup Google Authenticator or Transfer It to a New Phone<\/a><\/p>\n This is especially applicable to company workers who are frequently working from home while commuting or from a business trip. Their Windows OS\u2019s need to connect to corporate servers through public WiFi networks or via a 3G\/4G\/5G connection. The company must ensure such users leverage SSL access for their Outlook, a PPTP VPN connection for public networks or a WPA2-PSK protection for their home WiFi connection. Unfortunately, too many businesses care little about such cases \u2014 till the security breaches happen.<\/p>\n In order to prevent such damaging results, every Windows user must follow strict security standards when logging into their accounts over the public networks, from home or using the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to login corporate network.<\/p>\n | Read also:<\/span> Securing VPN with Two-Factor Authentication<\/a><\/p>\n Windows system administrator account has supreme access rights to your system and personal data. Working under this account on your corporate workstation of from home is highly insecure. As a matter of fact, all user accounts must be set to Default security level in Windows User Access Control center, so each action that can involve altering the system settings must be approved by entering the administrator password.<\/p>\n The same applies to the access rights for shared files and folders. These should NEVER <\/strong>be put to full access, as there are many backdoors for malicious actors whenever they get FULL ACCESS to anything inside your corporate network.<\/p>\n We have mentioned this before, yet this is such an overwhelming problem (which has been around since dinosaurs), that this deserves a separate point of the list. Login\/password combinations like Admin\/admin<\/em>, or 123456<\/em>, or qwerty<\/em> are too widespread. There is no excuse for such a situation \u2014 yet the people are lazy\u2026<\/p>\n The only solution known so far is enforcing a strict password strength policy across the corporate network, along with enabling two-factor authentication for Windows login.<\/p>\n Read how to create strong passwords and remember all of them in the article How to Choose and Use Strong Passwords<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nCreate a restore point<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n2. Install Windows antivirus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
3. Enable Windows Firewall<\/strong><\/h2>\n
4. Do Windows Backups regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/p>\n5. Follow strict security standards<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6. Avoid enabling full access and separate the accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n7. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h2>\n