Have you been infected with malware? Aside from the regular warnings signs – popups, crashes, random messages and redirected browsers – there may be something you’ve missed. Run a malware scan every month or so to make sure you haven’t been compromised. Antivirus software will often give you a free scan, and if it does […]

When buying software digitally, there’s usually a license agreement that you must accept to complete the purchase. You don’t really have a choice if you want to use the software, but it’s worth looking at key details; for example, search for the word “sold” to determine if the product is merely being licensed and not […]

Connections such as your home internet service or cellular (LTE/5G) connection through your wireless carrier. Public wi-fi networks are not very secure, which makes it easy for others to intercept your data. If you choose to connect to open networks, consider using antivirus and firewall software on your device or using a Virtual Private Network […]

Manufacturers issue updates as they discover vulnerabilities in their products. Automatic updates make this easier for many devices—including computers, phones, tablets, and other smart devices—but you may need to manually update other devices. Only apply updates from manufacturer websites and built-in application stores—third-party sites and applications are unreliable and can result in an infected device. […]

Remove unnecessary software, modify or delete unnecessary default features that will reduce attackers’ opportunities. Review the features that are enabled by default on your computer, and disable or customize those you don’t need or don’t plan on using. As with removing unnecessary software, be sure to research features before modifying or disabling them.

Installing an antivirus software program and keeping it up-to-date is a critical step in protecting your computer. Many types of antivirus software can detect the presence of malware by searching for patterns in your computer’s files or memory. Antivirus software uses signatures provided by software vendors to identify malware. Vendors frequently create new signatures to […]