Secure pc software is crucial to protecting your computer, mobile device and data from hackers. Hackers, also known as cybercriminals, break into your computer for a variety reasons. They can steal the data, alter or delete data that you value. Hackers are malicious, unlike other thieves who use stolen goods for legitimate purposes. They are more concerned with having access to sensitive data that is not authorized. This could occur before you realize that something isn’t right.
The three key steps to ensure the security of your computer software are firewalls, passwords and protection against viruses. If you follow these best practices, your computer will be much less vulnerable to being hacked by hackers, malware or ransomware (software that encrypts your data and demands payment to unlock it).
Change the name of the administrator account. Be sure to select an effective password that has lower and uppercase letters, numbers and computer symbols. Avoid using a short password, like 1234, because hackers are able to use automated tools to break passwords that are easy to guess in just a few minutes.
Update your operating system and other programs. The majority of software updates include security fixes that help protect against hackers. Install all patches and turn on automatic updates when available to limit the amount of time that you are vulnerable to intrusions.
If you own a laptop, or any other portable device that’s not being used, make sure your drive is secure. This is especially crucial for UF students. Windows allows you to enable encryption by going to Settings > Update & Security > Device encryption. This will encrypt your entire internal drive and a majority of external drives, including SD cards.
