Buying a new computer can be an exciting time, whether it’s a new state of the art gaming rig, a new laptop for working and creativity, or a tablet to help the kids with their studies and keep them entertained.
However, beginning to use your computer isn’t necessarily all fun and games, as there are a number of set up tasks and protocols that need following to ensure that no outside nefarious activity can derail your celebratory mood.
If your new computer isn’t protected against outside interference (in whatever form that may come) you could risk the computer becoming inoperable, or having your files locked away behind a ransom payment that will see your files deleted if you don’t pay up.
These situations can be frustrating, scary, and financially damaging – so it’s best to put in the effort when the device arrives and ensure that it’s safe for use for the foreseeable future.
Read on to find out more about which steps you should take to best protect your new computer.
Anti-virus software
The first step in protecting your computer is installing anti-virus software.
With the internet now such an expansive place, there are countless malicious actors who design virus software that is intended to infect your computer for their own personal gain, whether this is through ransomware, running programs that monitor and harvest your data, or simply because they can.
There are a number of ways that your computer can be infected, with the most common way being through email and downloading files. When these malicious files are on your computer, they can slow down the PC’s processes, making your work harder to complete and your games run on slower frames.
By regularly scanning your PC with your antivirus software, you can rid your computer of these files, while also maintaining a base level of protection.
Keep your PC updated
Another important way to protect a computer that has been recently purchased is by keeping on top of all the necessary updates.
While updating your PC can be frustrating, especially if it is due to take a long time and you have tasks and games that you want to be tackling, keeping it updated is essential as each update contains new patches for the bugs or viruses that are currently causing computer users havoc.
After all, with such large and complicated operating systems and software, it’s impossible for software engineers to stay on top of every fault being exploited, and so this is done on a rolling basis.
Strong passwords and two-factor authentication
Whatever the purpose of the new computer, whether it’s part of a batch of college graduation gifts for students, or just a desktop for your working needs, using strong passwords is essential in ensuring the computer is adequately protected.
There are several ways to ensure that your passwords are strong enough, including using a mix of characters, uppercase, and lowercase, and also including numbers and special characters such as question marks and exclamation marks.
Most services now offer two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security that will protect your accounts even if the password is cracked.