How secure is your computer and the way you browse the internet? see the checklist to know if you are protected online
Those who care about data security and privacy in internet surfing, should have fully aware of how important it is to protect your computer and keep it away from outside intrusion. However, not everyone is careful to cover all the various vulnerabilities, leaving all our devices exposed to new generation viruses, hackers and malware.
In the following guide we will show you the checks to be done to know if the network is safe and securea real checklist to be carried out at regular intervals (at least once a month) to keep the work environment or our personal devices always safe.
READ ALSO -> Test network security by simulating hacker attacks
1) Operating system security
The Windows security triad consists of three elements:
- Windows Update
- Windows Defender
- Windows Firewall
These three elements must remain efficient in order for you to have a safe and secure network.
Windows Update
An updated operating system is a safe operating system: this mantra is often ignored by PC users, who therefore find themselves with infected and hacked computers without knowing how.
On Windows 11 and Windows 10 updates are automatic and they must never be postponed; if we have problems with updates we can read our guide on how to troubleshoot windows update.
If, on the other hand, we want to switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11 we can read our in-depth analysis on how to download and install windows 11 by updating windows 10.
Windows Defender
Windows Defender is the antivirus built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, great for protecting against the most common threats. It updates automatically together with Windows and can be optimized to increase the level of security, as seen in our guides on how to increase the protection of Microsoft Defender come on how to protect windows 11 from viruses.
If Windows Defender does not convince us we can replace it with one free security suitelike the ones seen in our article on best free complete and free security and protection suites.
Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall is crucial to stop hacker attacks, but however, it needs to be optimized to avoid letting dangerous programs through.
For a safe and secure network we can also install one of the security suite seen in the previous chapter (which also include a powerful firewall) or choose between best free firewalls available for Windows.
2) Security of the applications used
The web browser is the most exposed application to computer attacks and viruses: it is therefore advisable to always keep it updated like the operating system, so as to immediately correct any possible flaw that can be exploited by hackers or the most advanced malware.
Modern browsers update themselves at regular intervalsbut it is still advisable to periodically check if we are using the latest version by pressing on the three dots at the top right, clicking on Help -> About and checking for updates (this procedure is valid both on Google Chrome what up Microsoft Edge).
To learn more, we can read our guide for check if we are using the latest version of the browser; to update the other programs and apps in the system we can read our articles on how to download program and app updates come on how to download patches and update Office manually.
3) Web browsing security
An up-to-date browser isn’t enough to stop all threats that come from the web: even an infected link or a modified web page is enough to expose the PC to new viruses and new hacker attacks.
To increase the security of web browsing we must absolutely install the following extensions for Google Chrome:
- Bitwarden – Free Password Manager
- Avast Online Security Privacy
- WOT reputation sites
We will thus have a encrypted and secure password manager (with strong password generator), an antivirus control system for links and downloads and a system for recognizing malicious sites through online reputation.
To make everything even safer it is advisable to activate HTTPS on each web pageavoiding unencrypted HTTPS sites.
On this topic we can read our guides to best internet security extensions for chrome and on best extensions to have on chrome.
4) Wi-Fi network security
A public Wi-Fi network or a hotspot in a restaurant or shopping mall are increasingly the entry points for malware and hackers: just connect to a public network to find the infected PCwithout even having to run apps or open modified links (just connect to one of these networks).
To strengthen security when we use an unknown Wi-Fi network we highly recommend you use a VPN connectionin order to encrypt all incoming and outgoing traffic and prevent the violation of security and privacy during use.
The best free VPN services we can use are ProtonVPN e Torbut we can try other free VPN systems in our VPN guide best free, secure and unlimited VPNs.
For this purpose we advise you to read our guides on how to surf safely on public Wi-Fi networks come on how to choose a premium high speed vpn service.
5) Modem/router security
Even the modem or router we use can be exposed to cyber attacks: Without it, all connected devices are in great danger, regardless of the security of the system or the apps used.
In addition to always keeping your modems and routers up to date (if updates are released by the manufacturer), you should follow these tips to ensure maximum safety and security on your network:
- Turn off WPS: very convenient for connecting new devices but leaves a port exposed that can also be exploited by improvised hackers;
- Use WPA2-AES or WPA3: we only use the most modern encryption systems for the wireless connection, so as to make it difficult to recover the password using hacking tools.
- Use a strong Wi-Fi password: avoid using the password already generated by the modem or router and use a password created by us that is at least 12 characters long, including capital letters and numbers.
- Change your modem/router access password: also there password to access the router settings must be changed, abandoning the classic admin/admin present on all modems and routers on the market as a default setting.
- Use wired connections: when possible we connect the PCs via Ethernet cable; if the devices are far from the modem we use le Powerline connections to carry the signal without having to use Wi-Fi.
Those interested can learn more by reading our guides on how to compare modem specs come on how to configure modem router for security.
Conclusions
Security is important to everyone, from the experienced technician to the novice PC user. The level of precautions you take is up to you, but keep in mind that online security is just as (if not more) important today than home security: no one voluntarily leaves the house keys behind the door, otherwise sooner or later someone will enter.
To learn more we can read our guides for Check your PC for viruses and for check for security vulnerabilities in programs and on Windows.