- Fortify Your Defenses
Install strong antivirus/anti-malware software and keep it updated. I use and recommend Emsisoft as well as Windows Defender. - Guard Your Gateway
Experts advise one should secure their home router with a unique password. Routers come with default passwords. Make sure you change yours to something strong and unique. - Think Before You Click
Always verify the legitimacy of websites and senders before clicking links or opening attachments. Hover over links to see the true destination URL. IF YOU DID NOT INITIATE IT, REJECT IT FULLY. - Windows Updates
Update your operating system regularly, whenever updates become available to patch security vulnerabilities. - Craft Unbreakable Passwords
Create complex passwords with a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Make them unique for each account. Use a password manager; I use LASTPASS. Use Two-Factor authentication (2FA) whenever available. Use passkeys whenever you can. - Beware of the Phisherman
Be cautious of suspicious emails, links, and attachments. Don’t fall for phishing scams or click on unknown sources. Again…IF YOU DIDN’T INITIATE IT, REJECT IT. BANKS, CREDIT CARD COMPANIES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO CLICK A LINK TO CHANGE YOUR INFO… THEY WILL ASK YOU TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND SIGN IN. - Backup Regularly
Back up your important data to an external drive or cloud storage for peace of mind. Cloudeight recommends recommend OneDrive for a monthly fee (US) for which you get one terabyte of cloud backup & storage space and the latest version of MS365 (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook & more). Nope. Microsoft does not pay me to recommend OneDrive but I have been using it for years. - Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi
Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities like online banking or entering passwords. If you find it necessary to use public Wi-Fi to access financial or personal data, always use a VPN for added security. - Privacy Matters
Manage settings: consider disabling unused camera and microphone permissions to prevent unauthorized access. I cover my camera lens unless I am using it. - Scammers and scams
Scammers and scams are everywhere. If someone tries to pressure you or threaten you into acting immediately or paying them with gift cards, disconnect from the internet and wait a few minutes before reconnecting. If something seems too good to be true, there’s a 99.9% chance it is too good to be true.
Following these ten commandments of safe computing is just a good start. Stay informed, always be wary, and never assume something is safe unless you are certain it is.
