It’s natural to wonder if your computer is safe. Data breaches happen constantly around the globe with more and more victims each day. A few methods to know that your device is protected are device functionality, up to date software, reputable and highly rated antivirus and malware software, using firewalls, and strong passwords. Starting with device functionality, this is something super simple that can be a good indicator if your computer is compromised or under a heavy load. Checking your device’s RAM and CPU usage can be a good way to see if a hacker is using your computer over the internet. The next method, up to date software, is also a simple one as it’s just making sure that your device is up to date in all software aspects. This is important as software updates are usually in address any bugs found in the previous version of the software.
The next method, using reputable antivirus and malware software is the next step to know your computer is safe. Check for a legitimate antimalware company and make sure they are again, legitimate, as there are scammers that use a disguise to seem legitimate and get you to install their virus. Once installed, make sure to regularly update and install verified updates to your antivirus software. The next step is to enable firewalls for your system. Firewalls can block or allow certain packets to go into/through a system, making them very effective at denying unauthorized access. Strong, non-replicable passwords are also another step to knowing that your computer may be secure. Using unique passwords and using different passwords for different sites helps to keep hackers from gaining access to multiple accounts. Using a password manager or keeping them in a secure location such as a locked drawer is a fair way to remember them.