While it is impossible to have a completely safe computer that retains any reasonable amount of functionality, there are several steps that an individual should take to ensure that their computer is secure and performing at an optimal level. Assuming that the computer in question is running a windows operating system, many steps can be taken to ensure its security and optimal performance, such as the use of antivirus. Although many companies market in a way that makes their antivirus software seem critical to the health of a device, more often than not, if the user is reasonably fluent with technology, windows defender is more than enough for their needs. Many antivirus software brands like McAfee should be considered malware as they slow down the computer and make it challenging to uninstall the software. Some antiviruses display ads on the computer and take over the browser forcing the user to use an alternate search engine. An easy way to maintain the health of a computer is to keep it up to date and regularly perform complete power cycles to minimize the risk of vulnerabilities. Above all other methods for ensuring a device such as a computer is safe, being informed about potential dangers and how to avoid them is the best. More often than not, a device becomes infected with malicious software after a user clicks on what would be considered a suspicious link or opens an email that is believed to be from a trusted source. It is always important to inspect messages before clicking a link, as scams and phishing attacks usually have some inconsistency or noticeable error. In the event that malicious software is installed on the device, the best thing a user can do is to use a free application such as Malwarebytes to clean the computer of any malicious software.