Knowing that your computer safe is a multistage process. It involves taking preventive measures, checking that your defenses are in proper order, and being able to recognize and handle any security problems that do arise.

There are multitude of ways to keep the security of your daily devices from being compromised. One of the easiest step you can take is to simply keep your operating system, browsers, and applications updated. Updates will often include patches to vulnerabilities within the code that could be exploited by an attacker (“Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies”). A lot of the times updates can be installed automatically when in sleep mode or before shutting down, as to not be inconvenient.

Then there is the various anti- software, which includes anti-virus, anti-malware, as well as anti-spyware. Antivirus programs will scans your computer’s files and to detect and remove viruses. Antivirus works best against more standard and well known threats. Antimalware software works similarly to antivirus, but is better suited for stopping new and more complex polymorphic attacks (Croft). Spyware is a type of malware that will monitor your actions without your permission. This could mean it monitors each and every key you press, which includes log in information (“Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies”). Antispyware is additional software specifically designed to counter this type of attack.

Another staple in computer security is the use of a firewall. A firewall, which can be software or hardware, is a defensive measure that filters packets going in and out of your computer’s network based on a set of rules. This helps prevent transmission of data to and from untrustworthy actors.

Outside of programs to download and set up, security can improved upon by just implementing best practices. These include using complex passwords, multifactor authentication, don’t click links or download files without careful inspection, and be weary about what information you are sharing online. It is also a good idea to maintain regularly updated backups. Also be aware that physical security of the devices are just as important.

Once a computer has all the desired defenses in place it is vital to check and test these defenses. There are a variety of security analysis programs that can check the safety of passwords, if your running the most up to date versions of everything, what files you have shared, as well as other useful information (Komando). If you have a firewall set up you can test and verify the rulesets are operating correctly through command shell prompts, or by using a port testing service. Say you have a file that contains sensitive data that you no longer need, so you delete it. It is wise to use a file-recovery program to see if that file has truly and fully been deleted. If the file-recovery program can find it then it is not gone. While the various anti- applications can often run scans in the background it is a good idea to manually trigger a scan every so often just to be sure you device has been looked over.

Third piece of keeping your devices secure is being aware of the warning signs of malware and how to address them quickly. Symptoms include a sudden drop in performance speeds, files missing, an increase in crashes or errors, the appearance of unexpected programs or files on the device, an increased workload on the hard drive, or unexpected behavior upon startup. If experiencing such symptoms and fear the presence of malware run a full scan through your various anti- programs. Often these programs can detect the problem and provide guidance on dealing with it (National Cybersecurity Alliance). Another method to solve a malware issue is to restore to a backup, this could set you device to how it was before it was attacked. You would then want to test this version of the device to see if the problem persists. Entering safe mode and deleting temporary files could remove the problem. Then a final and extreme fix would be completely reinstalling the operating system of the device. This comes with the risk of losing data, and would be best to seek professional help at this point (National Cybersecurity Alliance).

Ensuring that a device is secure is not a one and done process. Instead it should be a comprehensive plan that includes being preemptive, being safe in the moment, and being prepared to react.

Works Cited

Croft, Patti. “Anti-Malware Vs. Antivirus: What You Need to Know.” All About Cookies, 3 Aug. 2023, allaboutcookies.org/antimalware-vs-antivirus#:~:text=Antivirus%20programs%20protect%20against%20more,against%20more%20predictable%2C%20dangerous%20malware.

National Cybersecurity Alliance. “How to Tell if Your Computer Has a Virus and What to Do About It.” National Cybersecurity Alliance, 16 July 2023, staysafeonline.org/online-safety-privacy-basics/how-to-tell-if-your-computer-has-a-virus-what-to-do-about-it.

“Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies.” State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General, 1 Nov. 2017, oag.ca.gov/privacy/facts/online-privacy/protect-your-computer.

Komando, Kim. “5 Ways to Test Your Computer’s Security.” USA TODAY, 4 June 2017, www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2017/06/02/5-ways-test-your-computers-security/102354032.