How can you tell if your computer is safe?

It is important to know if your computer is safe from unauthorized access. But how can you tell? In my opinion, you should look at it from two points of view, physical and cyber.

Physical Measures.

Laptop computers are a highly sought-after item for thieves as they can sell it to pawnshops or (if they have the technical skills), they can break into the hard drive to steal personal information and put it on the black market for financial gain. Steps to keep your computer safe can be:

1. Use a unique password that is strong. This is to keep your computer safe from someone easily accessing your system. The passwords need to be at a minimum of 12 characters and should be a mix of upper- and lower-case characters, numbers, and special characters. You should change your passwords regularly; how often is up to you.  
2. Lock your screen. If you must walk away from your computer (for the bathroom, smoke break, yell out of frustration from the stupid mask mandates at school, etc.) lock the screen to keep unwanted guests from perusing, stealing, or introducing unwanted programs into your system,
3. Encrypt the hard drives. If your computer is stolen an encrypted hard drive makes it difficult for a thief to easily obtain your information. Hard drives can be encrypted using programs like Bitlocker (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview), VeraCrypt (https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html),  or FileVault (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204837) if using an apple computer.
4. Lock up the computer. If you are leaving for the night, lock up the computer to keep it safe from physical theft by placing it a secure place like a safe, vault, lockable desk drawer, or a protected closet.  
5. Back up data regularly.  If your computer is ever stolen, then by backing up your data will save you time and aggravation.
6. Use a computer locking kit or locking enclosure.  Using a locking mechanism will make it more difficult for a thief to take off with your computer quickly and easily.

Cyber Measures.

Computer systems hooked into the internet are susceptible to hacking attempts from criminal elements within the cyber world. Steps to keep your computer safe from cyber criminals can be:

1. Use antivirus software. Having this authenticated antivirus software is essential to keeping your computer safe from criminal mischief on your system. Good antivirus software is opinionated; however, here are a few to consider: BitDefender (https://www.bitdefender.com/), TotalAV (https://www.totalav.com/free-antivirus-software-2), or Norton AntiVirus (https://us.norton.com/antivirus).
2. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when browsing the internet. A VPN encrypts your communications and can keep you safe from hackers or other prying eyes. VPNs can be found from reputable places like BitDefender VPN (https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/vpn.html), CyberGhost (https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/#buy), or ExpressVPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/).
3. Use a firewall. “Firewalls provide protection against outside cyber attackers by shielding your computer or network from malicious or unnecessary network traffic.” (Understanding Firewalls for Home and Small Office Use | CISA, n.d.).
4. Don’t download pirated material. Downloading pirated material may seem like a cheap alternative, however downloading any media from untrustworthy sources can lead to introducing planted malware into your system.
5. Don’t open suspicious emails.  Only open emails from trusted sources as some emails will have attachments that will introduce malware into your system upon opening.   
6. Use unique passwords that are strong. The passwords need to be at a minimum or 12 characters and should be a mix of upper- and lower-case characters, numbers, and special characters. You should change your passwords regularly; how often is up to you.  
7. Don’t allow the use of unfamiliar external devices. External devices such as a thumb drives and portable hard drives should not be allowed to link to your system as they have the possibility of having viruses or malware in them. So do not pick up a thumb drive from the ground in a parking lot and stick it into your computer out of curiosity.
8. Keep all your software updated. By not keeping your software up to date it will allow hackers to continue to exploit past security holes in the program. It is imperative to update the programs on a regular basis.       

References

9 ways to keep your Windows computer safe. (n.d.). PCWorld. Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.pcworld.com/article/424195/9-ways-to-keep-your-windows-computer-safe.html    

5 ways to find out if your computer is secure. (2017, May 21). Komando.com. https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/5-ways-to-test-your-computers-security-2/9821/      

How to Tell if Your Computer is Secure (in 5 Questions or Less). (2013, October 9). The Mac Security Blog. https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/how-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-secure/     

Keep your computer secure at home. (n.d.). Support.microsoft.com. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keep-your-computer-secure-at-home-c348f24f-a4f0-de5d-9e4a-e0fc156ab221    

5 steps to protect your data in case of computer theft. (2015, December 7). HURIDOCS. https://huridocs.org/2015/12/steps-to-protect-your-data-computer-theft/

 Understanding Firewalls for Home and Small Office Use | CISA. (n.d.). Www.cisa.gov. https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/tips/ST04-004