When the pandemic started, many people were required to work from home, which created an influx of work for me as they discovered their tech wasn’t up to snuff. The term “being up to snuff” means two things: if the computer is powerful enough to do the work necessary, and if the computer is safe enough from external forces. Over the course of the pandemic, I’ve discovered that the number of computers that aren’t “up to snuff” from a security standpoint is quite high – too high for my comfort. I have had more than my share of jobs having to reinstall Windows and software because someone’s been hacked. These hackers have come out of the woodwork, and they’ve been *very* busy. According to the Sherwood Park RCMP, the number of seniors who have been hacked is at epidemic levels. So what to do? Here’s a small list of things you should consider doing to keep you and your data safe.

1) Use a firewall.

Microsoft Windows has a built-in firewall called Windows Defender Firewall. Ensure it’s turned on by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection.

For macOS, go into the Apple menu > System Preferences > Security (or Security & Privacy) > Firewall. Unlock the pane by clicking the lock in the bottom left corner, and enter the administrator username and password. Click Turn On Firewall (or Start).

For the more advanced of you, both firewalls can be customized to your preferences.

2) Keep ALL your software up to date.

Even though this goes against my instincts, I leave the automatic updates for Windows turned on. This allows all Microsoft products to stay completely updated. This includes Windows, Microsoft Office and other Microsoft applications. For all other software you have installed, including browsers, Adobe Acrobat Reader and other applications you use on a regular basis, go into their settings and turn on automatic updates if it’s available.

In macOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Here you can choose to turn on automatic updates. Turning on automatic updates in all installed software also applies.

3) Make sure your passwords are well-chosen and protected.

This one’s a big one. If you’re like most people, you use two or three passwords and variations thereof for everything, which is really asking for trouble. The best way to get around this is to use a password manager like Keeper or LastPass (I’m a Keeper user myself). Pretty much all password managers out there offer free versions, which are more than enough for the home user. What a password manager does is create strong passwords from random letters, numbers and symbols (which you’re supposed to do anyway) and stores them. You create ONE strong password for the password manager itself, and then it stores all your other passwords for you (if you’re anything like me, you’ve got hundreds). Most password managers are fairly easy to use and will save you a world of grief – being hacked is no fun.

4) Don’t open suspicious attachments or click unusual links in messages.

This is another big one. We’ve all been there – you receive an email ostensibly from Staples, only to discover later that you’ve been hacked. This is called phishing – the hackers send out random emails to hundreds of thousands of email addresses, looking to find that 0.1% of people who will click randomly on links and end up with their bank accounts drained. Learn to check all emails, tweets, Facebook posts, online ads, messages or attachments carefully and don’t click on hyperlinks if they aren’t from someone you know.

5) Browse the web safely.

Avoid visiting sites that offer potentially illicit content. Many of these sites install malware on the fly or offer downloads that contain malware. Use a modern browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Opera, which can help block malicious websites and prevent malicious code from running on your computer.

6) Stay away from pirated material.

Avoid streaming or downloading movies, music, books, or applications that do not come from trusted sources. They may contain malware.

7) Don’t use USBs or other external devices unless you own them.

To avoid infection by malware and viruses, ensure that all external devices either belong to you or come from a reliable source.

8) Make sure to invest in a good anti-virus program.

This is a no-brainer. While Microsoft Defender (which comes default in Windows) is an okay anti-virus, I’ve noticed that nowadays, it simply doesn’t cut it anymore. And while I understand the desire not to spend any more money than necessary, this is a very dangerous attitude. Free anti-viruses simply can’t do what paid programs do. So what are my recommendations? I’ll keep it very simple (added caveat – I’m not being paid to recommend these programs):

Bitdefender is the best paid Internet Security package out there, bar none – it has been chosen as the best Internet Security package three years running. It is the anti-virus of choice for computer techs everywhere, including me.

https://central.bitdefender.com

Kaspersky Anti-Virus

This is an excellent anti-virus, and I had used it for years before moving to Bitdefender. It’s a very streamlined program. However, Kaspersky has introduced their own password manager, firewall and VPN into the mix, which can be very irritating if you don’t remember to uncheck the option to install them during the initial installation process and are a pain to uninstall once they’re on.

https://www.kaspersky.ca

And one more thing – the anti-virus programs to AVOID.

McAfee Anti-Virus and Norton 360

Once again, among computer techs, including me, you want to avoid these programs like the plague. They have been proven to be among the worst programs out there because of their bloatware nature (bloatware being programs that are so full of crap that they will literally slow down your computer). These are also the reasons that they’re the “free” anti-viruses of choice for companies such as Telus because most people in the know won’t buy it otherwise.

Hopefully, you find these tips useful, and PLEASE be safe out there.

About the Author

Grace Wong is the President and CEO of Apex Computer & Mobile Repairs Ltd, an electronics repair company in Sherwood Park. Her company specializes in repairs for smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macintosh computers, game consoles and wearables.

Apex has been in business for 9+ years now, opening in September 2016. The main focus for her business now is helping seniors make sure their technology is up to snuff and safe to use. She does presentations for seniors’ groups and residences for education purposes, as well as simple fixes that can be done in five minutes or less during those presentations.

You can find Apex on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and through a simple Google search. She can be reached by phone/text/WhatsApp (780-885-2333), email (grace.wong@apexrepairs.ca) and via the above-mentioned social media platforms.

Keeping Your Computer Secure at Home

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