A PC can be a fabulous addition to any home or business but it’s worth taking the time to protect it from viruses and malware.
It’s essential to follow a few simple rules to keep your personal information as safe and secure as possible. Here is a roundup of the things to keep in mind if you are thinking about taking up PC hire in Manchester:
1.Choose a good password. Many people access their email accounts, social media networks, online bank and credit card websites with the use of a log in name and password. However, a large percentage of people fail to pick a password that’s hard for others to decipher. The name of a spouse, sibling or child will not suffice as a suitable password especially when it comes to web based bank facilities. The better option is to put together a random selection of letters, numbers and symbols. A password that reads DHt19%3bl; will be much more secure than snowy123.
Although this type of password is harder to remember it will protect your valuable personal data and private information. Make a note of it in a notepad or create an encrypted file on your PC that cannot be understood without the addition of an encryption key. Don’t use the same password for all of the sites you are a member of. Keep separate passwords for each account so that someone who gains access to your emails cannot log in to your online bank or carry out web based shopping at the same time.
2.Download virus protection software. Every PC is open to fraud and internet based crime, which is why it is of the utmost importance to install virus protection. Threats to PCs can change on a daily basis, which means you should update your protection regularly. You can set it up so that your computer downloads updates automatically as soon as they become available. Once your virus protection is in place you can roam the web without worrying about attacks. However, bear in mind that you should only download items from trusted websites – if you want to obtain a particular piece of software head directly to the source and do not buy from an unknown corner of the web.
3.Switch your PC off when you are finished. Don’t leave your computer on when you have completed surfing the internet or finished a work assignment – this will just leave your PC open to malware attacks. Plus it will help you to cut down on your energy bills and overheads.
4.Don’t open files from unknown sources. Any emails that you receive on your PC should be vetted. Try not to open messages from people who you have never met or spoken to. This may be difficult in a work situation where new clients and customers email in everyday – just be wary of their email address and check that it comes from a verifiable source before you open it.
