Secure PC software is the most important factor in protecting your computer, mobile device and your data from hackers. Hackers (also called cybercriminals) hack into your device or computer for many reasons, including the theft, modification and deletion of data you consider valuable. Hackers have malicious motives unlike other thieves who may utilize stolen items for legitimate reasons. They are more interested in gaining access to your personal information, often before you know something has gone wrong.

Passwords, a security program and firewalls are the three most important steps to protect your computer software. nord vs express If you follow these basic best practices your computer will be less vulnerable to being hacked by hackers, malware or ransomware (software that encrypts your data and demands payment for unlocking it).

Change the name of your administrator account. Make sure to choose an extremely secure password that includes lower- and uppercase letters, numbers and computer symbols. Do not use a short password like 1234, as hackers can use automated tools to break passwords that are easy to guess in a matter of minutes.

Update your operating system and other software. Most software updates contain security fixes that help protect against hackers. Install all patches, and set up automatic updates if available, to minimize your vulnerability to hackers.

If you own a laptop, or any other portable device that’s not being used, make sure your drive is secure. This is especially crucial for UF students. Windows allows you to enable encryption by going to Settings > Update and Security > Device encryption. This will encrypt the entire internal drive as well as most external drives like SD cards.