In this day and age, almost every one of us owns a PC or a laptop, either for personal or professional purposes. With all your important and private data stored on your computer and performing tasks like online banking on your web browser, it is high time that you learn the basic steps to keep your computer safe from malware and viruses which can corrupt your data, compromise your security and put your information at risk.
1. Install an Antivirus
Sometimes we ignore the necessity to install an antivirus program (โปรแกรม antivirus, which is the term in Thai) in our computer, but that is not a good idea. An antivirus and firewall software will keep your PC safe from hackers, malware, and cybercriminals as well as update your apps so that you have high security. If you do not want to pay for it, you can download and install a free virus program (โปรแกรม ไวรัส ฟรี, term in Thai) scanner available on the internet which will scan your computer to check for viruses and get rid of them.
2. Set Strong and Unique Passwords
This cannot be stressed enough. Always keep your computer locked with a password, for starters. For your day-to-day activities, you will need to have several accounts, and although it may seem a lot of work, it is necessary that you use strong and different passwords for each account for maximum security. Do not share your important passwords with anyone.
3. Update and Backup
Update your operating system (Windows OS, Mac OS, etc.) and software applications regularly so that their chances of getting attacked or corrupted decrease. Remember that outdated software is very vulnerable and more exposed to risks such as viruses. Besides, backup your important files and data regularly (to an external device such as a hard disk or a secure online storage cloud) so that in case your computer is corrupted or is stolen, all your information and files are not lost.
4. Use the Internet Responsibly
First and foremost, use trusted and highly rated browsers (Firefox, Chrome, etc.) to surf the web. Enable ad-blocker extensions for greater security. Try to open only trusted websites. If you need to go to websites you haven’t visited earlier, be cautious and check whether it has a secure connection (generally at the top left corner there will be a green lock if it is secure). Avoid using public wifi because it makes your connection vulnerable.
