Strengthen your PC’s security
Audit your current security and find ways to add extra layers of protection to keep malware at bay.
When it comes to protecting your Windows 10 PC, both antivirus and firewall protection are built into the operating system, and while it’s strictly no-frills, Windows Security is capable of keep most malware off your system. We tested it with a range of live malware samples, and it detected them all, throwing up a warning dialog offering to remove or quarantine the malware in question.
Windows itself is also packed with malware-thwarting technology too. User Access Control (UAC) is the confirmation dialog you see whenever you open a file or program that wants administrative access to your system. Windows 10 also introduced the SmartScreen filter, which automatically pops up a warning about program files that aren’t digitally signed. Many are legitimate, but it provides you with an extra step of protection. The filter will go even further if it detects known malware, with the dialogue box turning red instead of blue and the warning made crystal clear.
Most malware originates from the internet, which is why your web browser has a role to play too. All modern browsers – including Microsoft Edge – will screen any file after it’s been downloaded for potential malware, alerting you if it’s known malware. Some browsers, such as Firefox, will even flag a file that’s not been downloaded or opened by many people – this should ring alarm bells if you’re downloading well-known software from a less reputable website. It suggests the file may have been tampered with, so cancel the download and source it from a safe location, such as the program’s own web pages or a trusted mirror.
Browsers also attempt to keep you away from dangerous websites like those involved in phishing scams too – a highly visible warning screen will appear. You can bypass this, but don’t
say you haven’t been warned if you decide to ignore its assessment.
THIRD-PARTY PROTECTION
If you’re looking to add extra layers of protection to your PC, there are numerous free and paid-for third-party packages out there. If you’re in the market for third-party protection or want to review your current package as its subscription comes up for renewal, visit w w w. av-test.org/en/antivirus/homewindows/ for a comprehensive list of tests, updated regularly. What you’ll notice, though, is that Windows Security now rates highly in malware detection and cleaning tests.
Does this mean there’s no need for additional protection? Windows Security provides a good last line of defence, but third-party tools tend to offer a wider range of preventative measures – and if you’re still running Windows 7 or 8.1, then switching to a different security package is essential. You should also look to strengthen – if not replace – the built-in Windows Firewall. See below for why, and how.
ADD EXTRA LAYERS
In addition to a firewall, third-party tools provide additional components to help close more gaps in your protection. They’ll often proactively scan USB drives when plugged into your PC, and some offer protection for smart devices like webcams too, ensuring they can’t be switched on surreptitiously by hackers for spying purposes. Parental controls allow you to protect younger members from more threats than the basic options provided in Windows itself.
Take Bitdefender for example: it comes with an online threat prevention module, which works proactively in the background to protect you when browsing the web or using your network. Built-in anti-ransomware protection is augmented by its Safe Files component, which allows you to specify protected folders such as Documents and so on. When enabled, applications can’t access these folders without you explicitly granting them permission, serving as an extra block against ransomware.
Many security tools also provide tools that scan for security vulnerabilities – not just in Windows, but your applications and Wi-Fi network too. They’ll alert you to weak passwords, outdated programs and missing Windows security fixes.
Whether or not you opt for third-party protection, we strongly recommend you install a secondary, non-conflicting package to provide another layer of security. Our go-to package remains Malwarebytes Anti-Malware – its detection rates have suffered of late as a primary package, but as backup protection it remains second-to-none. Download the free version from w w w. malwarebytes.com – there’s a 14-day free trial offering proactive, real-time protection against malicious websites, PUPs and other threats not covered by some security packages, then revert to a scan-and-remove tool if you don’t want to pay the $59.99/year asking price.