My inbox constantly dings with the arrival of email alerts, newsletters or notifications. Occasionally I find a great article that finds its way into my own newsletter, and this is one of them. For those of you who have children or grandchildren, or even refer to yourself as a 'computer dinosaur' where technology is not your forte, then please take two minutes to read the full version of this article. Even if you pick up one small tidbit of information it will be worthwhile. As always, for ultimate security please ask your IT person for advice.
Kids will click "OK" on pretty much anything that pops up on their screen, which makes it really easy for hackers to gain access and install nasties on the computer.
- Apply security updates promptly. All the software on the computer needs to be maintained by installing the latest security updates when they become available. Fortunately, Windows 10 will update itself automatically, as will popular modern web browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. I suggest that you turn on automatic updates for the Microsoft Store, which will take care of any software you download from there. Whatever software those steps don't cover will need to be checked occasionally to see if there are newer versions available.
- Use security software. Modern versions of Windows have lots of helpful security features, but Windows is still the most popular target for malware, so I strongly recommend that you install a third-party security.
- Install a password manager. A password manager is software for creating and remembering strong passwords.
- The parental controls included with Windows allow you to enforce restrictions on screen time; block apps, websites, and games; and provide reports on what your child has been doing with their device.
Thanks to Marc Thele from Pixabay for the free image.
