Secure PC software is the most important factor in protecting your mobile device, computer and your data from hackers. Hackers (also called cybercriminals) are able to hack into your computer or other device for various reasons, which include stealing, altering and deleting information you value. Unlike other thieves, which often have legitimate purposes for the stolen goods hackers http://www.pcinfoblog.com/how-to-build-a-security-environment-with-virtual-data-room have ulterior motives. They are more concerned with having access to sensitive data that is not authorized. This can happen before you even realize there is something wrong.

Passwords, a virus protection program and a firewall are the three main steps to secure your computer software. If you adhere to these best practices, it’s less likely that your computer will be hacked by hackers or malware (software that encrypts your data and demands payment for its unlocking).

Change the name of your administrator account. Choose a strong password that contains upper and lowercase letters as well as numbers and computer symbol. Avoid using a password with a shorter length such as 1234 because hackers are able to use automated tools to break passwords that are easy to guess within minutes.

Keep your operating system (OS) and other software up-to-date. Most software updates contain security fixes that help protect against hacking. Install all patches and turn on automatic updates if they are available to limit the amount of time you’re at risk to intruders.

If you own a laptop, or any other portable device that’s not being used, make sure the drive is protected. This is particularly important for UF Students. You can enable encryption in Windows by opening Settings > Update and security > Device encryption. This will encrypt the entire internal drive as well as all external drives such SD cards.