Security Tips
Software
If you are the primary user of your workstation and you have administrative rights please be vigilant and weary when installing software. This is the most common method used by malware, and viruses, to infect your computer. Double check that the website the software is coming from is legitimate and matches what you wanted to download and install. A common occurrence is to see installer files on websites such as Softpedia/Softonic, CCM, and Filehorse that are not verified. If you download software from these sites make sure that the file has been verified first.
Operating System Updates
Do not put off updates to software or your operating system for too long. The constant notifications and time required to install updates can discourage people from installing updates, but they are critical to your system’s security and keep your machine running optimally.
Passwords
Do not share or write your password on sticky notes near your computer. Do not use the same password for both personal and business accounts. Choose a passphrase that you can easily remember but is not too personal such as your birthdate.
Backups
Backup critical data – In multiple ways if you can. It is always a good idea to have a backup of important documents and files you are working on. Ideally have backups on several different media types if you can. Having a copy on cloud servers as well as a local backup can save hundreds of hours if data loss occurs.