A safe Windows PC in 10 steps

A secure PC starts and ends with a conscious computer user. No matter how many locks the system has, you can bring in all kinds of trouble by acting on your own. So keep these tips in mind:

• Do not respond to emails from unknown senders. Don’t just click on links and attachments if you’re not one hundred percent sure what it is and who it comes from.
• Do not open an attachment from a known sender if you do not really trust it. The email may have been taken over by malicious parties.
• Be suspicious when companies and people ask for personal information and financial data.
• Use difficult and different passwords.
• View online stores with a critical eye. Are the prices extremely low? Does the website look amateurish? Do you encounter many spelling mistakes? Is there no real visiting or postal address listed? Is there a Chamber of Commerce number? These are all points from which you can deduce whether the online store in question can be trusted. More information is on Consuwijzer.nl.
• Websites that require confidential information from you, such as the banks’ internet banking sites, always send you to a secure web page. You can recognize a secure web page because the address starts with ‘https://’ instead of ‘http://’.
• Never click on weird notifications. Messages such as ‘Spyware found’, ‘Your computer needs to be scanned now’, serve to deceive you. If you click on such a message, the computer can be infected!
• If you do not trust a visited website or a notification, scan the computer for viruses.

An updated computer is important for security. Windows downloads all updates independently via the ‘Windows Update’ component. Users have a little influence on this. This allows them to postpone the installation of updates for a short time. View the settings like this:

• Click the Start button > Institutions (cogwheel icon).
• In Windows 10, click Update and Security. In Windows 11, click Windows Update.

The “Windows Update” section opens. This includes the option to temporarily suspend updates and to specify the usage times (in Windows 11, first click on Advanced options). These are the hours that the PC is normally in use. During that time, Windows will not automatically restart the PC for updates. Usually, when you close Windows, you will be shown whether an update and a restart is necessary.

With the help of a firewall you can protect yourself against malicious people who want to break into the computer via the Internet, such as hackers. Windows has a firewall in the house. This is on by default.

Windows has a virus scanner on board. It protects users well against viruses and other scum. The great thing is that Windows security is on by default and you don’t actually have to do anything for it. To open Windows security settings:

• Click the Start button > Institutions. That’s the gear icon.
• In Windows 10, click Update and Security. In Windows 11, click Privacy & Security.
• click on Windows Security.
• You will see an overview of parts with a red or green marking. Green means that everything is in order, with red you have to do something yourself.
• click on Open Windows Security.
• Now you’ll see the same items as before, but with a possible prompt when you need to do something, such as enable an item. Follow the instructions.

You do not need to purchase or install another virus scanner yourself. If you have a current subscription to paid antivirus software and, for example, have a new PC, you can of course use that program. Windows security will then be disabled.

Spyware is a collective term for programs and files (such as tracking cookies) that can send information about your computer and internet use to third parties. Sometimes you install this without realizing it. It is often in free software from less reliable makers. Spyware isn’t always dangerous, but of course you never want software on your computer that you didn’t ask for. You can use the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware program against spyware. This program searches the PC and can delete the affected files.

The majority of all e-mail traffic consists of spam (unwanted advertising e-mail). There is therefore a good chance that you are dealing with spam. And there is no such thing as a handy No/No sticker for your digital letterbox.

Many providers have a free or paid spam filter. It stops erroneous e-mails and only lets real messages through. Many email services such as Gmail and Outlook.com have their own spam filter. You don’t need to set this up: it’s active by default.

Fake and phishing emails can be very dangerous. The phishing email fishes for personal information such as your credit card or bank details, and the fake email collects email addresses. Please delete these emails immediately.

Fake e-mails remain difficult to recognize. SeniorWeb members can forward suspicious emails to our Phishing Checker. You will hear at the latest the next working day whether it is a phishing email.

Programs and apps on the PC are periodically updated. Old versions of software are sometimes a danger to the PC because they are not secured enough. Therefore, uninstall programs that you have ever installed, but never used.

• Click the Start button > Institutions. That’s the gear icon.
• In Windows 10, click apps. In Windows 11, click apps > Apps & Features.
• A list of all available programs opens. Remove the program:
  • Windows 10: click on the name of the program > remove > remove > Yes.
  • Windows 11: click on the icon with the three dots after the name of the program > remove > remove > Yes.

Update programs you do use to the latest versions. This often works in different ways. Sometimes they have an automatic update feature, which you can enable. Or you will be automatically asked every so often if you want to install the latest version. Then choose Yes. Finally, you can check the maker’s website and download the latest version of the program there.

Make regular backups of things that are important to you. You don’t like to think about it, but the computer can crash or become unusable due to a virus. As a result, you may lose all emails, photos and important documents. Read on SeniorWeb how to set up a backup in Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Secure the Wi-Fi network with its own password, so that third parties cannot access it. Are you not handy with routers and the like? Follow the instructions in the manual carefully. Or have an expert install and secure the network. Your provider can help you with that.