Security and Privacy (Keeping You and Your PC Safe)

Security and privacy on a PC are about more than just avoiding viruses. You are safeguarding your files, accounts, and personal information from anyone who shouldn’t have access. That includes hackers, malicious software, and even legitimate companies that track your activity for profit. A secure system resists intrusion, while a privacy-focused setup limits how much of your data is exposed in the first place.

You are far more likely to get digitally mugged on the internet than walking down your street (unless you are cruising through O Block at night).

The reality is that modern threats don’t discriminate. Home users face many of the same risks as large businesses. Ransomware can lock down family photos just as easily as corporate files, and phishing scams can target anyone with an email address or social media account.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most important steps you can take to protect both your PC and your privacy, from locking down your operating system to encrypting your most sensitive files.

Why PC security and privacy matter

The threats facing everyday PC users have evolved far beyond the occasional computer virus. Today’s risks include ransomware that encrypts your files and demands payment for their release, malware that silently harvests your banking logins, and phishing campaigns designed to trick you into handing over sensitive information. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, phishing was the most common cybercrime in 2023, with over 300,000 reported incidents, costing victims more than $52 million.

Security breaches can cause permanent data loss, force costly repairs, and compromise your identity. Once your credentials or personal details are exposed, they can be sold on the dark web and used for fraudulent transactions, account takeovers, or targeted scams.

Privacy is equally important. Many legitimate apps, websites, and even operating systems track user behavior for analytics, targeted advertising, or data resale. While not always malicious, this data collection can still erode your control over personal information and leave you vulnerable if it’s leaked in a breach.

The goal of strong security and privacy practices is prevention. By combining protective measures like encryption, strong authentication, and regular updates, you minimize the risk of attacks and keep control of your data, even if one defense layer fails.

How to secure your Windows PC

Securing your Windows PC starts with closing the most common entry points attackers use: outdated software, weak account protections, and poorly configured security tools. Begin by ensuring Windows Update is turned on and set to install security patches automatically. These updates often fix vulnerabilities that hackers exploit within days of discovery. The same principle applies to device drivers—keep them updated from official sources to avoid compatibility and security issues.

Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus, provides solid baseline protection without the bloat of many third-party options. Keep it enabled, schedule regular quick scans, and run full scans monthly. Pair it with the built-in firewall, ensuring it’s active for both public and private networks.

Account security is critical. Use a strong password or, preferably, a passphrase that’s long and unique. Enable Windows Hello for biometric logins if your hardware supports it, and avoid using an administrator account for everyday tasks. Operate from a standard account to limit the damage if malware runs.

Finally, audit your installed software and startup programs. Uninstall what you don’t use, and disable unnecessary apps from launching at boot. This reduces your system’s attack surface and speeds up performance.

Use VPNs for privacy

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, hiding your IP address and making it harder for ISPs, advertisers, and malicious actors to track your activity. While a VPN doesn’t make you invisible online or protect you from all threats, it’s a valuable tool for enhancing privacy—especially when using public Wi-Fi, bypassing geographic restrictions, or preventing ISP-level tracking.

When choosing a VPN, focus on providers with a verified no-logs policy, meaning they don’t store data about your browsing activity. Speed is also important, as some VPNs can significantly slow your connection—look for ones with modern protocols like WireGuard or Lightway for better performance. Jurisdiction matters, too; VPNs based in privacy-friendly countries are less likely to be subject to invasive data retention laws.

Reputable options include Proton VPN, Mullvad, and ExpressVPN, all of which have undergone independent audits to confirm their privacy claims. Avoid free VPNs unless you’ve verified their funding model—many monetize by collecting and selling user data, which defeats the purpose.

For our full list of vetted services, speed comparisons, and setup instructions, see our Best VPNs for Privacy Guide.

Setting up two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra step to the login process, requiring both something you know (a password) and something you have (a verification code or physical key). This makes it significantly harder for attackers to access your accounts, even if they’ve stolen your password.

Common 2FA methods include:

• Authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator) that generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP).
• Hardware security keys (YubiKey, Feitian) that use FIDO2 or U2F standards for phishing-resistant authentication.
• SMS codes, which are better than no 2FA but vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks.

When available, choose app-based or hardware-based 2FA over SMS. Most major services—Google, Microsoft, Steam, banks, and email providers, offer 2FA in their account security settings. Once enabled, logins from new devices or browsers will prompt you for the second factor, adding a strong security layer.

Protecting against phishing scams

Phishing scams trick users into revealing sensitive information—like passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data—by impersonating trusted entities such as banks, delivery companies, or online platforms. Attackers often use emails, text messages, fake websites, or even direct messages on social media to lure victims.

Red flags include urgent or threatening language (“Your account will be locked!”), unexpected attachments, mismatched sender addresses, and links that don’t match the legitimate site’s domain. Before clicking any link, hover over it to see the actual URL. When in doubt, go directly to the service’s website instead of following a link in a message.

Avoid entering login credentials on sites reached via email links. Instead, bookmark official login pages and use those. Enable two-factor authentication where possible so that even if your credentials are stolen, they can’t be used without your second factor.

Modern browsers and email clients can filter many phishing attempts, but they’re not perfect. Stay skeptical, verify any suspicious requests, and report phishing emails to your provider or to government resources like the FTC’s reportfraud.ftc.gov.

For more detection tips and to see how well you can stand up against a phishing attempt, take our free Phishing Awareness Quiz.

Encrypting your files and drives

Encryption scrambles data so that it can only be read by someone with the correct decryption key or password. If your PC is lost, stolen, or accessed without permission, encryption ensures that your files remain unreadable to unauthorized users.

There are two main approaches:

• Full-disk encryption (FDE) encrypts the entire drive, protecting all files, system data, and even temporary files. On Windows, BitLocker provides built-in FDE for Pro editions, while VeraCrypt offers an open-source alternative if you have Windows Home.
• File-level encryption secures only selected files or folders. This is useful when you want to protect specific sensitive documents without encrypting your entire drive.

When using encryption, choose strong passwords or passphrases. Weak keys undermine the whole process. Also, store recovery keys in a secure location separate from your PC, such as a password manager or offline backup.

Encryption adds minimal performance impact on modern systems, but it’s still worth testing on non-critical data first if you’re enabling it for the first time.

Extra layers of defense

Once you’ve covered the essentials—updates, authentication, encryption—you can strengthen your setup with additional tools and configurations. A password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass not only stores your credentials securely but also generates strong, unique passwords for each account, reducing the risk of password reuse attacks.

Browser privacy extensions can help limit tracking and malicious scripts. Options like uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger, and HTTPS Everywhere block ads, trackers, and insecure connections by default. For an extra privacy boost, use browsers with built-in security features, such as Brave or Firefox with hardened privacy settings.

Switching to a secure DNS provider—like Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, Quad9, or Google Public DNS—can block access to known malicious domains before they load. Many routers and operating systems allow you to set this at the network level.

Finally, review app and service permissions regularly. Remove access for apps you no longer use, and limit location, camera, or microphone permissions unless absolutely necessary. This minimizes data exposure if an app is compromised.