Some security tips to keep yourself safe from malwares

Hi

I'm now going to give you some tips to keep yourself safe from malwares. I decided to post this because I have read many posts related to malwares in this forum and other antivirus websites, and this is a brief summary of all the tips:

• HAVE THE LATEST UPDATES

This is an important point. Having latest updates will give you both performance and security. To check for protection updates in Windows Defender in Windows 10, click Start > type 'Defender' (without apostrophes) and you'll see the '**Windows Security'**app. Click to open it. Go to **Virus & threat protection' > go down >**click Check for updates under 'Virus & threat protection updates'. This will open another page. There click Check for updates. It'll automatically check for updates and install them.

• NEVER TURN OFF REAL-TIME PROTECTION, EVEN FOR AN ILLEGAL MICROSOFT ACTIVITY LIKE ILLEGAL ACTIVATIONYou should never turn off Real-time Protection of Defender even for any illegal activity. If you install any illegal app after turning it off, your computer is vulnerable to high security risks. Microsoft finds and removes any profile in this Community who has presented different methods of illegal activities to other people here. Illegal Microsoft activities are not encouraged. ****
• INSTALL GOOD SECURITY ADDONS IN BROWSERS

So, this is a good tip. Installing security addons like Microsoft's Application Guard Extension (or similar Microsoft Defender extensions) can keep track of your online activity and protect you from websites that often try to steal data. I personally use, and recommend BitDefender TrafficLight, in all my browsers . It's a really good extension, made by the official BitDefender company. It warns me early about a website which contains malware. BitDefender Trafficlight extension is really free. NOTE: All extensions won't give you protection. Check thoroughly about an extension before installing it. Ask our Community if you have a doubt regarding it. If you're a Mac user, ask theApple Support Community.

• CHECK FOR MALWARES ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH MICROSOFT DEFENDER OR MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALSAlways check for any malwares using Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Security Essentials. Never pay a ransomware. By paying it, you give it complete access to your computer, reproducing new malwares and emptying your pockets. You can download Microsoft Security Essentials from this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=5201This tool is only available for Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
• HAVE A PASSWORD-PROTECTED INTERNET CONNECTIONAlways have a password-protected internet connection. If you're in a hotel, use the Windows Built-In VPN, or any other good ones.
• HAVE A BACKUP OF YOUR FILES AND FOLDERSFollow the 3-2-1 rule. It was first founded by Peter Krogh, a well-known photographer. Backup your files and folders on a cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc. and on a regular basis. Or you can store them in a removable storage like a pen-drive or another HDD (Hard Disk Drive). If you have a backup, you don't need to worry about anything- when a ransomware enters, you just sit back and be confident. Check this link to know more about the 3-2-1 rule and backups:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/getting-your-data-back-backup-and-recovery-93efdc74-424e-4d56-97ce-84125e5ce87f****

• CHECK IF A MAIL IS SPAM OR NOTCheck any e-mails you have if it's a spam or not. Don't click any link in any e-mail until you look before you leap. If it's a spam, categorize it in the Spam folder.
• CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS AND HAVE STRONG PASSWORDSThis is the most important tip. If you know that a hacker has your passwords, change them immediately. If you have a weak password, change it fast. It should be easy for you to remember, but hard for others to find out. If it's difficult for you to remember, use extensions like LastPass, which safely protects all your passwords. Never give out your passwords, even to people you trust. If you are giving to a computer technician, change the password(s) after he / she returns / fixes your computer.
• SAY 'GOODBYE' TO TORRENT DOWNLOADS, SAY 'HI' TO OFFICIAL DOWNLOADSMost users who want free edition of apps that cost money do torrent downloads, which often install viruses. Why can't you bid a 'goodbye' to fake torrent downloads and say 'hi' to original products? **Privacy and security is what you need,**not free products. Your data is more valuable to us because we want to protect you. Do not do anymore torrent downloads. Even GitHub is filled with malwares. I'm pretty sure about that. Think twice before downloading any app, let it be open-source or torrent. Watch out for ransomwares in GitHub, I'm saying this because I was a ransomware victim. Thanks to Defender because I was able to delete the download before it captured and encrypted my personal files (including games).
• CONTACT MICROSOFT SUPPORTIf your computer has been attacked by a malware and you have paid it, contact Microsoft Support with this link:

https://support.microsoft.com/contactus

• HAVE THE EXPERIENCESo, what's next, huh? Have the full Microsoft Windows experience, get familiarized with it to be safe, and give us any feedback regarding Windows 10 through the Feedback Hub app installed in your OS! We'll be happy to hear you!

Also, we're not cleaning up...Just see this video by one of my favorite channel: https://youtu.be/I6XFaUT2RfU

Special thanks to Norton, Microsoft, and Avast!, the YouTube channel 'BRIGHT SIDE' for providing us the best topics, and thanks to you because I was able to convert this into a single guide. Thanks to all the people in this community too!

Joe13 B-) 2.0