Windows 10 is more secure than previous versions, but there are still some things you can do to make your computer more secure. In this post, I’ll talk about various settings in Windows that you can configure to make your computer more secure. I won’t be mentioning any third-party programs like anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc. For additional security tips, you should check out my post on how to protect yourself from hackers and spyware. ..

Windows 10 Privacy Settings

I then enable the " privacy " setting on my computer and set a password for it. This will keep my data private and secure.

Windows 10 has several features that connect back to Microsoft, even though they are not going to cause you to be hacked or get a virus. These features are still a little unsettling. Do I really want Microsoft knowing what I’m typing on my computer all the time or listening to everything in the room all the time because of Cortana? Not really. ..

If you’re having trouble getting your computer to start up, one option is to try disabling some of the features. This is especially helpful if you’re having problems with your computer starting up in general or if you just want to try a different set of settings. ..

Settings > Privacy > On/Off

Enable Automatic Updates

Windows 10 should automatically update, but it’s always a good idea to check for updates. To do this, go to Start, type in Windows Update and then click on Windows Update settings. ..

If you want to manually check for updates, you can do so by clicking on the Automatic check box in the Advanced Options dialog on Windows Update.

If you’re using Microsoft Office, make sure to check the Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows box. This will ensure that all Office-related security and feature updates are installed too. ..

Enable Windows Defender

Windows Defender can help protect your computer from potential threats by keeping you up to date on new threats and helping you to take action if a threat is detected. You can also enable real-time protection and Cloud-based protection to help keep your computer safe from potential attacks. Automatic sample submission helps Microsoft provide you with information about potential threats so that you can take action to protect yourself.

I’ve been using Windows Defender on my Windows 10 machine for many months and I haven’t had to install any third-party anti-virus or anti-malware software. Windows Defender does a great job of protecting your computer and it’s built right into Windows, which is great. ..

Enable Windows Firewall

If you want to restrict communication to specific devices on the network, you can do so by setting up a firewall rule that allows only inbound communication.

Windows Firewall is a built-in security feature of Windows that allows you to control which programs can access your computer’s network and Internet. ..

If your computer screen shows green shields with check marks, that means the firewall is on. If not, click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off to enable it. Next, you should click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall to pick the programs that should have free access through the firewall.

The Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10 is a great way to improve your security. You can uncheck items like File and Printer Sharing or Netlogon Service from the Public column, which will make your network more secure.

If you’re not using these programs or services, it’s a good idea to uncheck the boxes next to them in the Programs and Services list. This will help keep your computer running more smoothly and save you time. ..

Advanced Sharing Settings

In the Network and Sharing Center, you should configure the Advanced Sharing Settings to maximize security.

Private

Turn off network discovery on your computer. This will stop other devices on your network from finding your computer. You can also disable file and printer sharing if you don’t want to share files and printers between devices on your network.

Guest or Public

Turn off network discovery and turn off file and printer sharing to prevent your computer from connecting to the internet.

All Networks

To protect your computer and your data, it is important to turn off public folder sharing and media streaming. You can also use 128-bit encryption when sharing files. Finally, you can enable password protected sharing to keep your files safe. ..

User Account Control (UAC)

I don’t like UAC prompts all the time, and I think it’s not worth making my computer less secure just for a minor convenience.

If you want to keep your computer’s security settings as defaults, you can do so by clicking on the slider at the bottom of the screen to the right of Notify me only when apps try to make changes to my computer. However, if you want your computer to always be notified when an app tries to make changes, you can try changing the setting to Always notify.

This is a great option if you visit websites that are sketchy in nature. Keeping UAC to the highest setting will prevent certain changes from being made on your computer without your consent.

Use a Local Account

Since Windows 8, Microsoft has been pushing users to login using their Microsoft account. This has some benefits like two-factor authentication and being able to sync your desktop to any computer, but it also has downsides. Firstly, again, I don’t want Microsoft knowing when I’m logging into my computer or anything else about my computer. Secondly, if my Microsoft account is compromised, then whoever has access to my account can access all of the information associated with it, including passwords and other personal information. ..

If your Microsoft account is hacked or something else happens, don’t worry. Just use a local account like you were with Windows 7 and earlier. To do that, click on Start, type account and then click on Manage your account.

Sign in with a local account instead: Microsoft warns you about why you shouldn’t do this, but it’s safe to ignore the warnings. ..

Use a Lock Screen

To keep your computer secure, make sure the screen is locked automatically when you’re not around. To do this, click on Start, type lock screen and select Lock screen settings. ..

Screen timeout settings can be found in the Settings app and are typically located under the “Lock Screen” section. There, you will find a list of apps that are allowed to run on the lock screen. You can choose to allow these apps or not, depending on your personal preferences.

Secure Boot & UEFI

Secure boot and UEFI are two important options that you should make sure you enable on your new computer if you have one. These options help to protect your computer from unauthorized access and can save you a lot of time and trouble in the future.

If you’re using a computer that uses legacy BIOS, you may not be able to enable secure boot. If you switch to UEFI and your computer doesn’t boot, you can try changing the BIOS back to legacy.

Disable Flash and Java

Flash is a Flash-based platform that is used on websites that need to play videos or audio content. Java is a Java-based platform that is used on websites that need to run applications. These platforms are both dangerous because they can be used to steal data, attack systems, and even cause serious damage to computers.

Disable Flash and Java and just use your computer normally. Like me, you might find that you never really needed either installed in the first place. ..

If you’re using Microsoft Edge, open the browser and click on the three lines in the top left corner of the window. Then select “Customize Firefox.” In the “General” section, select “Disable Flash.”

To disable Adobe Flash Player in Google Chrome, type chrome://plugins in the address bar and then click on Disable under Adobe Flash Player. ..

To uninstall Java from your computer, go to Control Panel, Programs and Features and uninstall any Java version currently installed on your computer. You can also read my post on how to uninstall or disable Java in Windows and Mac.

Encrypt Hard Drive

encrypt your hard drive

If you have a computer with a fast CPU, the encryption will not make a noticeable difference in speed. If you have an older computer, I would probably avoid using encryption unless you upgrade the hardware. If you don’t have a computer with a fast CPU, BitLocker can be used to encrypt your hard drive.

If you follow all the steps above, you should be in good shape. However, if you visit any of the wrong websites, your computer can be harmed. One good option is to use Chrome since it tries to warn you before you visit a malicious website or download something harmful.