Computer security

You can protect your computer from most internet threats by following simple safety rules.

Update your operating system

Viruses exploit operating system vulnerabilities. Update your operating system in time to protect it from threats. Higher versions of an operating system are more securely protected (for example, Windows 10 is safer than Windows 8.1).

Enable automatic updates:

Automatic updates are always enabled.

To check for updates and set the update time:

Click Start → Settings.
Go to Main page → Update & Security → Windows Update.

Hover over the lower-right corner of the screen and then move up.
Select Settings → Change PC settings → Update and recovery → Windows Update.
Click Choose how updates get installed.
Under Important updates, enable the Install updates automatically (recommended) option.

Click Start → Control Panel.
Select Windows Update.
On the left, open Change settings.
Under Important updates, enable the Install updates automatically (recommended) option.

In the menu, select Apple menu → System Preferences → Software Update.
Enable Automatically keep my Mac up to date.

If there is no Software Update item in your macOS system settings, use the App Store to get updates.

Configure browser auto-update

Most browsers (for example, Yandex Browser) are updated automatically. If this doesn't happen, download the latest version on the official site and install it. Check whether auto-update is enabled in the settings.

Clean the system

It's a good idea to regularly clean the system from unnecessary files, such as cache files or duplicate photos and videos. This improves the system performance.

We recommend using free utilities:

For the computer

For Android

For iOS

Install an antivirus

For many years, the reports produced by AV-Comparatives name Kaspersky, Avast! Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus FREE and K7 Total Security among the best antivirus software.

Some of these antiviruses are free.

Note. If the device is connected to the internet, antiviruses are updated automatically.

Turn on the firewall

A firewall protects your device from unauthorized access. It filters internet traffic according to the rules you set. For example, you can prohibit a certain application from accessing the internet.

To turn on the firewall:

Click Start → Settings.
Go to Main page → Update & Security → Windows Security → Firewall & network protection.
Enable Microsoft Defender Firewall for the private, public, and domain network.

Hover over the lower-right corner of the screen and then move up.
Go to Settings → Change PC settings → Control Panel.
Click System and Security → Windows Firewall.
In the left menu, open Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Turn on the firewall for all networks: private and public ones.

Click Start → Control Panel.
Select Windows Firewall (or System and Security → Windows Firewall).
In the left menu, open Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Turn on the firewall for all networks: private and public ones.

In the menu, select Apple menu → System Preferences.
Click Privacy (or Security & Privacy).
Go to the Firewall tab.
Click the lock icon at the bottom left and enter the administrator's name and password.
Click Turn On Firewall or Start.

To configure firewall settings, go to Firewall Options.

Use Windows accounts

Tip. If multiple users share your computer, use a different browser profile for each individual user.

Use an account with restricted access. It's safer: a virus can't infect the system even if it accesses user data. Protect the administrator account with a password and only use it when administrator rights are required.

By default, the user doesn't have administrator rights.

To add a new local user without administrator rights

Click Start → Settings → Main page → Accounts.
Go to Family & other users (or Other users).
Click Add someone else to this PC.
Select I don't have this person's sign-in information.
Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the username and password, select security questions, and click Next.

To grant administrator rights to a local user

Click Start → Settings → Main page → Accounts.
Go to Family & other users (or Other users).
Select the user's account and click Change account type.
Under Change account type, select Administrator and click OK.

Tip. If you want to make a local user an administrator, select the account that's marked Local account and doesn't have an email specified. Otherwise, administrator rights will be granted to the Microsoft account instead of the computer user.

By default, the administrator account is disabled for security reasons.

To enable the administrator account:

On the desktop or the left pane in File Explorer, right-click Computer (This PC) and select Computer Management in the context menu.
In the management console that opens, expand the System Tools → Local Users and Groups items on the left.
Select Users.
Right-click Administrator on the right and select Properties in the context menu.
Deselect Account is disabled and click OK.

Remember to set a password for the administrator.

By default, the administrator account is disabled for security reasons.

If you want to enable the administrator account:

On the desktop or the left pane in File Explorer, right-click Computer and select Computer Management in the context menu.
In the management console that opens, expand the System Tools → Local Users and Groups items on the left.
Select Users.
Right-click Administrator on the right and select Properties in the context menu.
Deselect Account is disabled and click OK.

Remember to set a password for the administrator.

If multiple users share your computer or you have multiple accounts, create a personal browser profile for each of them.

Save valuable data

Use cloud services

Synchronize your data

Save copies

If you don't trust third-party resources, regularly save copies of your files on external disks, flash drives, CDs, or DVDs.

Avoid public Wi-Fi networks

As a rule, public Wi-Fi access points (for example, at an airport or a cafe) don't use encryption. Anyone sitting next to you with a laptop or smartphone can intercept or substitute your personal data and read your correspondence.

Don't enter your personal data, card numbers, phone numbers, and other important information when using a public Wi-Fi network. It's not safe.

Use a VPN connection in public places: it encrypts your personal details and makes data interception pointless.

Make sure you're connected to an official public network rather than its twin created by hackers. For example, they can set up a network with a name similar to the name of a restaurant and take advantage if you're careless.

Protect your passwords

To learn more, see Password protection.

Use licensed software

Download software only from official websites. Don't use pirated software. Launching pirated programs is risky because attackers infect installation files with viruses.