Windows 8 or Windows 7 may give us the feeling of being secure. The reason is obvious. Being advanced, it incorporates the latest technology for security – and includes many security advancements and features. However, the need for securing Windows is still there. In view of its immense popularity, hackers and malware writers always want to target this popular operating system. It therefore becomes imperative to secure your already battle-hardened Windows further. You need to make sure your copy of Windows is secure and that it provides you with optimal protection against malware and hackers.
Secure Windows 7 | 8
Here are some beginners tips for securing Windows 7.
Upgrade and Update Your Operating System
You would agree that Windows 7 has much better security features when compared to its predecessors, like Windows XP. So if you are still using and older Windows, why not upgrade to its latest version? At the time of writing this article, Windows 7 is the latest and most secure OS in the Windows line of operating systems. So this is the first thing I’d like to recommend: If you are using an older version of Windows, upgrade to the latest Windows 7.
For securing Windows 7, one of the important tips is to make sure that you have installed all its latest updates, especially the security updates, using the Windows Updates feature. So other than using the latest operating system, you should make sure any upgrades and patches to the operating system should automatically applied to it. This can easily be achieved by setting up Windows Updates to automatic (Control Panel -> Windows Updates). One of the traits of Windows Updates is that it also checks for updates to other software installed on your computer (drivers and Microsoft Office etc). If and when it finds updates to such software, it will notify you under Optional Updates.
Use The Action Center
The Action Center in Control Panel of Windows 7 provides you information about several things that require your notice: Anti-Virus, Windows Updates etc. It also provides information about the last time you backed up your data. It is never recommended to turn off the Action Center notifications as they remind you of things you need to do for securing Windows 7.
If you would want my recommendations for Anti-Virus, I would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials as it includes Windows Defender too – but you may check out any of these free antivirus software too.
User Accounts
Even if you are the only user on your computer, you will need a standard or guest account. It may happen that any of your friend or kids might want to check out something on the Internet or play a game to mess up with your computer while you are not looking. Granting a guest access is the best thing.
Also, set the User Account Control to as high as possible so that you get alerts before any program tries to change any settings. In addition or as a replacement, you can use WinPatrol for further securing Windows 7.
Passwords
Again, if you are a single user, you might turn off the password on your user account so that you can save time. However, this can help others log in when you are not looking and steal your data. For securing Windows 7, strong passwords are a must – be it the user account or when logging on to the Internet. Do not forget to lock the computer when you intend to leave it for a while. Press Windows Key + L to lock your computer.
Keep The Applications Updated
Old applications are more prone to errors and hacks when compared to the newer versions. This is due to the fact that almost every application maker tends to keep on testing his applications against different problems/factors and updates the programs accordingly.
There are several third-party software update checker programs available that keep on checking for updated versions of the software installed on your computer. You can use the one you feel comfortable with. If you need recommendations, I have used Secunia and it is a good programs that keep tab of updates for all the programs registered with the Windows registry.
Use A Good Firewall
Windows Vista and Windows 7 come with a good firewall. You can use the default firewall in Windows 7 but you may worry if you do not see alerts. Windows Firewall works silently and needs some tech experience to configure it. If you need help, you may check out this post on how to manage and configure Windows 7 firewall. If you wish, you may want to consider installing some third-party free firewall software. instead. You need just one firewall. Using both Windows firewall and a third-party firewall could result in conflicts, thereby possibly exposing your system to hackers.
Upgrade Your Hardware
You should keep your hardware upgraded. If wondering how updating the hardware would provide better security, the answer lies in the fact that latest technology offers base level security in hardware itself. Newer motherboards, CPUs and BIOS have built-in security. An example is the trusted platform module (TPM) embedded into hard disk controllers – protecting them against malicious programs. For those unaware of TPM, it checks the firmware while booting to make sure it is not infected by malicious programs.
While it would be difficult to change the motherboard, you can still go for upgrade of HDDs to get better protection compared to a three year old hard disks.
If in spite of taking all precautions, should your computer ever get infected, you might want to check out this Malware Removal Guide. Microsoft has released two tools that may interest you. The Windows Malware Prevention Tool will help you harden your Windows security, whereas the Windows Security Troubleshooter will fix Windows security problems.
Incidentally, you may also use our Ultimate Windows Tweaker, to change a few settings on your computer to further harden Windows security. It will let you quickly tweak some of your security settings in Windows, Internet Explorer and other in-built applications.
These were our tips for securing Windows 7. How do you secure your Windows? What software do you use? If you have inputs or suggestion, please let us know using the comments section below.
