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Personal Computer Security Checklist

Intro:

Although Windows and OS X are easy to use and convenient, they are not entirely secure. Your OS provides the interface between hardware and your applications, so if compromised can have detrimental effects.

Checklist

Essential Activities

  • Keep your System Up-to-date
    Priority: Essential
    System updates contain fixes and patches for security issues, improve performance, and sometimes add new features. Install new updates when prompted.

  • Backup Important Data
    Priority: Essential
    Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of data, 2 different media, 1 offsite (e.g., encrypted cloud or external drive). This protects against ransomware, theft, or hardware failure.

  • Be Careful Plugging USB Devices into your Computer
    Priority: Essential
    USB devices can pose serious threats. Consider making a USB sanitizer with CIRCLean to safely check USB devices before use.

  • Activate Screen Lock when Idle
    Priority: Essential
    Lock your computer when away and set it to require a password on resume from screensaver or sleep to prevent unauthorized access.

  • Disable Cortana or Siri
    Priority: Essential
    Voice-controlled assistants can have privacy implications due to data sent back for processing. Disable or limit their listening capabilities.

  • Review your Installed Apps
    Priority: Essential
    Keep installed applications to a minimum to reduce exposure to vulnerabilities and regularly clear application caches.

  • Manage Permissions
    Priority: Essential
    Control which apps have access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and other sensitive information.

  • Power Off Computer Instead of Standby
    Priority: Essential
    Shut down your device when not in use, especially if your disk is encrypted, to keep data secure.

Optional Activities

  • lock Webcam and Microphone
    Priority: Optional Cover your webcam when not in use and consider blocking unauthorized audio recording to protect privacy.

  • Physically Secure Device
    Priority: Optional Use a Kensington Lock to secure your laptop in public spaces and consider port locks to prevent unauthorized physical access.

  • Use a Firewall
    Priority: Optional nstall a firewall app to monitor and block unwanted internet access by certain applications, protecting against remote access attacks and privacy breaches.

  • Use a Reputable Paid Anti-Virus Subscription
    Priority: Optional
    Subscribe to a reputable and actively supported paid anti-virus and security solution. Make use of built-in security tools and avoid free anti-virus applications due to their potential for privacy invasion and data collection.