A Guide To Securing Your Windows 11 PC Against Attacks
Do you want to get the most out of Microsoft’s Operating System (OS) and get familiar with different ways of making your OS secure against attacks? Please read below to get more info about this topic.
After years of living with windows 10, windows 11 is almost here with a host of new features and security improvements. In this article, we will look at 11 of the most crucial security settings in Windows 11. These security upgrades are made possible with the new advancements in both the software and hardware sections. This article will focus more on the software part, but please keep in mind that the advancements in the hardware unit are as important as the software section.
1. Check the Windows Update Status
The first and foremost security tip is paying attention to regular software updates. By default, Windows 11 should automatically update itself when new updates are made available. However, you can manually check for and install updates if you want at any time. Usually, after big updates, the system needs to be restarted to be able to fully implement the update patches. So, please pay attention to the restart notifications to keep your operating system updated.
What are the steps to follow?
To manually update your OS, please open the settings app in Windows (you can also type the settings keyword in the start menu and let the OS find the app for you). Then, go to the “Update & Security” section, and click the “Check for updates” button. When updates are available, Windows will download and install them. Please wait for the operation to complete; you can close or hide the window if you want, and the update will continue in the background.
2. Check Your Login Options
Choose your name (username) from the Settings pane at the top left. You can then see the various logging methods by clicking the “Sign-in” options. Facial recognition and fingerprint recognition are safer than passwords if they are available. There is also an option to log in with a security key attached to a physical device. But you need to keep the security device with you all the time.
3. Lock Your Windows 11 When You Step Away
If you have been (or planning to be) away from your device for a while, you can use the option “If you’ve been away” to keep it secure. This will lock your device after a certain time until you unlock it (similar to mobile phones). You can also use the “Dynamic lock” option to secure your device. Please try all these options and see which one is right for you and if you are more comfortable using it.
4. Enable the Built-in Security Tools
In Windows 11 there are some built-in security options. To enable them, please go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security to ensure the security features that come with Windows are enabled. This is essential if you don’t have third-party security software installed. There will be a yellow exclamation point on any security issues that requires your attention. Click on it to see more details and always try to fix the remaining issues. These are very important in keeping your operating system safe and secure all the time.
5. Use an Anti-Virus Program and Malware Scanner
If you’re running Windows 11, there are a couple of things you can do to help secure your system. First, install and run an anti-virus program. By default windows (both 10 and 11) has a built-in antivirus app. But if you are not satisfied with the built-in software, you can always install a third-party anti-virus app. There are plenty of them available on the internet and you can find them by a simple search. Second, use a malware scanner to scan your system for malware. This will help you remove any malware that may be found on your system. More anti-virus apps have a malware module to handle malware tracking. But if your anti-virus does not have that, please use separate software to take care of the possible malware on your system.
What are the steps to follow?
Please open the Security Center from the Windows security screen. You can then run a scan manually by clicking “Virus & threat protection” and choosing Quick/Full scan. Please keep in mind that performing a full scan will take a considerable amount of time as it searches through all the files and folders in your system. It can also cause the system to be rather slow and laggy while the search is going on. So please be patient while the full search is going on. On the other hand, a quick scan can be a good alternative most of the time as it is much faster and less CPU intensive. It searches through the most important locations on your system and thus is less comprehensive than a full search.
6. Protect Your Device Security
If you open the Windows Security tool and go to the “Device Security” page, you’ll see all the hardware issues that your Windows 11 computer has. Using this tool, you can find (or search) hardware issues, including TPM and secure boot issues. This is where you’ll find out if you need to take any further steps to secure the operating system and your data. This feature is new in windows 11 and was not available in previous versions of the Windows operating system.
7. Know What Not to Do Online
If you enable the “App & Browser” control in the windows security utility, you’ll be protected against suspicious or bad-performing applications and therefore you can prevent possible remote hacking attacks. App & browser control helps protect your device against malicious or unwanted apps and browser extensions. When you enable this feature, apps and extensions are allowed to run only if they’re on a list of trusted apps and extensions. If an app or extension is not on the list, you’ll be prompted before it is allowed to run. This option gives you full control over all the apps and extensions on your system.
8. Check the Security Tools Available
With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft has taken further steps to ensure that its operating system is more secure than ever. However, it is still important to check the security tools (defender, firewall, driver protection, credential guide, config lock, etc.) you have to ensure your computer is as secure as possible.
What are the steps to follow?
Open Windows Security and go to Settings. In the Settings window, click on the Security tab and the “Security Software Providers” option. This will open a new window to view your security software providers and notification settings.
9. Manage Application Permissions
Like most people, you’re probably very conscientious about the permissions you grant to apps on your smartphone. After all, you don’t want just anyone to be able to access your camera or microphone or to know your location. The good news is that Windows 11 gives you just as much control over which permissions applications are allowed to use (similar to mobile phones). Please read all the permissions carefully and decide whether to allow/deny or ask for each permission.
What are the steps to follow?
To view the permissions, open the Privacy & Security page from the Settings screen. If you wish to change which programs have access to specific permission, such as Location, Camera, or Microphone, click on it. You can easily revoke or grant permission for any app installed on your computer.
10. Ensure That Your Lost Device Can Be Found
Windows 11 has some interesting features to help keep your lost device safe and sound. The “Find My Device” feature allows you to track your device’s location via the built-in GPS sensor. This is a great way to prevent your device from being used if it falls into the wrong hands. This feature also works with the internet when the device is connected to an internet service provider via WiFi. But the GPS module is much more precise and reliable.
What are the steps to follow?
Log into your Microsoft account on another device and go to Settings > Privacy & security > Find My Device to have its location recorded periodically. This is handy if you’ve left your Windows 11 computer behind on the train or forgot where you left it.
11. Encrypt Your Data
The final tip we have in this blog post is the encryption option for your data. If you’re worried about the security of your data, you can encrypt it in Windows 11. This will make it much more difficult for anyone to access your data without your permission.
What are the steps to follow?
Use encryption to protect your data if your computer offers that option. To enable encryption, go to the Windows 11 Settings screen and select “Privacy & Security” then “Device Encryption”. Follow the steps to encrypt your data, you can then store the encrypted data on your machine or an external hard drive. Please make sure to store the credentials in a safe place as it is the only way to decrypt your data.
Final Words
In conclusion, computing has changed dramatically in recent years, and the need for effective security measures has greatly increased. Windows 11 includes several new security features that you should be aware of. By understanding these settings, you can keep your computer and your data safe.