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The hardest part of keeping your PC secure is having to deal with the consequences of not keeping your PC secure. In this article, I have given you a handful of vital security tips and techniques that are sure to keep your system locked up tight.

One of the most important things you should do on any computer you use is make sure it’s running antivirus software. There are many free options available and many others that charge a nominal fee. Some things to look for include real-time protection and frequently updating virus definitions. These updates are typically very small, so they don’t consume many resources while downloading and installing, but they make sure your system is protected from the latest malware making the rounds.

To see a list of trustworthy programs, click Start, Control Panel, System And Security, Action Center, and then click the Find A Program Online button in the Virus Protection section. While you’re here, if it’s not already on, make sure to enable the Network Fire-wall by clicking Turn On Now.

Getting rid of sensitive files on your PC is a vital security task, and dragging them to the Recycle Bin is not sufficient.Even emptying the Recycle Bin won’t permanently destroy the file; a determined hacker could still recover it under the right circumstances. To eliminate those files once and for all, you’ll need a third-party application, like WebMinds’ Easy File Shredder ($29.95; www.easyfileshredder.com). This util-ity lets you rest easy knowing that nobody will be able to re-cover files you’ve shredded. It also protects your whole disk drive and lets you shred files on USB drives and SD cards.

Your Wi-Fi network most likely extends beyond the walls of your home or business, so unless you want anyone nearby to have access to your PCs, notebooks, or devices, you need to enable your router’s security protocols. Most routers today support WPA (Wireless Protected Access) or WPA2 encryption. WEP (Wire-less Encryption Protocol) is a much older and more vulnerable technology, but use it if you have no alter-native. Typically, enabling these protocols involves log-ging into your Router’s setup utility using a browser and the router’s IP address. Consult your router man-ual for specific instructions. Then you’ll choose your desired security type (WPA2 is preferred) and input a password. With the wireless network protected, any device that connects will need to input this password to get onto the network.

User Account Control, or UAC, is the security scheme that notifies you anytime a program or user attempts to make
changes to Windows settings or installs something. To access this control, click Start, Control Panel, System And Security,
and then click Change User Account Control Settings from the Action Center section at the top of the window. The safest
settings are Always Notify and Default, so choose either of these two. Dragging the slider to the bottom two settings is only recommended for users who run applications not certi-fied for use on Windows 7.

Security on computers is a moving target, which is why it’s imperative to keep your PC up to date by turn-ing on automatic updating. Click Start, Control Panel, System & Security, and then click the Turn Automatic Updating On Or Off hyperlink underneath Windows Update. Choose the Install Updates Automatically op-tion.

Passwords are the keys to your digital identity, and if you use a single password for all of your banking, email, social networks, and more, then you’re putting yourself at risk. Pick three or four passwords, and make them difficult to guess by including letters, numbers, and a combination of upper- and lower-case characters. Passwords of eight characters or more
are generally more secure than shorter passwords.