Of course you want to keep your PC or laptop safe. Nobody wants a virus or hacker on their computer. That’s why Windows security is very useful. All components of your computer security in a clear overview.
The first section on Windows security covered the two most important parts of your computer’s security: antivirus software and the firewall (Keep your computer safe with Windows Security | PlusOnline). In this second part, we look at the other security components in Windows.
First, open Windows Security:
• Click on the up arrow in the taskbar on the right.
• Click on the mouse icon.
Account Security
In addition to protecting your computer against threats from the Internet, it is also important that you protect access to your PC itself. You do that with a user account. That’s the account you work with on your PC.
A user account is especially useful if several people in your area have access to the computer. By computing with your own user account, you keep some of your personal data protected from others. For example, the settings, files in folders such as Documents and Downloads and your surfing data in internet browsers. In short: a user account benefits your privacy.
In order to do anything with Windows, you have to use a user account anyway. At least one such account is automatically created when Windows is installed on the computer. You then provide an email address with the account and a password or other login method. These login details protect the account from others.
If several people use your computer, it is wise to give everyone their own account with their own login details.
• To access account security, click Account Security on the left.
• For the account settings, click on View your account information under the name of your account.
Options for creating and managing user accounts appear in a separate window. That’s quite an extensive topic, so we’ll cover it in detail in a future article on Plus Online.
In addition to logging in with a password, you have other options to access your account:
• Click Login Options on the left.
There are a number of login options to get through the Windows door. From facial recognition and a fingerprint to a PIN code. These options fall under the Windows Hello service. We will also look at these options in the next article about user accounts.
The most important thing is of course that your user account is well protected. This is the case by default if a login option, such as a password, is set. That’s why you don’t often get an error message with Account Security. If it does, it is usually the email address associated with the user account. You will then regularly see the message Problem with Microsoft account appear on your screen. That’s not serious. We will also cover this in the next article on user accounts.
• Close the Login Options window.
App and browser management
In Windows 10, some security components have a rather technical name. A good example of this are the components in App and browser management.
• Click on App and browser management on the left.
The reputation-based security option probably won’t tell you much. Let alone Exploit protection. These parts used to be called SmartScreen: smart screen. That covered the load a bit better for ordinary computer users.
• You will see the name SmartScreen if you click on Reputation Security Settings.
The SmartScreen component monitors whether your computer is under threat from dubious websites, apps, and files. Windows checks this against long lists of websites, apps, and files that are known to be risky. In other words: reputation-based security.
For example, this may concern phishing websites. These are websites that are made to steal your personal and financial information. To do this, they pretend to be the website of a bank or an online store. You can read more about phishing on Computer Tip: watch out for phishing! | PlusOnline
For apps, SmartScreen checks for spyware, among other things. These are programs that spy on what you are doing on your computer and forward that data to hackers and other criminals.
The options in the Reputation-Based Protection window allow you to automatically check for different threats. It is therefore wise to leave all options enabled. You then protect your computer and thus yourself.
If you find out that a certain website or app is blocked by SmartScreen, while you are sure that it is reliable, you can temporarily disable the block in this window. Don’t forget to re-enable that option afterwards.
• Click the arrow to the left at the top left.
The Exploit Protection option is part of a very technical form of protection for your computer.
• Click Exploit Protection Settings.
You see all kinds of spicy computer terms here like Control Current Protection. It’s a good idea to just leave these options on.
Device Security
The Device Security component provides additional security on capable computers.
• Click on Device Security on the left.
• Click Core Insulation Details.
It is a good idea to have the Memory integrity option turned on. However, this is not possible on all computers. If the option is off, you can try enabling it:
• Set the option to On or click the Rescan button.
• If necessary, give permission for the action.
Windows checks if the option is available. If yes, then it will be enabled. If not, you will see the message Memory integrity cannot be enabled.
Device performance and status
With Device Performance and Status, Windows regularly checks your computer for things like the amount of storage capacity—the free space left on the hard drive in your computer and apps and other software.
• Click on Device Performance and Status on the left.
Usually under Status Report it will say that there are no issues with the various components. If there is a problem, it will be indicated where it is. In case of a problem with the storage capacity, you can, for example, free up space on the hard drive. You can do this by moving or deleting unnecessary files.
Family options
A special part of Windows security is Family Options. This part is not intended to protect your computer, but the children who use the computer. With Family Options you can, among other things, set which websites children can visit and how long they can sit in front of the computer.
• Click on Family Options on the left.
You can see an overview of the options at Family options:
Better protect your kids online – Control which websites kids can visit with the Windows Internet browser: Edge.
Promote good screen time habits – Set times when children are allowed to use the computer.
Keeping track of your kids’ digital activities – Provides a weekly overview of the websites kids have visited on the computer and apps they’ve used.
Let your kids buy appropriate apps and games – Set which apps and games kids can use, buy and download.
You can specify the Family options online by clicking View family settings. Because the Family Options is directly related to user accounts – you create their own account for a child – there is a bit more to it than just specifying some options. This part will therefore be discussed in more detail in a subsequent article.
Alex Wit
