DELSA - Digital Empowerment for Digitally Upskilling Adults

Simple tips to protect your computers

Common senseClick to read

The first defence against any kind of cyber attack is common sense. You have to follow a set of principles when surfing the internet: reading the emails or saving files in your computer is basic for keeping your computer clean.

As we will see, not only you have to worry about virus but also about malware hidden in web pages or even within well known programmes that you would never suspect.

This is a short list with some tips about basic security for your computer:

•Do not install anything if you are not sure about its origin.

•When installing an application, pay attention at every step to avoid installing unwanted programmes, like task bars.

•Do not connect an USB memory stick that you have bumped into, it may get access to your PC without knowing it.

•Do not surf in pages which do not have a valid security certificate.

•Please insert your personal data only in reliable websites.

•Never reply to an email asking for your personal data from any bank, paypal or platform related to money.

•Keep your operative system, your antivirus and your antivirus data base updated.

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AntivirusClick to read

Antivirus are quite different one from another, none is perfect and none keeps your computer completely safe. Just follow the guidelines provided and use your common sense.

When it comes to choose an antivirus programme, you have to take into account several issues, like your computer’s specifications, if you want it to be free, easiness of use, tools offered and capacity to integrate with the system.

Recommendations:

•Windows 7 and previous OS: Microsoft Security Essentials

•Windows 8 and later versions: Windows defender (included in the system)

•MacOS: Avira Free

•Linux distributions: ClamAV

All these antivirus are free and considered the best ones for each platform.

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Windows AntivirusClick to read

When we install an antivirus it is often configured and ready to start, but it is always advisable to check that the settings are the ones we need.

In this example we use Windows Defender on its version for Windows 10.

When we install or run a computer with Windows 10 we already have our PC protected because Windows Defender is installed within the OS.

To access its configuration we have to search for the programme.

On the left we have all the components of this suite of security.

We can change any aspect of the antivirus programme, although it should be used with default settings as they are already quite restrictive.

Within the settings we can determine when the programme should scan the computer.

Apart from the analysis we can activate and deactivate the protection from antivirus in real time.

We also obtain a summary with the analysis already done.

Here you can watch the configuration process of Windows defender for Windows 10:

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MacOS AntivirusClick to read

Here you can watch the installation process of Avira Free in MacOS:

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Linux AntivirusClick to read

Here you can watch the installation process and a short guide of ClamAV for Ubuntu/linux:

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Basics for smartphones’ protection

Mobile phone securityClick to read

In mobile devices, common sense is even more important and it is important to follow a set of rules, as the existing antivirus programmes are not that trustworthy, they consume many resources and often they are not the best option to keep your device safe and smooth.

Antivirus in your phone won’t warn you about everything that happens yet they will be active the whole time and using RAM, so consequently the efficiency of your device will lower.

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TipsClick to read

Tips to avoid installing an antivirus

•Before installing any app from official stores in your device, read the opinions of people who have installed and tried it.

•When you open an app for the first time, allow only necessary permits and do not give it permits that it does not really need, like giving a game control of your calls.

•Make sure you insert your data only in certified and trustworthy apps.

If you have followed these tips, but still you have been attacked from malware:

•Delete the app, that is not only uninstalling, you also have to look for any folder with the name of the app or part of it and erase it as the malware may be in it. For this step you have to connect the phone to your PC or download any app for file exploring.

•If the malware is still in, the only solution that you have is to restore the phone to its default settings.

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AntivirusClick to read

In case you do not trust your own use of smartphones, there are antivirus that work in the same way a user does:

• Warn you about strange permits

• Warn you about apps which start processes that consume resources

• Find apps that may be stealing your data or introducing adverts in any part of your smartphone.

There is a wide range of antivirus, both free and not free, that we can install in our smartphone. Most companies that develop antivirus programmes for PC also do it for smartphones.

Most antivirus are similar and have similar functionalities. The best you can do is to install several of them, always one by one and check which one suits you better either because of fluidity, aesthetics or management.

We recommend you not to install any antivirus programme as all of them, at different levels consume memory and affect the overall functionality of your device.

Yet, in case you want to install an antivirus, here you have our recommendations for both android and IOS:

• Android: Avast Mobile Security

• Android: AhnLab V3 Mobile Security

• iOS: Avira Mobile Security

• iOS: Trend Micro Mobile Security

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Android Antivirus Click to read

Here you can watch the installation process and a short guide from AhnLab V3 Mobile Security in Android: