The Senior Tech Group recommends a core set of online security practices and software choices, centered on built-in tools, smart habits, and regular maintenance.
Recommended Security Software
- Primary Anti-Malware: I recommend Windows Security as the primary, free, built-in choice for most users because it updates automatically, has a low performance impact, and avoids aggressive upsells or ads.
- Third-Party Alternatives: Most home users don’t need third-party antivirus programs like Bitdefender, ESET, Malwarebytes, Avast, and Webroot.
- Firewall & Routing: A hardware Network Address Translation (NAT) router is generally recommended to handle network-level firewall protection. All home routers include this function.
Core Online Security Steps
- Updates: Enable automatic software and operating system updates everywhere to patch security vulnerabilities quickly.
- Passwords and Authentication: Use unique, long passwords (such as combining three or four unrelated words) paired with a password manager, and turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA / 2FA) on all supported accounts.
- Backups: Maintain regular, complete data backups.
- Skepticism and Education: Exercise caution with unverified email attachments, unexpected or unsolicited remote-access requests, and phishing links.
- Connections: Secure home Wi-Fi with strong encryption (WPA2 or better) and use encrypted connections or avoid unencrypted public Wi-Fi hotspots.