As of now, it might be a good idea to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 as soon as possible. If you cannot do that right now, we are here to tell you how to level up your security for Windows 7.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 on the 14th of January, which means that you won’t be getting any software updated or technical assistance for it.
That also means that you won’t get the security updates and patches. This is all about Microsoft’s plan to make users migrate to Windows 10, which will get all of its security patches since it is new on the market.
In order to protect yourself from the flaws that await you, Microsoft recommends you to update your device to Windows 10, or buy a new device with Windows 10. We are here to tell you what you should do if you want to hold on to Windows 7.
How to secure your Windows 7 system before upgrading it to Windows 10
Get rid of all the unnecessary apps and files
Getting rid of the unnecessary apps and files will make it harder for hackers to do a privacy breach. Go to Start, to Control panel, to Programs, to Programs and features. From there, select the programs you don’t want on your Computer and press Uninstall. Before you do that, you might want to take a look through your files. For that, go to Start, to Computer, to Libraries.
Make sure your antivirus is up-to-date
Windows 7 comes with built-in security protections, but there’s also the need for third-party antivirus software, which will keep you safe from malware attacks. Now that Microsoft has ended its support for Windows 7, hackers will most likely start to get after Windows 7 users. Most of the antiviruses have not ended their support for Windows 7 yet, so make sure you get what you need for your Computer.
Get a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it is made to create a private and secure network between your device that’s connected on Wi-Fi and the websites you browse. It basically hides your activity.
It is really what you need for your Windows 7 device, due to the fact that it will help you protect yourself against hackers that are trying to break into your Computer. But you need to keep in mind that free VPNs are not usually a good idea.
Get a password manager
Reusing your passwords is not a good idea, especially now, with Windows 7. Get a password manager, which will help you create strong passwords for each and every account that you own. Trust us, and it is safer this way.
Whitelist some of the apps
In order to prevent programs from running in the background of your device, you will need to whitelist some apps and block some, too. In order to do so, go to Start, to Control panel, to System and Security. Under Windows Firewall, you will need to click on Allow a program through Windows Firewall. Then, you will get a list of applications, and check a box for Public or Private network.
