Every moment you turn on your PC to surf the internet, there is a risk in your PC being attacked by the malicious programs such as viruses, spyware, adware, Trojans, etc.
Together these programs are called malware.
They don't just damage your PC, its applications and files, but also steal your personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, bank account credentials etc.
Those are stolen to sell with a malicious intent for intruders and make money with your private data.
Before you panic, its YOU, that has the capacity to keep these malicious programs or malwares away from the reach of your PC.
Now let me talk about how you can do that.
If you are reading this article, then you are using a Microsoft operating system.
There is a program called auto update that keeps your PC updated with the latest security patches that makes your PC less vulnerable.
Not just security loopholes, but also bugs and lapses in the OS are all fixed.
This will keep your PC bullet proof.
How to run the automatic update? You can go to Start Menu > Run > Type sysdm.
cpl, it opens a window, in that navigate to automatic updates tab and check the automatic option.
Now your PC is ready to install updates as it finds from the Microsoft site.
Alternatively, you can also go to control panel > security, choose check for updates and click install updates.
After updating with all the necessary security patches, i recommend you get a firewall and run it on your PC.
Microsoft Windows has a built-in firewall in the operating system that you can turn it on.
Go to Start menu > control panel > Security > Check this computer's security status > firewall > on.
The firewall acts like a traffic controller that watches both in and out of the system and blocks any malicious programs coming into your PC.
In addition to that, i recommend you install anti-virus and anti-spyware program.
After you run the program, make sure those programs are monitoring your computer in real time, this is called real time protection, which is available in all kinds of anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.
Since its watching for the malicious programs in real time, it detects and blocks whenever there is a threat.
Also, make sure to keep those programs up to date with the latest security file definitions.