Usually, the less capable and competent you are, the more you are afraid to do anything with your computer to avoid getting a virus. At the same time, however, those who are more afraid of viruses, use heavy paid antivirus programs thinking of keeping their PC safe from any possible attack, and then clicking randomly and without looking on the various websites, downloading anything and ending soon by becoming prey to any malicious or dangerous software.
Precisely by riding this anxiety, the companies that produce safety programs push their products with many and various solutions that are often superfluous.
In this article we try to be a little more bold than usual and find out if it is possible to keep the PC safe even without additional programs, only with the tools made available by Windows and a prudent use made of pure common sense.
To begin with, let's first look at some fundamental concepts about cyber security that nobody ever explains but that are the basis of every guide.
1) Antivirus programs are, in reality, antimalware programs; in fact, the virus is only one of the types of malware which, in general terms, are harmful and dangerous software developed for almost always illicit purposes.
The word virus, however, is typically now used as a synonym for malware (see the difference between malware, viruses, trojans, exploits, worms and others)
2) An antivirus, even if it was paid, will never be able to intercept any malware because some programs manage to hide themselves so well from being invisible, therefore armoring the PC is always and in any case impossible.
Fortunately, these viruses almost always require the "complicity" of the user who must be misled and activate them manually.
3) Many viruses do nothing, do not stand out, remain silent until their creator calls them up using them.
If a pc works well and without problems, it does not necessarily mean that it is not infected, therefore an antivirus solution is always important to keep it.
4) Security programs are distinguished by the fact that they provide real-time protection or not.
Real-time antivirus or antimalware acts immediately when a virus is detected.
Programs that do not have active protection instead serve only as manual scanners to be used to check if the PC is infected and to remove any malware.
Antivirus with real-time protection, on a Windows computer, one and only one must be put .
On the other hand, programs that do scans can be installed or downloaded as many as you want and, indeed, the best ones must be copied to a USB stick to keep them ready in case of any emergency.
In fact, if a virus enters the system, the normal antivirus is usually deactivated and rendered unusable, therefore the scanning tools become the only way to repair the computer and eliminate the viruses.
5) The Firewall is a program that monitors the network and blocks unauthorized connections to and from the outside.
Today it has become essential to have a basic firewall to avoid above all connections from the outside opened by a malicious program.
Most paid antivirus suites also have an integrated firewall.
After this necessary premise that can be explored by reading the 10 basic cyber security laws, let's see how to keep a PC safe without programs
1) Antivirus
Antivirus is critical, but if you have a Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 PC, there is really no need to install one as Windows Defender is included.
Windows Defender is very basic in protection, but has grown a lot in the scores and although not comparable with other more celebrated antivirus, it keeps your PC safe from any threat.
In another article, we have already seen if Windows Defender is enough as an antivirus for Windows 10.
In Windows 7, however, there is no antivirus and you must necessarily install an external program.
At this point you could choose to use Microsoft Security Essentials, which is the same as Windows Defender, but since there is still a program to download, you might as well choose one of the best free antivirus and leave out MSE.
2) Firewall
Unless special requirements, the firewall included in Windows 7, Windows 10 and 8.1 is fine and blocks any unauthorized incoming connection.
You can configure Windows Firewall by accessing advanced settings from the Windows Control Panel.
Alternatively, you can always install a free firewall to protect the network .
Personally, I believe that by keeping antivirus protection, with Windows 7, there is no need for additional firewalls.
3) Windows Update
Microsoft Windows Update is a very important service that updates the PC every week by installing security patches to cover and correct bugs that can be exploited by crackers and hackers.
Downloading Windows updates is just as important as running a firewall and updating the antivirus software.
In another article, how to fix Windows Update problems if it doesn't work.
If you don't want Windows Update to restart your computer, see also How to disable the automatic restart of your PC after an update.
4) UAC and Smartscreen filter
The user security check (UAC) introduced with Windows Vista and improved in Windows 7 and Windows 10, is that warning that appears every time you have to install a new downloaded program or an executable .exe file or when you open the file folder system.
UAC can be annoying, but it's always best to keep it active, at least at an intermediate level.
To configure UAC, go to Control Panel> System and Security> Change User Account Control Settings (or search for UAC from the Start menu).
Personally, on every PC of mine, I put the penultimate option starting from the top, that of notification only when an app tries to make changes to the computer .
READ ALSO: How to disable UAC.
The Smartscreen filter, on the other hand, is a new feature of Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, which allows you to control program installations.
If an unrecognized app runs on the PC, Windows displays a warning asking for user confirmation.
The smartscreen filter can be deactivated from the Control Panel, in the security section (search for smartscreen from the Start menu).
READ ALSO: How to disable the SmartScreen filter
5) Emergency antivirus scanner
Every antivirus has an antivirus scanner, only that if the PC is hit by a malware the antivirus could be put out of order and become unusable.
This applies to Windows Defender and any other antivirus.
For this reason, in another post, I indicated 10 free portable programs for antimalware scans that can be stored in a USB stick and that must be used when the antivirus is put out of use by an infection.
In Windows 10, however, you can use Windows Defender offline which works by restarting the PC and doing the check before any malware can be loaded.
To use Windows Defender offline, just go to the Start menu, press the gear key to open the Settings, go to Update and Security> Windows Defender, scroll the screen right down and press the Start analysis button.
READ ALSO: Eliminate any virus without antivirus
By following these basic tips, you can already work calmly, counter the most common attacks and even some of the rare ones, without ever having to pay for paid software and without weighing down the PC with external programs.
If instead you want to have the best protection, I refer you to the guide of the best programs to protect your computer (free)
