Computers have become an integral part of our life and we store all kinds of personal and professional details in our computers. This is why, it is important for us to take the security of our computer seriously. As the world of technology is getting advanced with every passing day, the negative elements of the internet world are also becoming more and more powerful. Data such as banking details, classified official documents, personal files, credit card details, etc. can be stolen from your computer and misused in various ways.

To avoid letting hackers into your computer and giving them to your data, there are many methods and techniques you can follow. In this article, we are going to discuss 5 such effective techniques that will help you keep your computer safe.

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Using a secure web browser

This is of paramount importance if you really want to stay away from the radar of hackers. Hackers search for vulnerable web users and a weaker, less secured web browser means just that. A weak browser will have many gaps in its security system, providing enough scope for the hackers to get inside your computer remotely and steal the data you think is safe.

Installing the best antivirus software

Using the best antivirus is probably the most important method you need to implement to protect your computer from any kind of intrusion. Comprehensive antivirus software will update its virus definitions regularly, therefore protecting you from both old and new viruses. An antivirus acts as a wall between you and the hacker, ensuring that your computer and the data it contains, is safe and secure.  Activating the Firewall on your computer may also be useful in keeping the hackers at bay.

Keep your eyes open while browsing

First of all, do not click on unwanted or unknown links. The same goes for emails. If you’re receiving emails with suspicious titles that either offer to give you something for free or that ask for your assistance in some way, it is very likely that they are a scam. It is best to delete them without opening them or their attachment. While browsing the internet too, make sure that you visit authority and safe sites and a secured web browser will help you detect that. Increasing the security of your browser and / or antivirus is a good work-around if you tend to visit unsafe websites too often. Paying attention to the login sessions is necessary as it showcases which other IPs have logged into your account. If you suspect anything suspicious, change your password, enable two step authentications and notify the administrator. Make sure that your username and password are not easy to guess and have an alpha-numeric-symbol combination. Do not download anything from unsafe sources and make sure that whatever you download is from a secured and trusted source.

Clear your cookies and cache

While it can be frustrating to do periodic maintenance cleaning in your browser, clearing the cache and cookies actually adds another layer of security. It does not guarantee 100% protection against hacking, but for that matter, neither does the best antivirus software. However, it enhances the overall security of your computer by making sure that potentially sensitive data is not permanently stored in your browser.

Update passwords and delete old accounts

Change your passwords regularly and delete the accounts you do not use anymore. It’s not a good idea to leave inactive old accounts just hanging there on the internet. Old accounts might still store some relevant private data and if they get hacked, the information stored therein could be used against you. It’s also a lot more likely that they’ll get hacked when there’s no one there to keep an eye on their activity.

These are the five most basic methods you can use to protect your computer from hackers. Make sure to remember that just installing antivirus software may not always be enough, and that you still need to keep a close eye on your web activities to ensure an all-encompassing protection of your data.