22 Things Everyone Should Know about Computer Security

If You Don’t Know these 22 Things About Computer Security, You’re Headed for Trouble

We bank online. We buy things on our computers. But what do we know about computer security? Everything from our wills to our accounting software is on our home computers. But one drive around a neighborhood with my phone looking for hotspots, and I can see dozens of homes ready for a hacker to steal their information.

We put in alarm systems. Do we purchase firewalls? Do we password protect our wifi and home computers? Do parents and kids share the same login ids? These are just a few of the 22.

22 Computer Security Tips Everyone Should Know


Here's a quick video with the 22 most common mistakes I've seen since beginning my work with computers in 1993. This is a beginning video that I also share with my students and their parents.

A Few Important Questions from the Computer Security Video (Watch it!)

  • Do you have a firewall?
  • Did you change the firewall's password from the default?
  • Does your wifi have a password?
  • Do you have user accounts for your children? (Not administrative.)
  • Do you have parental controls on your child's account? (Or can they install software and let hackers onto your computer when downloading games?)
  • Do you let strangers or whoever charge their phone in the USB on your PC?
  • Do you have a secure password for your home computer?
  • Do you know the most common ways people steal passwords?

Computer Security Software & Hardware to Check Out


 Antivirus Software

Other Software

  • Malwarebytes– for malware
  • Ninite – to help you quickly install updates for all your software
  • Zone Alarm – only if you need it (listen to the recommendation)
  • LastPass – A Password Manager (I like this one – WARNING – Learn how to set this up and be careful! I wrote about this here.)
  • 1Password– Another password manager

Hard Drive for Backup

My Go-To Computer Security Experts and Resources

Other Articles I've Written for Beginners You May Want to Read

What did I miss? I've already updated the video once. Is there anything else that needs to go in there?

I know this is a very simple explanation, but my audience is beginners. I'd appreciate feedback before I share this with my students next week.

[callout]As I recommend in the video, you should have a local computer expert you can consult to advise you on all matters. This is to get you started, but you are responsible for your own computer security and safety. No one video could explain every single risk, nor did I try to. This is to start you on your journey. I am not liable for your computer security in any way – you are. Please consult your local computer technician. And now, that disclaimer is done! [/callout]

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and IT Director in Georgia, USA. She is Mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world. She hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast which interviews teachers around the world about remarkable classroom practices to inspire and help teachers. Vicki focuses on what unites us -- a quest for truly remarkable life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers that are grounded in the truth and shared with love. Vicki has been teaching since 2002 and blogging since 2005. Vicki has spoken around the world to inspire and help teachers reach their students. She is passionate about helping every child find purpose, passion, and meaning in life with a lifelong commitment to the joy and responsibility of learning. If you talk to Vicki for very long, she will encourage you to "Relate to Educate" or "innovate like a turtle" or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves to talk to teachers who love their students and are trying to do their best. Twitter is her favorite place to share and she loves to make homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and enjoys running half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

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Vicki Davis writes The Cool Cat Teacher Blog for classroom teachers everywhere
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