Essential PC security tips

  • Easy steps to make your computer more secure
  • Top tips on protecting your PC when surfing the web
  • Find out how to switch on Windows Updates
  • Defending your computer against spyware 
  • Return your computer to a stable state using Windows System Restore

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This article, Essential PC security tips, was last updated on 02 February 2009 and is now out of date and held in our online archive for reference. Explore our latest Technology articles.

What's in this guide

Securing your PC

How to turn on Windows Updates, set a password for logging onto a computer and switch on your PC’s firewall

User account controls

Here are the shield symbols used by the Vista User Account Control system to control access to your computer by different users

Defend against spyware

How to run a spyware scan using Windows Defender, the anti-spyware program that comes with Vista

Set a restore point

We show you how to use the System Restore function to return your PC to a stable state when something goes wrong

Protecting yourself online

Here are some quick tips that will improve the security of your PC when you're online

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