The sale season is the ideal time to buy a new device. It is important to have adequate protection as well as to use optimization tools to improve its performance and get the most out of it.
The software cleaning feature removes long-forgotten programs from your system that have been slowing it down.
3 Reasons to getting Rid of Long-Forgotten Software Now
Our “Junk Programs” feature detects bloatware, adware, unwanted evidence, and more, and allows you to quickly remove it. In our new version 2018, we have expanded the function to search for applications that you have not used in a long time. But why should you get rid of them?
- Unused applications consume disk space: Not all PCs have terabytes of free space available, so every GB counts, and some games or programs consume a lot.
- Unused applications consume resources: some programs keep running in the background, consuming resources all the time, consuming power from CPU, RAM, battery life. Do not leave them. If you are not using these programs, they are a waste of resources.
- Unused apps can actually pose a security risk: our PC report data shows that 55% of the programs on millions of users’ computers around the world are out of date. In many cases, this opens the door to security risks. Our advice: Update the software or remove it.
If you bought a mobile device, here are 9 basic tips to protect it and keep it safe.
Related: iPhone Security Tips: How to Secure Your Kid’s iPhone
Lock your device with a password
Without this first layer of security, anyone who takes your phone can access your applications and the data on it. Set up a passcode that only you know, and simply enter it before using your phone. For those devices that allow it, you can also set a “touch ID” that opens the phone in response to your fingerprint or set a “face ID” that unlocks the phone when the front camera recognizes you.
Avoid suspicious links
Any link you receive in an email or text should be viewed with a suspicious eye. If you don’t know the sender, don’t even think about clicking the link. If you know the sender, make sure they actually sent it to you before clicking. Fake email, text message, and message accounts pretending to be a person or entity you know are common cyber tricks and are known as phishing. Do not fall!
Update your software immediately
Whenever an update is released for your device, download and installs it immediately. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Related: The best facial recognition security cameras to buy in 2021
Use unique passwords for EACH online account
Avoid reusing any password. When cybercriminals obtain a user password, they test that password for each of the user’s accounts. Don’t give them that kind of passkey. The best practice is to use an administrator password to create passwords unique and difficult to decipher. The advantage of a password manager is that it remembers all your passwords. Another option is to use phrases that you can remember. If you need to write them down, do so, but keep them away from your computer.
Use a VPN on open Wi-Fi networks
It’s hard to avoid using open Wi-Fi – you’re busy, you’re away from home, and you need to do some online transactions. This is a common scenario: you are in a coffee shop and therefore you connect your phone to your unprotected Wi-Fi network and make your purchase or make a bank transaction on your mobile phone. We have all been there. So if you must use open Wi-Fi in a situation like this, get a VPN app for your mobile device. It makes you anonymous online, so you can safely use open Wi-Fi and stay out of the eyes of cybercriminals.
Related: iPhone 13: Design, Release Date, Price and Features
Download apps from reputable app stores
Only use the official app stores: Apple App Store if you have an iPhone or iPad, and Google Play Store if you have an Android device. It’s very common for malware developers to create rogue malicious apps and place them on shady third-party sites, hoping someone is naive enough to download them. Official app stores have a stricter selection process.
Make backup copies of your data in the cloud
You will save yourself a lot of headaches if you keep a continuous backup of your phone. That way, if it’s ever lost or stolen, you still have all your apps, data, and accounts up-to-date in your backup.
Enable remote wipe of your phone
As an extension of peace of mind for the last step, if your phone is lost or stolen, you can erase all your personal data from memory remotely. (And you don’t have to worry about losing that data because you’ve followed Tip 7.) You can learn more about wiping your iPhone remotely and wiping your Android device remotely on their respective web pages.
Use a security app
Keeping all the above tips in mind will keep you well on your guard, and installing a robust security app will lead to complete protection. Security software works seamlessly in the background, making sure there are no unknown programs or offline files on the device. Avast has one of the largest security engines in the world, protecting a global network of hundreds of millions of users.
