Three Tips To Make Windows 10 More Secure - Olmec Skip to main content

Three Tips To Make Windows 10 More Secure

By January 6, 2016March 6th, 2023Blog, Technology News

three_tips_to_make_window_112361_208074By now, almost everyone knows and understands how important security is at every level, from your network as a whole, to your individual PC. What many people may not know is that if you upgraded to Windows 10, your new OS was pretty generous in terms of allowing applications to access…well, pretty much anything they wanted. Here are three simple steps you can take to regain control over your PC.

Disable Wi-Fi Sense

One of the neat features of Windows 10 is that it allows you to build a list of Wi-Fi hotspots based on information your contacts send you. By default, this is turned “on,” meaning that you’re willing to share your Wi-Fi with anybody on your contacts list. Except of course, you’re probably not willing to share this with everyone in your contact list. It is definitely best to make that decision on a case-by-case basis as it comes up. To change this setting, go into your Windows Settings screen, then click or tap (as applicable) “Manage Wi-Fi Settings.” Simply turn Wi-Fi sense to the off position and you’re all set.

Windows Defender

On the surface of it, Windows Defender isn’t a bad thing. It’s a built-in program designed to stop Malware. When you upgraded, your PC was set up to automatically send Windows Defender bits of malware code it finds, in order to help make the program better.

If you’re like most people, you would rather make the call yourself, on your own terms, so to disable this automatic submission, go to Settings, then Update and Security, and click on Windows Defender. From here, disable the Sample Submission option (change from yes to no).

Maximize Privacy

Finally, and this is the big one, go to Settings, Privacy, and General, and review every option under the General tab. You’ll want to turn most everything off, and Windows 10 defaults to turning almost everything on. In a few specific, app-by-app cases, you may want to allow certain apps to access certain things. One example of this is to allow Skype to access your Camera, but in the overwhelming majority of cases, you probably don’t want your apps having virtually unfettered access to your system.

It is highly recommended that you look at these three things, by doing so your Windows 10 PC will be a whole lot more secure, and you can be sure you have taken some simple steps to ensure better security on your system.

Jason Manteiga

Jason J. Manteiga, Vice President of Olmec Systems, has been part of the company for over the past 20 years. He believes that having a great work environment and supportive team, is the ultimate key to success. Since being in the IT realm for over 25 years, Jason, along with Olmec Systems, has been on the Inc. 5000 “List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Channel Futures MSP 501 “Top Managed Service Providers in North America,” along with other awards and nominations. Jason earned his Bachelor Degree in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also holds certifications in Microsoft MCSE, VMWare VCP, and Cisco CCNA. In his spare time, Jason is a contributor for The Center for Social & Legal Research (Privacy Exchange) and a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies include cycling and kayaking. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and son.