6. Securing Your Computer—for Yourself and Your Family
This chapter shows you how to keep your computer safe by focusing on the following tasks:
With Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft has ramped up the attention given to making sure your computer is secure against online threats, identity theft, and more. We seem to live in an age of enormous data breaches, and the focus on security is well founded. Microsoft has previously done a good job of providing security features in Windows 10, but Fall Creators Update includes a substantial build-out for Windows Defender, the primary security app used by Windows 10, as well as new privacy tools so you can control how, when, and why your apps share information about your location and more.
In this chapter, we focus on the tools and techniques you can use in Windows 10 to make sure your computer is as secure as possible for you and your family. You learn how to create user accounts, assign permissions (including family safety features), and make sure you’ve got everything set up properly for a secure computing experience.
Customizing Your Login
It seems like we’re always logging in to one thing or another, doesn’t it? We log in to our phones, our work computers, our home computers. Most of us want a smooth, simple login experience. Windows 10 offers a number of ways you can log in so that the process reflects what you find easiest to do. You might just log in with a simple four-digit pin or use a picture to draw a pattern on the screen that only you know.
New security features in Windows 10 also include Windows Hello, which uses facial recognition and iris scans to authenticate users and ensure the computer’s security. These new technologies require infrared cameras on Windows 10 devices, so the practical use of these features might be a little further into the future. Windows Hello also supports existing fingerprint readers, which may be included on laptops or tablets or used as plug-in devices via USB.
Changing a Password
By default, Windows 10 prompts you to log in with your Microsoft account and password. You can, however, change your password at any time or choose different types of passwords (for example, a picture password or a PIN logon) to help with authentication.
Click the Start button to display the Start menu.
Select Settings.
Choose Accounts in the Settings window.
Click Sign-In Options.
In the Password area, click Change. You’re prompted to enter your Microsoft Account password. After you enter it, the Change Password screen appears.
In the Change Your Password screen, type your old password in the Old Password box.
Click to move the insertion point to the Create Password box, and enter a new password.
Retype the new password in the Reenter Password box.
Click Next. Windows 10 lets you know that you’ve successfully changed your password, and you can click Finish to return to the Accounts window.
Creating a PIN Logon
Chances are you’re familiar with using PINs in other areas of your life. You use a PIN for your debit card, and you might have one set on your smartphone, for example. Similarly, Windows 10 enables you to create a four-digit PIN to use when you log in to your computer or device.
Click Sign-In Options in the Accounts section of Settings.
In the PIN area, click Add. Windows 10 prompts you to enter your current password. After you do so, the Set Up a Pin screen appears.
Type the four numbers you want to use as your PIN.
Click in the Confirm PIN box and retype the numbers you entered.
If you want to use numbers, letters, and symbols in your PIN, click the Include Letters and Symbols checkbox. A PIN Requirements link will appear to give you guidelines on how to create an effective PIN.
Click or tap OK. Windows 10 saves your PIN; the next time you log in, you can enter the PIN instead of your password. Windows displays the Start screen immediately, even before you press Enter!
Creating a Picture Password
Here are the steps to add a picture password:
Display the Accounts window in Settings, and click Sign-In Options.
In the Picture Password area, tap or click Add. Select Create a Picture Password. Windows prompts you to enter your current password. Type it and click OK.
The Welcome to Picture Password window appears, giving you instructions about the process of creating a picture password. Click Choose Picture. The Open window appears.
Locate and select the picture you want to use.
Click Open.
If you want to adjust the picture, drag it to the right or left, up or down.
Click Use This Picture.
Using your finger or mouse, draw three gestures on the picture. For a moment after you draw on the screen, an arrow shows how Windows recorded the movement. When prompted, repeat the gestures. If you don’t make exactly the same gestures, Windows prompts you to try again.
After you draw the gestures correctly, Windows displays a Congratulations message. Click Finish to save the picture password.
Working with Security and Maintenance in Windows 10
In previous versions of Windows, Microsoft included the Action Center as a kind of hub for your system security. You would get a notification from the Action Center, for example, when something important related to your system’s safety came up. This might be something such as a pop-up message telling you that you’re running out of backup space on your hard drive or your antivirus program needs an update.
With Windows 10, Microsoft took a different approach with the Action Center. Now the center has become a hub of notifications of all sorts, which includes social media updates and new email notices, as well as messages from your computer or device that need your attention. For a quick look at the notifications, you can click the Notifications icon in the status tray of the taskbar or swipe in from the right edge of the screen. To get to the tools you need to make sure your system is working well, open the Security and Maintenance window.
Reviewing Your System Status
You can easily see which security tools are in place on your computer, change settings, and update your software in the Security and Maintenance window of the Control Panel. Here’s how to get there:
Click in the Search box in the taskbar, and type security and maintenance.
Click Security and Maintenance.
Click the arrow to the right of the Security or Maintenance categories to display details about the tools in each of those areas
In the Security and Maintenance window, review any messages that are displayed.
Click the link that is provided for any tools you want to review or change settings for.
Click the arrow to close the expanded tool list when you’re finished reviewing.
Changing Security and Maintenance Alerts
Each Security and Maintenance message includes a link that gives you the next step to follow as you deal with the issue. You can choose to turn off messages about that particular issue, archive the message, or ignore the message. You can change which issues you receive alerts for so that you are notified about only the ones you want to see.
In the Security and Maintenance window, click Change Security and Maintenance Settings.
Click to uncheck any security item you don’t want Windows 10 to check for.
Click to uncheck any maintenance messages you don’t want Windows 10 to display.
Click OK.
Using Windows Defender
Windows Defender has gotten a big boost in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Now the app, which was formerly an anti-spyware utility designed to protect your computer from spyware and other intrusions, has grown up into a multifaceted protection system that keeps an eye on the health of your computer, scans regularly for viruses and malware, intercepts unrecognized apps, safeguards your system with Windows Firewall, and enables you to set up family security options so you know protection is in place for everyone in your household who uses your computer.
If you’re concerned that your computer is infected, you can use Windows Defender to scan your system regularly and remove any suspicious files that have been added to your computer without your knowledge. Windows Defender in Windows 10 also includes a network monitoring feature that helps computers on a network detect and stop malware.
Checking Out the Windows Defender Security Center
Windows Defender is always working in the background of your Windows 10 computer or device, but you can check the status of the scans, tweak settings, and more by displaying the Windows Defender Security Center.
Type defender into the Search box in the taskbar. The Search pane appears, showing Windows Defender in the results.
Click Windows Defender Security Center.
Notice when the last scan of your system was performed.
Review the status of the various security tools. Windows 10 lets you know if any action is needed from you at this time.
Click one of the security categories to see updates related to those areas.
Click Settings to change the way in which Windows Defender notifies you of issues and updates.
Scanning for Risks with Windows Defender
Windows Defender is designed to scan your system every so often—at increments you choose—but you can also choose to do a scan of your PC whenever you like.
You can launch Windows Defender from the Settings window, or you can launch Defender as an app from the Start menu. Either way, you can have Windows Defender scan your PC to make sure no worrisome files have snuck in under your radar.
In the Windows Defender Security Center, click Virus & Threat Protection.
Review the information about the most recent scan.
To launch a new scan, click the Quick Scan button. Windows Defender immediately begins scanning your computer or device.
If you want to do an in-depth scan, click Advanced Scan.
Choose the option you want for the type of scan you want Windows Defender to perform. You can do a Quick scan, a Full scan, or a Custom scan.
Tap or click the Scan Now button. Windows Defender begins the scanning process.
After the scan completes, Windows Defender updates the scan information in the Virus & Threat Protection category and sends a system notification alerting you that the scan is complete.
Checking Your Windows Firewall
A firewall checks all the information coming to your computer from the Internet or any local network to which you are connected. Firewalls try to ensure that any data received comes from a trusted contact and that the information can be considered safe for your computer. If any suspicious information is found, your Windows Firewall alerts you so that you can allow or block the sender based on whether you think it should be allowed through the firewall. Windows Firewall used to be a standalone tool that functioned in the protection of your system, but in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Windows Firewall has been integrated into Windows Defender Security.
Checking the Firewall
Windows Defender keeps your Firewall on by default. You can, however, check the settings and turn the utility off or on again if necessary.
In the Windows Defender Security Center, click the Firewall & Network Protection category.
Review the status of the firewalls used on your system. The green check mark means the firewall is on and functioning properly.
Click a setting to make changes to it.
Changing Firewall Settings
When Windows Firewall is active, you are prompted each time a program tries to make changes on your computer that don’t appear to come from an authorized source. You can change the settings for Windows Firewall so that you receive different alerts using different criteria if you like.
In the bottom area of the Firewall & Network Protection window, click Firewall Notification Settings.
Leave this setting set to On if you want to continue receiving notifications of all Defender activity and scan results.
Leave this set to On if you want to know when Windows Defender blocks a suspicious app.
If you want to stop notifications for one of the different network areas (for example, for the domain firewall), click to clear the check mark in the check box.
Working with Windows SmartScreen
Windows SmartScreen is another Windows 10 utility that used to be a standalone app and is now included as part of Windows Defender Security Center. Windows SmartScreen keeps an eye on your computer or device and alerts you before Windows 10 runs any unrecognized apps or files you’ve downloaded from the Web.
By default, Windows SmartScreen displays a warning before running an unrecognized app. You can change Windows SmartScreen settings if you want to, either to turn off the feature (not a good idea) or to require that administrator approval be given before an unrecognized app can be run.
In the Windows Defender Security Center, click App & Browser Control. The window shows a number of settings from Windows SmartScreen designed to help safeguard your computer from unwanted apps. Each of the settings is set to warn you of any suspicious files or apps.
Choose whether you want to be warned about apps and files, whether you want to block them entirely, or whether you want to turn SmartScreen off (not recommended).
Choose whether to block or be warned about malicious sites and potentially dangerous downloads while you’re using the Edge browser.
Choose to protect your computer by checking the web content that various Microsoft Store apps might use.
Working with User Accounts
User accounts have been around for a while, and if you share a computer with several people in your household, you know they are a good idea. When you have separate accounts for different users, you can each have your own preferences and favorite websites and programs. This makes it possible for each of you to have a completely different experience—tailored to your own preferences—even though you’re all sharing the same computer.
Adding a User
Individual users can have their own user account so that specific preferences, histories, favorites, and more can be linked with that account. It’s a good idea to create separate user accounts for each person who shares your computer or device. Windows 10 enables you to add two kinds of users: a family member or a user who isn’t a family member.
Type account into the Search box in the taskbar.
Click Add, Edit, or Remove Other People in the results list.
Tap or click the + to the left of Add a Family Member.
The Add a User window appears, asking you whether the new family member is an adult or a child. Click your answer.
Enter the person’s email address.
Click Next.
Click Confirm. Windows 10 tells you to make sure the person knows he needs to be connected to the Internet the first time he logs in.
Switching Users
You can easily switch among the user accounts on your Windows 10 computer by clicking or tapping your profile icon on the left side of the Start menu. You also can sign out of Windows 10, lock your computer, or change users.
Open the Start menu.
Click or tap the profile area (either your username or your picture) on the left side of the Start menu.
Tap or click Lock to display your Lock screen and safeguard your computer. You might choose this when leaving your computer unattended for a while.
Tap or click Sign Out when you want to sign out of Windows 10, perhaps so that another user can log in.
Tap or click another user account to display the login screen for that account. The other user can enter the account password and click Submit to log in.
Maintaining Your Privacy
Windows 10 makes it simple for you to share information among apps, both online and off. Your apps can use your location data to set your time zone, display the weather, offer location-related search results, and much more.
On the flip side of all this sharing are two important questions: How do these apps share this information, and how much data do you really want to turn loose out there in cyberspace? Windows 10 lets you determine whether you want your apps to communicate with each other and share information about you—such as your location or content URLs from the apps you use—with others who are interested in gathering it.
Choosing Privacy Settings
To review and modify privacy settings, follow these steps:
Type privacy into the Search box on the taskbar.
Click Privacy Settings.
To allow Windows 10 to share your search information so ads are more targeted to your interests, leave this set to the On position.
Leave this set to On if you want web content to be personalized to your local area using your languages list.
Leave this set to On if you want to let Windows notice which apps you open often to improve the Start menu and search results.
Leave this setting On if you want to receive suggestions in the Settings app.
Setting Location Privacy
Here’s how to change your location settings:
Display Settings and choose Privacy.
Click Location.
If you want to turn location settings completely off, click the Change button. A small pop-up box appears. Drag the Location slider to the Off position.
Scroll down through the window until you can see the location settings for your apps.
If you want to leave location settings on but allow only selected apps to use them, go through your apps list and slide all those you do not want to have access to your location to the Off position.
