Laptop Hacking

[avalone]

I have just purchased a new Toshiba laptop.What is rhe best form of protection against hackers that I should instal? Thanks in advance.

[SirOracle]

Avast....even the free version is ok.

[fiesata]

Start off with a decent software firewall like Comodo Firewall (free)
https://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/firewall.php

Get a good free antivirus like Bitdefender
http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/solutions/free.html

and also Trusteer Rapport which is provided free by many banks
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/contact-and-support/security-centre/downloads

Also go into router configuration page look for WAN settings and disable or turn off respond to WAN ping

Never open a link in an email


Paul

[tonyav]

If I were you I'd download Malwarebytes Anti Malware as well and let it scan your computer every now and again.
Make sure you download the free version.
http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware

[VHG]

>>>Make sure you download the free version.

Even if you download the free version of Malwarebytes if you are not careful right at the end of the install it asks you if you want to run a trial of the premium (paid for) version.

This is ticked ON as default so if you don't untick it you will get a trial of the premium version and not the free version.

[VHG]

Actually probably the best protection is to make sure you install all the Windows updates as they come out and keep all your other programs up to date.

Many of the Windows updates are security fixes and if you don't install them you are leaving yourself open to hackers.

When Microsoft find a security hole they publicize what the "hole" is and so the hackers write code to exploit it.

If you don't install the latest Windows update you are leaving that security hole wide open.

You can set Windows updates to install automatically.