12 things every laptop or PC owner should do to keep their data safe

With so much of your work and personal life stored on your laptop or desktop PC, it’s essential to protect against potential threats. At Which?, our tech experts help you secure your data.

Tightening your defences against data leaks and malware doesn’t have to be tedious, either. There are plenty of quick checks you can do if you don’t have time for bigger tasks.

Below, we highlight key steps to enhance your computer’s security, including how to password-protect a USB stick and how to locate a lost laptop from another device. After all, your personal information shouldn't be in the hands of anyone but you.

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1. Use strong passwords

Protect the data on your computer by using strong passwords for all your online accounts, whether they’re linked to social media, email, or online banking.

Don't use a single base password with slight variations for different sites, because attackers who discover your base password can more easily gain access to your other accounts.

We recommend choosing a passphrase made up of several random words or a sentence when creating a password. Avoid including personal information such as your name or birthday.

If you struggle to remember your login details, try enlisting the help of a trusted password manager. These apps create an encrypted vault that stores all your passwords. Popular options include Bitwarden, Dashlane and 1Password.

An increasing number of current laptops now feature a built-in fingerprint sensor. Set this up on your device if you haven't done so already.

Learn more about creating a secure password.

2. Enable two-factor authentication

Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your computer to make your online accounts far harder to access without permission. (Find out more: what is 2FA?)

When you activate 2FA, attempting to access an account from a new device will prompt the service to send a unique code to your smartphone or another trusted device. That means you have the power to approve or deny new logins.

You might want to enable this feature for your cloud storage, email or financial accounts as those apps are packed with personal information.

To set up 2FA, you’ll likely need to provide your mobile number or use an authentication app. The service will then send you a confirmation code to verify the setup.

If you want to enable 2FA on your Google account, for example, follow these steps from your PC:

1. Head to myaccount.google.com and sign in with your email and password
2. On the left, choose Security, then scroll to the How you sign in to Google heading
3. Select 2-Step Verification and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Secure your external drives

If you store personal data on a USB stick or external drive, it's important to protect it just as you would your main computer. By password-protecting the drive, you'll have added peace of mind if you accidentally leave the device behind somewhere.

The steps you need to take to add a password vary depending on your OS.

• On Windows 10 and 11 – you can use BitLocker, which is an encryption program included with Microsoft's operating system.
• On macOS – your drive needs to be formatted to APFS or Mac OS Extended. Then, it's just a case of right-clicking your drive and entering some details. 

For step-by-step instructions on securing your external drive using Windows or Mac, see our guide: How to password protect a USB stick.

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4. Use Which? Best Buy antivirus

With a Which? Best Buy antivirus protecting your computer, your data is safe.

To find the best options, we subject antivirus programs to tens of thousands of threats, including viruses, ransomware and phishing attacks designed to compromise and steal your data. The test is repeated four times a year and the scores we publish are based on a full year of testing.

• The best free antivirus we've tested is great at detecting and dealing with any threats and covers multiple devices under a single account.
• The best paid-for antivirus we've tested features automatic scanning and includes a great anti-phishing tool that spotted all our phishing test pages.

Explore the results of our rigorous security tests – see our expert pick of the best antivirus.

5. Keep your OS updated

Keeping your PC or laptop updated helps protect it from vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Aside from fixing security issues, free OS updates can sometimes improve performance by optimising system processes and resources.

To update your computer, just follow these steps:

• Windows 10: Click Start > Settings > Update & Security. Choose Windows Update and Check for updates
• Windows 11: Choose Start > Settings > Windows Update. Select Check for updates
• macOS: Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences > Software Update.

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6. Be wary when using public wi-fi

Public wi-fi hotspots are convenient when your mobile network is unavailable, but make sure you exercise caution and run some checks before you get connected.

• Verify the network you're using – if you're using a hotspot provided by a restaurant or hotel, consult a staff member (or permanent signage) to confirm the hotspot details. Typically, unsecured networks will give you internet access without you having to enter a password.
• Check for HTTPS – when using a website with an HTTPS URL, data transmitted from your device to the website is encrypted. Websites designed to steal your data will often (but not always) use HTTP instead of HTTPS.
• Delete (or 'forget') networks – you can avoid unintentionally connecting to a problematic wi-fi hotspot by removing it from your device's network list.

For further details on the topics above (and more), see our advice on how to keep your data safe when using public wi-fi.

For more on data protection, see our guide: 7 ways to secure your social media and email accounts

7. Back up important data regularly

Try and get into the habit of backing up your important documents in case something happens to your computer and you can't recover them.

You have two main options if you're looking to back up files – use a cloud storage service or store your files on an external drive. Opting for cloud storage means you can access your files from anywhere with an internet connection, but using a physical drive offers offline access.

If you want to back up data using cloud storage, Google Drive and Apple iCloud are popular options. Alternatively, to move your files to an external drive, do this:

• On Windows 10 – after connecting your drive, head to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Files backup.
• On Windows 11 – after connecting your drive, head to Start > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Backup options.
• On macOS – after connecting your drive, select the Apple logo > System Settings/Preferences > Time Machine > Select Backup Disk.

For details on paid vs free cloud storage apps, see our guide on how to choose the best cloud storage service

8. Learn how to find a lost laptop

In the unfortunate event that you misplace your laptop away from home, you can track it – provided you've set up tracking technology beforehand. Both Windows and macOS laptops have features that can help you recover them.

To set up laptop location tracking, follow these steps:

• On Windows – go to Start > Settings > Update & Security or Privacy & Security > Find My Device. Select Change for the device you'd like to track.
• On a Chromebook – sign in to your Google account and click your profile in the top right. Choose Manage your Google Account > Security > Find a lost device.
• On macOS – go to Apple menu > System Settings, then click [your name] at the top of the sidebar. Choose iCloud > Find My Mac > Turn On, then click Allow when asked to allow Find My Mac to use the location of your Mac. Finally, select Done.

Alternatively, you can look into buying a Bluetooth finder and slipping it inside your laptop case. Apple's AirTag (below), for example, syncs with the Find My network and has a built-in speaker that you can listen out for when you're nearby.

For more details on recovering a laptop, see our guide: What to do if your laptop gets stolen.

9. Set up automatic screen lock

This means your computer will ask for a password or PIN code if you want to unlock it after a few minutes of inactivity, preventing someone from using your PC while you're away.

To enable automatic screen lock, follow these steps:

• On Windows – go to Start > Settings > Personalisation > Lock screen. Choose Screen timeout settings and pick your preferred option.
• On macOS – select the Apple logo > System Settings > Lock screen. Adjust Start Screen Saver when inactive, then adjust Require password after Screen Saver begins or display is turned off.

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10. Be cautious with email attachments

Email scams (also known as phishing scams) are disappointingly common, which is why it's important to stay alert.

Messages in your inbox designed to steal your data can be incredibly tricky to spot – in some cases, scammers will use legitimate branding from a real company and a formal tone to catch you out.

When deciding if an email is real or not, check the following:

• Does the email come from an unrecognisable email address? You can hover your cursor over the sender's name to view the email address behind it.
• Are the hyperlinks pointing to legitimate web pages? Place your cursor over links to see the URL they'll send you to without clicking on them.
• Is the email asking for personal information? Remember that most companies will never ask for personal information via email.

For more tips, see our advice on how to spot an email scam.

11. Create a guest account on a shared computer

If you don't want to risk giving others access to your data, try creating a guest account – handy for shared computers at home or work. This new account will have basic functionality but no access to your files.

To create another account on your computer, follow these steps:

• On Windows – from the Settings app, select Accounts > Other user. Choose Add other user > Add account and follow the on-screen instructions.
• On macOS – open Apple menu > System Settings. Select Users & Groups, then the i (Info) icon next to Guest User. Turn on Allow guests to log in to this computer.

12. Stay up to date with our free Scam Alerts service

To help you outsmart the scammers, we've created a free newsletter that delivers scams-related content. Learn how to spot scams and protect yourself, plus steps to take if you've been affected by a data breach.

Sign up for our free Scam Alerts service or bookmark our page on the latest scam alerts.

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