FEBRUARY 2020 PCWorld 101Windows PC more secure, it’s this: Stay away
from administrator accounts [go.pcworld.
com/admn]. If you’re blasted by malware, it
can only do as much damage as the account
it infects. Admin accounts give baddies the
keys to your computing kingdom.
“Once [Windows 7] stops being
patched, stick to using a Standard account
for your day-to-day activities if at all possible.
Use an admin account to create the
locked-down login and stock it with the
software you need—keeping our previous
program advice in mind—and then don’t
stray from Limited land unless you need to
install or update software. (And even then,
only stick in the admin account for as long
as is absolutely necessary to get the
installation done.)”
You can go even further though. If your
Windows 7 computer doesn’t need toLastPass makes password protection effortless.tools (go.pcworld.com/cobl),
we recommend buying a
premium version if
you’re still running
Windows 7.
Modern security
suites do much
more than antivirus
alone, protecting
you against
phishing, malicious
ads, browser and
email attacks, and
more. If you’re
running an unsupported operating system,
investing in a rounded-out security suite is
money well spent.
Norton Security Premium (go.pcworld.
com/nprm) is the best pick for most people
right now, but you have options. Again,
check out our guide to the best antivirus
software (go.pcworld.com/anvr) to see all
the security product’s we’ve tested. Be sure
to check your chosen program’s Windows 7
support cycle before you buy, though.
(Norton still works with Windows XP, even!)
BATTEN DOWN THE
HATCHES
Hackers can’t hack what they can’t touch.
Follow this pro tip from our old Windows XP
safety primer (go.pcworld.com/xprm):
“Barring being purely disconnected, if
there’s a single tip that could make any