“While Windows Defender has improved considerably over the years, there are several key areas where it is still largely susceptible to attacks, as we have found during our repeated testing on The PC Security Channel,” Leo, who is the founder of the PC Security Channel, told me in email.
Back up your files, then disconnect the storage device.Īnother piece of advice is to separate work and personal devices, says Unit 42 of Palo Alto Networks, a cybersecurity firm. While attackers tend to target corporations, schools, and hospitals, “we may see consumers who are working from home and doing their shopping on their work devices get targeted by attackers,” Unit 42 said.
It’s strongly suggested by cybersecurity professionals that you use a a cloud-based file hosting service with automatic backup, such as Microsoft’s OneDrive, so you’re regularly backing up files.Īnother good defense is a so-called “air gap” strategy where the external storage device is completely disconnected (i.e., offline) from your computer and the internet.
