5 tips for the security of your student laptop

The new school year is upon us! You start the new school year in good spirits. You go back to your classes, dust off your laptop and get ready for the new lessons. It is a good idea to already take a look at what preparations you can make. Of course, you order your books in time. But have you also thought about a good digital preparation and how you can safely start the new school/study year online? We would like to give you some tips!

Tip 1: Use a pin code or password on your user account:

I can hear you thinking: "I known that already!"

We mention it because we often see people not setting a password on their computer. This is a huge risk.

If someone gets hold of your computer, they can access all your files, photos and e-mails. You don't want that, do you?

Also, when you walk away from your laptop, set it to lock automatically. It's safe, and danger is often just around the corner!

The Microsoft explainer page explains how to set it up quickly and easily.

Tip 2:  Check for updates and set up automatic updating:

Your operating system will regularly release updates to add functionality, improve features or fix software vulnerabilities. Make sure your laptop is running on the latest version as soon as possible.

Luckily, most operating systems allow automatic updating by default, so you will always have the latest updates. However, your device must be 'on' for this to work.

So after a long (summer) holiday, it is important to have your laptop updated for a fresh start. Turn it on one week in advance and let  all available updates  be installed during that day.  So you can start your school year safely!

Microsoft also has a explanation page written about this.

Tip 3: Back up regularly:

My computer crashed, all my files are gone! HELP!!!

Laptops are beautiful machines, but they also have a mind of their own sometimes. Sooner or later, your hard drive will break down or an unforeseen action will cause your laptop to crash. Make sure you do a periodic backup and you'll never have to worry again!

Laptop crashed? No problem!  Simply restore your backup and all your files will be back. Choose for example Acronis True Image. Acronis will do the work for you. Set when, what time and which files you want in the backup and Acronis will do the rest.

Do you have access to a Microsoft 365 licence, save your files in One-Drive by default. In this case, you have everywhere access to your files. You get 1Tb at your disposal. Plenty of space!

Tip 4: Use VPN to stay anonymous

Unfortunately, it is today's reality. From behind your trusted device in a trusted school you can unintentionally give others access to your most important information. And you could lose access too!

Especially if you connect to a public network, you run a greater risk. It is precisely on these types of networks that you are not in control of your own security. Making a copy of all the data you send via the network is just a few clicks away. Before you know it, your bank details will be stolen, your data will be used for identity fraud or other things will go wrong.

In public places we see many "fake networks" being set up with the sole purpose of stealing personal data. In those places it is good to use a VPN with an automatic start or kill switch function. All VPN providers can offer you protection on public networks.

A virtual private network (VPN) is the solution for this. DIt is software for your laptop that provides a secure connection between your device and the Internet. It sends your data via a secure connection to an external transmitter, from which your data is sent back to the Internet. This will allow you to secure access to the internet. This is especially useful if you are surfing on an open network, for example at school, a train station or the library..

View our; VPN solutions.

Tip 5: Use a good security suite

To be fair, the dangers lurking on your laptop are mainly digital. The most important tip to secure your laptop is therefore to use a good security software!

Security software includes features that protect you from all kinds of online threats, such as spam, malware, phishing and ransomware. It protects against emails that you have not asked for and do not want to receive.

A firewall is the digital wall between the internet and your device. It detects anything that wants to get into your laptop from the outside and will try to stop anything untrustworthy. This will completely prevent any dangers from getting into your laptop.

See also our total security solutions.