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Security

What is an antivirus or security suite? How do you use your computers and devices, safely? How do you protect your privacy?

Introducing Windows 8.1: Should You Use a Local or a Microsoft Account?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8.1 offers you a choice that has not been available in older versions of Windows. Right from the start, before you even log in and see the operating system's interface, you'll have to choose whether you want to log in using a local account or a Microsoft account. Users who don't plan on taking advantage of the new Windows 8.1 apps and don't want to use most of its

Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Add, Create & Switch User Accounts

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
When you install or use Windows 8.1 for the first time, the first procedure the operating system will walk you through is the one of creating your primary user account. In most cases, this will be the main account that you will use. There are, however, cases when you need to configure additional user accounts, for other family members or friends for instance. Creating additional user accounts is not a

How to Set a Proxy Server on Windows 8.1 Tablet or Hybrid Device

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
One of the small but good improvements in Windows 8.1 is that it provides a touch-friendly way to set a proxy server. This proxy is then used by Internet Explorer and modern apps from the Windows Store that need to access the web. In Windows 8, even if you had a tablet or a hybrid device like Microsoft Surface, you had to use the desktop version of Internet Explorer to

How to Use Windows Defender in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Guess what Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 users: when you're using Microsoft's newest operating system you don't need to install virus protection... Oh god, we sound like those Mac elitists, don't we? Well, we aren't saying this due to an over-confidence in virus coders lack of interest in a comparatively small market share. We're saying this because Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 have a baked in antivirus that is sufficient

How to Use the Action Center in Windows 8 & 8.1 to Keep Your PC Secure

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Action Center was first introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and, since then, it has been constantly updated. In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 it offers many of the old and familiar options but also some exciting new ones, aiming to further increase the security and stability of your system. In this tutorial I will show how to open the Action Center in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1,

Introducing Windows 8.1: Configure the Action Center & its Messages

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Action Center in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 has an important role in keeping safe your computer or device and having it run well. This feature has received many improvements and it is now more powerful than ever before. In this article, I will show how to access its settings window and how to configure the way it works and how it notifies you. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] The Action Center Keeps

How to Add, Change or Remove VPN Connections in Windows 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8.1 provides a more complex PC Settings panel that, for some tasks and settings, it is better and more complete than the traditional Control Panel. One of the surprising things you can do with it is that you can create VPN connections, configure them in detail and remove them when you no longer need to use them. Here's how it all works: [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] How to Start the Add VPN

Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Improve Your Privacy When Using Apps

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8.1 brings many welcome changes, some of which have not been communicated very well by Microsoft. One of the lesser known changes is that Windows 8.1 has very good privacy controls for working with Windows Store apps. As you will see in this tutorial, these controls are detailed and really useful. If you want to set which apps use what data, then reading this guide is a must. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK]

Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Synchronize & Back Up Your Settings

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
A great feature, first introduced in Windows 8 and further improved in Windows 8.1, is the ability to synchronize your important Windows settings through the SkyDrive service. What's new in Windows 8.1 is that it can also back up your settings automatically, so that you can restore them manually, when needed. Here's how to use all the available sync and backup settings, in Windows 8.1 [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] NOTE: The synchronization service

How to Create, Configure and Use a VPN Connection in Windows 8 & 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) provide an easy way to extend a private network across the Internet and gain access to them when needed, in a secure manner. You may use VPN to connect to the network from your workplace, or to your home network when you are on the go. Indifferent of the reason, both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 offer features that enable you to create, configure and use

5 Reasons Why the Windows Firewall is One of the Best Firewalls

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Since we launched 7 Tutorials, we have tested lots of security products. Over the years, we learned a lot about what it means to provide a good security product and, we also learned that the Windows Firewall is one of the best firewalls available. Here are five reasons why we believe that the Windows Firewall is awesome: [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] 1. The Windows Firewall Offers the Best Integration With Windows The Windows

Scan for Open Ports & Evaluate the Security of Your System with Nmap

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Would you like to know how many open ports are found on each computer or device that is part of your network? Do you want to evaluate how good their firewall protection is and how vulnerable they are? Then, you should try Nmap - an open source tool for security auditing. We use it in our reviews for security solutions and we think it is awesome. You should also try

10 Features that Make Windows 8 the Most Secure Windows Yet

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
It will be quite obvious to any first-time user that Windows 8 is very different from previous versions. While the obvious interface changes will be the most talked about, the addition of a number of great security features is really worth getting excited over. Combine new features like early launch anti-malware with oldies like the Windows Firewall and you have an operating system that you can feel secure using. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK]

How to Remove a Trusted Windows 8 PC From Your Microsoft Account

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Having a trusted PC is a great asset to a Microsoft account holder. It allows you to synchronize passwords between trusted Windows 8 PCs and also makes managing your account easier. Rather than having to prove your identity by accessing an email or phone, Microsoft simply accepts that you are who you say your are because you're using your trusted system. While this is very useful, it can also be

Introducing Windows 8: How to Trust a PC Using Your Microsoft Account

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
If you are a Microsoft account holder, one of the first things you should do after creating the user account is to add your PC as trusted. From an account security standpoint, having a trusted computer gives you a secure place from which you can reset your password or confirm alterations to your account, without having to prove your identity. If you are also a Windows 8 user, trusting your

Evaluate How the Apps & Drivers Installed Weaken the Security of a PC

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Everybody knows that installing lots of drivers and software on a computer increases its vulnerability from a security standpoint. As you install stuff, the complexity increases as well as the likelihood of encountering security issues. I always wanted a tool to evaluate how the security of a system evolves while installing software that you plan to use and so far I haven't found one. Luckily, Microsoft released a free evaluation

How to Decrypt a TrueCrypt Encrypted Drive or Partition

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
If encrypting a partition with TrueCrypt can be a lengthy and painful process, the decryption is a lot smoother and faster. In this guide, I would like to share the steps involved, to make you feel comfortable and confident enough to go ahead with the process. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] NOTE: In order to decrypt a drive, it must be first mounted by TrueCrypt. If you are working with an external drive, manually

What is the Performance Impact of System Encryption With TrueCrypt

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
One of my recent dilemmas was: if I encrypt my computer, how much will computing performance have to suffer because of it? Will there be a big difference? If yes, in which areas? That's why I decided to run some tests on both my computers and learn more about the impact TrueCrypt encryption has on computing performance. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] Systems Being Tested The tests were made on two computers: a desktop

How to Encrypt Your System Drive With TrueCrypt In a Multi-Boot Configuration

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Many people use TrueCrypt to encrypt their systems and maintain their data as safe as possible. Encrypting your computer when you have one operating system installed and one partition is relatively easy, even with TrueCrypt. But, what about encrypting your system drive when using a multi-boot setup? That's really complicated and this guide is here to help. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] Prerequisites - What You Must Have Before You Start There are a

How Security Products Are Made - A Discussion with Bitdefender

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
One of the topics of interest at 7 Tutorials is security. Not only we write articles and tutorials about how to have a safe computing experience but we also review security products on a regular basis. One of the things we wanted to learn more about, is how security products are made: what are the steps involved? the most important challenges? etc. Luck has it that we got the chance
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