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

article Proxy vs. VPN: When to use a proxy server and when to use a VPN?

Proxy vs. VPN: When to use a proxy server and when to use a VPN?

Both VPN (Virtual Private Networks) and proxy servers are designed to keep you anonymous on the internet. They can also help you access websites and services that are not available to everyone because of censorship or various restrictions. Proxies and VPNs each have their advantages and weaknesses, and some are better than others in certain situations. Do you know what to choose when? Should
tutorial How to add and use a VPN in Windows 10 (all you need to know)

How to add and use a VPN in Windows 10 (all you need to know)

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, have become widely used tools that help people securely access a private network and share sensitive data through public networks. The main idea is that VPNs can generate virtual P2P (point-to-point) connections, or so-called encrypted tunnels, that allow you to use the internet as a medium for transporting data that is hard to intercept and access by third parties.
tutorial 6 ways to sign in to Windows 10

6 ways to sign in to Windows 10

Most people sign into Windows 10 using their password or the PIN they’ve created for their user accounts. However, there are other ways in which you can log in to Windows 10. You can do it using your face, your fingerprint, or a security key, if your computer offers support for such authentication options. But, do you know them all? Would you like to
tutorial 6 ways to add a local (non-Microsoft) user to Windows 10

6 ways to add a local (non-Microsoft) user to Windows 10

There are times when you need to know how to add a non-Microsoft account to Windows 10. Microsoft accounts come with the advantage of syncing your settings across multiple devices. However, some users prefer giving that up, in exchange for the more secure and private experience of a local offline (non-Microsoft) account. If you don’t want to share your info with Microsoft and you
tutorial How to switch to a Windows 10 local account from a Microsoft one

How to switch to a Windows 10 local account from a Microsoft one

If you already gave the Microsoft experience a shot and you're not impressed, switching to a Windows 10 local account from a Microsoft one is a simple process. While logging in with Microsoft has the advantage of cross-device synchronization, some users choose the security and privacy of a Windows 10 local account instead. This tutorial illustrates how to convert your Microsoft account into a
tutorial How to edit the list of allowed apps in Windows Defender Firewall (and block others)

How to edit the list of allowed apps in Windows Defender Firewall (and block others)

In Windows 10, the old Windows Firewall has been rebranded by Microsoft to Windows Defender Firewall. It is a security feature built into the operating system that helps block unauthorized access to your computer, while permitting authorized communications. This tool can filter both inbound and outbound traffic or set rules and exceptions, depending on the type of network to which you're connected. In this
tutorial Make InPrivate or Incognito shortcuts for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Internet Explorer

Make InPrivate or Incognito shortcuts for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Internet Explorer

If you don't want your web browser to keep your browsing history, your cookies and site data, temporary files, searches, and the information you entered in forms, then you have to use a form of private browsing. Google Chrome calls this mode Incognito, Firefox and Opera calls it Private Browsing, while Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge call it InPrivate. Read this guide and learn
tutorial How to manage BitLocker on a USB memory stick or flash drive

How to manage BitLocker on a USB memory stick or flash drive

If you've taken the time to protect your data using BitLocker To Go, you might want to understand the options you have for managing your encrypted USB memory stick or flash drive. Basic usage includes nothing more than entering your password, but you need to know more for special circumstances. Perhaps you want to change the password, add a smart card as a second
tutorial How to add a Microsoft account to Windows 10

How to add a Microsoft account to Windows 10

When you install Windows 10 or set it up for the first time, the operating system invites you to create a Microsoft account. However, during the setup process, you only get to configure one Microsoft account. What if you need to use more than one Microsoft account on your Windows 10 PC? What if you want to create another all-new user account on your
tutorial How to remove BitLocker To Go from a USB drive

How to remove BitLocker To Go from a USB drive

BitLocker To Go is useful when you want to protect the data on your removable drives (USB memory sticks, external hard disks, etc.). Though it can be helpful, it may not appeal to all users, because it asks you for a password each time you want to use the encrypted drive. If you have encrypted a flash drive, an external hard disk, or another
tutorial 3 ways to create a restore point in Windows 10

3 ways to create a restore point in Windows 10

When your Windows 10 machine breaks and refuses to work, System Restore is one of those lifesaving tools that makes you thankful they exist. That's because you can use it to repair your PC if you've created a system restore point before it started to misbehave. Did you create a system restore point? If you didn't, would you like to learn how to create
tutorial How to encrypt a system partition with BitLocker in Windows 10

How to encrypt a system partition with BitLocker in Windows 10

BitLocker Drive Encryption is one of the most used encryption solutions for Windows. It's a security tool found in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions that helps protect your data from unauthorized access. It does that by allowing you to encrypt system partitions, as well as other partitions you may have on your drives. In this tutorial, we're going to guide you through the
tutorial Get access to a BitLocker-encrypted USB drive when you forget its password

Get access to a BitLocker-encrypted USB drive when you forget its password

You've encrypted your flash drive using BitLocker To Go, and now your data is safe from prying eyes. To anyone without your password, your files are garbled beyond comprehension. Unfortunately, if you lose your BitLocker password, your data stays just as indecipherable to you as it is to others. Luckily, if you saved the recovery key during the initial BitLocker configuration, you should have
tutorial 3 ways to access BitLocker in Windows

3 ways to access BitLocker in Windows

BitLocker is one of the most straightforward tools that you can use on Windows computers to encrypt and protect your files and folders from unauthorized access. It's available in Windows 10 (Pro and Enterprise editions), as well as Windows 7 (Enterprise and Ultimate editions), but finding it can be daunting if you've never used it before. That's why we thought it would be a
tutorial How to unlock a BitLocker USB drive or external hard drive

How to unlock a BitLocker USB drive or external hard drive

Protecting the data on your external hard drive or USB memory stick with BitLocker To Go is a smart move to ensure that your files are not available to anyone who gets their hands on your drive. While it does take a while for BitLocker To Go to encrypt the data, after the initial setup, you should have no trouble using the encrypted drive.
tutorial Get ransomware protection with Windows 10's Controlled folder access

Get ransomware protection with Windows 10's Controlled folder access

Ransomware is one of the most dangerous forms of malware. It takes control of your files and folders and forces you to pay large amounts of money to get them back. And even then, you cannot be sure that you can get your data back. Microsoft noticed how dangerous these attacks are for their users, and decided to take measures: in Windows 10, the
tutorial How to create and use a picture password in Windows 10

How to create and use a picture password in Windows 10

Windows 10 aims to be the most secure operating system ever created. One of the ways it does that is by letting you use a Microsoft account to authenticate to your computer or device. Unfortunately, passwords for such accounts tend to be long and hard to remember. That's why Windows 10 also offers other means of authentication, including using a PIN code, a fingerprint,
tutorial How to make a Windows Defender Offline scan

How to make a Windows Defender Offline scan

There are times when your computers and devices may be infected by malware that is difficult to remove with traditional antivirus. On other occasions, the malware blocks the installation of any antivirus, and you cannot remove it manually. In such delicate situations, you need to boot an antivirus in a safe recovery environment, to have it running before the operating system is loaded. This
tutorial Protect your PC with Windows Security alongside a third-party antivirus

Protect your PC with Windows Security alongside a third-party antivirus

In general, we recommend installing security suites on Windows 10 PCs, from the likes of Bitdefender, ESET, or F-Secure. They usually provide more features and better antivirus protection than the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus found in Windows Security. The thing is that, when you install a third-party Windows antivirus, the Microsoft Defender Antivirus gets disabled. This happens because simultaneously running two antiviruses is a