Computer Security Checklist

Clean

• Remove unused apps and software programs.
• In case any are providing an attack surface, as well as to save space and speed up scans.
• Disk Cleanup.
• Remove all but the most recent system restore point.

Keep software up to date

Automate as many of these as practical.  Subscribe to news feeds from vendors for any elements that cannot be automated.

• Computer firmware.
• Windows Update.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN).
• Antivirus.
• Google Chrome / Help / About.
• Other browsers.
• Other software (Visual Studio, etc.)
• Router firmware.
• Phone.

Run Anti-Malware

• Windows Defender.
• Malwarebytes.com
• Google Chrome / settings / advanced / reset and cleanup / clean up computer / Find harmful software.

Passwords

• Change them regularly to make the window of time it takes to crack them smaller.
• A minimum of 10 characters, the longer the better.  Make brute force attacks take as long as possible.
• Use letters, numbers, symbols. Faster focus brute force attacks that do not use all of these won't impact you.  Only be susceptible to the ones that will take longer.

Back up and Encrypt sensitive files

• In case something gets in, it can't use it to damage you or hold it for ransom.

Links

https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2019/05/22/Privacy-Awareness-Week

https://thycotic.force.com/support/s/article/Calculating-Password-Complexity