Windows Security Hub
Free, plain-English guides to securing your Windows PC. Each one is short, jargon-free, and aligned with the UK Cyber Essentials framework. Start with the basics and work through the rest at your own pace.
Getting Started
- CE: All
Windows security: where to start
Securing a Windows PC sounds like a big job. It isn't. A handful of settings do most of the work, and Windows ...
- CE: All
Is your Windows PC already protected?
Before you change anything, it's worth seeing where you already stand. A lot of Windows protection is on by de...
Account & Access Security
- CE: User Access Control
Microsoft account security
Most Windows PCs sign in with a Microsoft account. That account is the key to your device, your email, and oft...
- CE: User Access Control
Windows Hello: PIN and biometrics
Windows Hello lets you sign in with a PIN, a fingerprint, or your face instead of typing a password. It sounds...
- CE: User Access Control
Standard and admin accounts on Windows
When you set up a Windows PC, the first account is usually an administrator. It can install software and chang...
- CE: User Access Control
Using a password manager on Windows
Reusing the same password across sites is one of the most common ways accounts get broken into. A password man...
Software & Malware Protection
- CE: Malware Protection
Windows Defender: what it does and how to check it
Windows comes with solid antivirus built in, called Microsoft Defender. For most home users it's all you need,...
- CE: Malware Protection
Safe browsing on Windows
Your web browser is your front door to the internet, so it's worth setting up well. All the main browsers have...
- CE: Malware Protection
Downloading software safely on Windows
A lot of Windows malware arrives dressed up as software you meant to install. A few simple habits keep you saf...
- CE: Malware Protection
Recognising and avoiding ransomware
Ransomware is malware that locks up your files and demands payment to unlock them. It sounds frightening, but ...
Network & Connectivity
- CE: Firewalls
Windows Firewall: what it does and how to check it
A firewall decides what's allowed to connect to your PC and what's blocked. Windows has one built in, and it's...
- CE: Firewalls
Securing your home router from a Windows PC
Your router is the front door to your whole home network, so a few minutes spent securing it protects every de...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Using a VPN on Windows
A VPN, or virtual private network, creates a private, encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic. It's useful ...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Public Wi-Fi risks for Windows users
Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but you don't know who else is on the network or who set it up. A laptop can be mo...
Device & System Security
- CE: Security Update Management
Windows Update explained
Keeping Windows updated is the single most effective thing you can do for security. Windows sends three kinds ...
- CE: Secure Configuration
BitLocker: encrypting your Windows laptop
Encryption scrambles the data on your drive so it's unreadable without your sign-in. If your laptop is lost or...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Secure Boot explained
Secure Boot is a setting in your PC's firmware that stops malicious software loading before Windows even start...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Disabling Remote Desktop when you don't need it
Remote Desktop lets someone control your PC from another computer. It's genuinely useful for some people, but ...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Reviewing your Windows privacy settings
Windows collects some data by default, and apps can ask to reach your location, camera, and microphone. Tidyin...
Threats & Incident Response
- CE: Malware Protection
Phishing on Windows: what to look for
Phishing is a message or pop-up designed to trick you into handing over a password or clicking something harmf...
- CE: Malware Protection
What to do if your Windows PC is hacked
If you think your PC has been compromised, don't panic. Working through a few clear steps in order will limit ...
- CE: Secure Configuration
Backing up your Windows PC
A backup is the safety net behind everything else. If a PC is lost, broken, or hit by ransomware, a good backu...
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