There is nothing more frustrating than when your computer is running slow. Before you start shopping for a new device, there are plenty of simple solutions you can try to fix your slow computer and get it running as efficiently as possible. From simple tips to more impactful solutions, here’s how to make your computer faster for Mac and Windows devices.

1. Restart Your Computer

When your computer is left on, background programs and apps can take over memory. Restarting your computer can refresh memory and allow for proper installments to update. It’s important to restart or shut down your computer at least once a week to keep things running smoothly.

2. Close Unused Tabs

If you’ve been working on a large project and have a million tabs open, it may be helpful to close all but the most essential ones and then restart your browser. Most browsers have an option to restore previous tabs once you’ve restarted or condensed.

Pro tip: You can also right-click a tab and select “Close other tabs” or “Close tabs to the right” to do this en masse.

3. Delete Internet Browsing History

If you occasionally notice your browser being sluggish, it’s a good idea to delete browsing history regularly, either from all time or by specifying how far back you’d like to delete. Most internet browsers have a History tab where you can select “Home” or “Show Full History” to access. You can also adjust settings to do this automatically every time you close your browser, or install extensions that can schedule regular history purges.

For the biggest performance benefit, delete as much as possible, including all-time browsing history, cookies/site data and cached images and files. If you’re worried about losing your passwords or auto-fill data, you can select to save these in advanced settings — or use a password manager to be even more secure.

4. Organize Desktop Icons

Categorizing desktop icons into folders not only cleans up your background; it can also cut down your device’s random access memory (RAM) usage. Each time your computer turns on, it must load each individual icon when you have not organized your desktop, which takes up lots of RAM space. This way, your computer only needs to load the few folders on your desktop.

5. Change Power Plan

When your computer is running slow, it can often mean that your device is running on a low performance or save battery mode. Changing your power plan may make your computer run faster.

Mac: For laptop users, select the Apple icon in the top left-hand corner. Then choose System Preferences > Battery. Switch on the Low Power Mode option. Note that you can set your device to run this way all the time or just in certain situations, like when the battery is low. 

For desktop users, follow the steps to get to System Preferences and select “Energy Saver.” If you notice your computer gets “groggy” after being in sleep mode, for example, you can prevent your computer from sleeping automatically when your display is off.  

PC: Go to the Start menu > Settings > System > Power and Battery. From there you can select your power to optimize performance. High performance is your best option for improving the speed of a slow computer. Just be aware that this may take more power to use. Power Saver can also help by limiting the utilities running simultaneously.

6. Check Your Hard Disk Space

It’s a good rule of thumb to keep your hard disk 15% free. If you see that your hard disk is almost full, remove some programs and files to improve speed.

Mac: Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and select the Macintosh HD on the sidebar. If you’ve got access to Siri, you can also just ask “How much disk space am I using?” From there, drag unused programs into the trash — just be sure you really don’t need them.

PC: In the Windows search, just look for “Disk Cleanup.” This will bring up a selection of files you can clear out, like temporary internet files or old downloads. There are also cleanup programs that can aid you in freeing up hard drive space by deleting temporary files, clearing browser history, deleting cookies, cleaning up the Windows registry and defragmenting your hard disk. For example, Panda Cleanup can help you keep your computer tuned up automatically.

7. Delete or Remove Large/Unnecessary Files

Any temporary files that were used in an installation process or caches and cookies from the internet can take up a lot of space on your hard disk. Here’s how to remove them.

Mac: Drag any unused files from your desktop to the trash bin. Then, if you use the desktop Mail app, clear your junk folder and delete any messages you don’t need. Finally, go to Finder > Downloads and delete any unneeded files.

PC: Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.

8. Back Up Your Data

Backing up your data allows your computer to free up space on its RAM and OS, allowing it to run smoother. If you feel like your computer stores your entire life of memories, it might be a good idea to back up your data via file sharing.

Here are a few ways to back up your computer:

• Purchase an external hard drive
• Back up online through Google Photos, Amazon Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.
• Back up on a jump drive, CD or DVD and store in a safe place

9. Update Your Drivers

The drivers that govern your computer’s programs need to stay up-to-date to provide the best possible performance. If yours haven’t been updating automatically, they could be causing performance issues. Here’s how to check and update them. 

Mac: Head to the Apple menu > System Preferences, and look for the Software Update option. For apps from the App Store, go back to the Apple menu and see if there’s a number next to the App Store option.

PC: These typically update automatically when you update Windows, so start by checking that. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Follow those prompts to update Windows.

To check individual program drivers, type “device manager” into the Windows search and open Device Manager. You’ll see application groupings you can explore — just right-click each name you want to check and click “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

10. Prevent Unnecessary Programs From Starting

When you start your computer, you may find that other programs begin to initialize, which can make it take longer to boot up and slow it down once it’s booted. Here’s how to fix slow computer startup by making sure programs don’t start automatically.

Mac: From the Apple menu, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups. Here, you’ll see a list of items that boot at startup for your profile. Find programs you’d like to prevent from opening automatically and click the minus sign (-) to remove them.

PC: Press Windows + I to bring up Settings > Apps > Startup — from here, you can see which open at startup and turn off any you don’t want to automatically boot. For older versions of Windows, open the Start menu and run a search for “msconfig.” Choose “Startup” to see a list of all programs that run when you boot up your computer and uncheck anything unnecessary.

11. Check RAM and Add More If Needed

RAM is the storage memory your computer uses. The more programs being used, the more RAM is required. That means your computer may slow down if there isn’t enough RAM, especially when processing large files or performing multiple actions at once. Here’s how to check how much you have.

Mac: Open the Activity Monitor by browsing for it or opening Launch Pad and running a search for “activity monitor,” then open the program. (You can also ask Siri to do this.) . If the pie chart is mostly green, your RAM should be OK. If i’s mostly red and yellow, consider installing additional RAM.

PC: Initialize the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Select the Performance tab and find the area titled Physical Memory (MB). If you find that the number next to Available or displayed next to Memory is less than 25% of your total physical memory, you should consider adding RAM.

12. Check CPU Usage

Your activity or resource monitor will show you which programs are taking up the most memory and using a large bit of your CPU, or central processing unit.

Mac: Open the Activity Monitor by browsing for it or opening Launch Pad and running a search for “activity monitor,” then open the program. (You can also ask Siri to do this.)  Sort by the % CPU column to see which programs are at the top. If anything is using over 50%, chances are it is slowing down other programs. Make your computer faster by deleting more demanding applications and using faster alternatives, or ensure all other programs are closed when using that application.

PC: Press Windows + R, and then enter “resmon.exe” in the open field of the window that opens up. Check the CPU Usage percentage, and click the Applications tab to view the applications using the most memory. Delete and replace high-CPU applications or open them without any other unnecessary programs running when necessary.

13. Disable Visual Effects

Windows users may have several visual elements weighing down performance, like cursor shadows, bar animations and fading for closed or minimized windows. These additions look polished but aren’t necessary. If you’re more interested in performance than a crisp look, try turning them off.

Run a Windows search, then enter “sysdm.cpl” to launch System Properties. Go to Advanced > Performance > Settings. Click the “Adjust for best performance” option, or sift through and turn off the specific elements that aren’t important to you.

14. Repair Disk Permissions

If you don’t have the right permissions running, you could have trouble with the basic operations on your computer. It’s recommended that you repair disk permissions every few months to avoid issues with your disk.

Mac: Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and then select your startup disk. Select “First Aid” and choose “Repair Disk Permissions.” This will search the permissions settings on your hard drive to ensure files are accessible only to the user and that applications have the permissions to do so. Restart your computer after completion.

PC: Be cautious with this solution, as it could potentially make your system inaccessible. It may be better to consult an IT professional first. Press Windows + S. In the next window, type “CMD,” select the option for “Run as an administrator,” and then review and accept the prompts. In the next field, type “icacls * /t /q /c /reset” and hit Enter. Then, restart your computer.

Signs Your Computer May Have a Virus

Once you’ve completed the above measures to help your computer run faster, you should see a positive difference in the performance. If, however, you are still experiencing a slow computer, your device may be infected with a virus. Here are the top signs that your computer might be experiencing a more serious issue.

• Unexpected pop-ups continue to appear
• Your hard drive is working extra hard (even after wiping it of excess files)
• Your computer is still slow to start up
• You find you have a lack of storage space
• You are missing files
• Your computer’s programs continue to crash
• Your web browser is sluggish

It’s important to practice safe web browsing. If you suspect your computer may be compromised or you can’t pinpoint the issue yourself, it can be useful to contact the operating system’s support team. They should be able to identify the problem with your system or have you bring in your device for further inspection.

Closing Thoughts on How to Make a Computer Faster

These tips for how to make a computer faster should offer a few simple solutions that can help improve performance. For some of the more involved solutions later in the list, it could be helpful to consult an IT professional first or at least save that as a last resort.

With millions of viruses lurking on the internet, it’s a good idea to install an antivirus program to keep your computer safe. It’s also important to keep systems updated to prevent holes in your operating system.

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Across the world, more people now own a smartphone than a computer.

Which means that cybercriminals are now targeting the device in your pocket too.

Here are nine signs that your phone may have been hacked:

1. New apps installed automatically
   

   If you notice a new icon on your smartphone homescreen or discover apps have installed themselves without your permission, there’s a good chance something is wrong. Hackers will often automatically install fake apps on compromised devices so they can steal information.

2. You run out of data unexpectedly
   

   Bandwidth-hungry apps like YouTube and TikTok can use up a lot of your data allowance. But what if your smartphone is consuming lots of data when you’re not using it? This kind of behavior suggests that your phone is sending data to a hacker in the background – or maybe it has become part of a botnet.

3. Your phone is disconnected
   

   If you suddenly lose network access (you can’t send and receive calls or messages) the problem is usually caused by a local telecoms outage. But it may also indicate that your phone number has been transferred to another provider as part of an identity theft scam.

4. Your cloud passwords are reset
   

   Google Cloud and iCloud are really useful for protecting photos and other data from being lost. And hackers will often target cloud storage for that reason. If you receive genuine messages from Apple/Google about password reset requests, it may indicate a hacking.

5. Your phone is making secret calls and sending texts
   

   Hackers can remotely trigger a malware-infected phone to make secret calls and texts. By calling premium-rate phone numbers, they can rack up charges on your account – and you won’t know until the next bill comes in. In the meantime, they make money from these calls/texts.

6. Your browsing is interrupted by constant pop-ups
   

   If your smartphone keeps showing pop-up advertisements, your phone may have been infected with adware or malware.

7. Your smartphone is slowing down
   

   There are plenty of legitimate reasons why your smartphone may slow down (new apps don’t run so well on older devices for instance), but it may also indicate something is wrong.
   Malware running in the background will cause other apps to perform poorly, so you should perform a malware scan.

8. Your smartphone gets hot
   

   Resource intensive apps, like games, will cause your phone to heat up. But if your phone is always hot, particularly if you are not using it for anything, may indicate a malware infection.

9. Your battery drains faster than normal
   

   Smartphone batteries degrade with age, meaning they drain more quickly as they get older. But if you notice a significant decline in battery life, it may indicate that malware is draining your power.

Antimalware is essential for all your devices, not just computers and laptops.

Click here to download Panda Dome for your mobile phone today!

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One of the biggest problems with IT security is that hackers are finding new ways to break into your computer or steal your data every day. This means that you must check your security settings regularly to ensure you are properly protected.

This simple 7-point checklist will help you get your defenses in order – and keep the criminals out.

1. Strengthen your passwords

Do you reuse the same password for all your apps and services? Stop! If hackers can crack one password, they can access all of those apps. Stealing the password from your favorite game could also give the hacker access to your bank account.

You should choose long, complicated passwords that combine upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special symbols (?!@£%&*- etc). Obviously complex passwords are hard to create and remember, so use a password manager like Panda Dome Passwords to do it for you – automatically.

2. Install antimalware

Malware and ransomware are popular and effective ways to break into computers. Worse still, they are very effective and they can cause extensive damage.

Antimalware software is essential for protecting your devices against infection. Make sure your computers, tablets and smartphones have antimalware installed and is being regularly updated. You can get started by downloading a free trial of Panda Dome.

3. Enable Two Factor Authentication (2FA) on your accounts

Unfortunately, even strong passwords can be cracked. But by enabling Two Factor Authentication (2FA), you can make it much harder for criminals to break in.

With 2FA you must supply a second password – one that is auto-generated by the system and sent via SMS to your phone. No phone, no secondary passcode, no account access.

So if your apps or online services offer 2FA – enable it. You will be much less likely to fall victim to hackers.

4. Delete unused apps

Unused apps tend to be forgotten but that won’t stop hackers. The more apps and accounts you have, the more opportunities there are for hackers to break in.

Take some time to delete any apps or accounts you don’t use – your devices will be much safer when you do.

5. Update your software

Software developers release frequent updates to patch security issues. But you have to install the updates to be protected.

Make sure you regularly updates apps and operating systems to reduce your risk of being hacked.

6. Use a VPN

Some hackers will try and monitor what you do online as a way to capture passwords and other sensitive data. They capture unencrypted data as it passes across the internet.

A VPN like Panda VPN Premium, will encrypt all of your internet traffic so it cannot be intercepted or stolen in this way.

7. Stay alert

You are one of the best defenses against hackers. Stay aware of what is happening on your devices – if you spot something unusual or suspicious, it could be a sign of hacker activity. And if you do see something wrong, you can ask for help before you become a victim of cybercrime.

So there you have it, seven key steps for securing your devices and data. Bookmark this checklist and make sure you work through

The post Is it time for a cyber security hygiene check? appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.

Keeping software up-to-date is one of the most important things people can do to protect themselves from becoming victims of cybercrime. Unfortunately, bad actors daily find and exploit different types of loopholes in operating systems, apps, firmware, and general desktop software. Just last year, the FBI received reports for losses worth over $10 billion, an increase of nearly 50% compared to 2021. If the growth percentage remains as high in 2023, the USA will end this year with approximately 15 billion dollars in losses.

While security agencies can recover a big chunk of the stolen funds after reports are filed with the authorities, one of the significant factors that cause businesses and individuals to lose so much money is their stubbornness to maintain a high level of security by simply applying patches and keeping software up-to-date. Hackers are actively monitoring the release of 0-day exploits. Sometimes government agencies unintentionally even promote those security loopholes as hackers receive the alerts and quickly exploit the security weakness before IT administrators and regular individuals apply the security fixes.

Hospitals and health organizations, in general, are particularly vulnerable as the equipment is often dated and necessary to work constantly, hence not allowing IT staff to perform the required updates and apply security patches recommended by tech companies. Unfortunately, healthcare organizations are not the only ones suffering massively. Almost every day, we hear news of individuals and organizations of all sizes getting hit by ransom after bad actors somehow sneak into a weak network or system. Often the way to get in does not even require a lot of skills but just good timing and monitoring of announcements for zero-day exploits. And the overworked IT staff’s inability to keep up with the constant updates costs business owners and governments a lot.

The lack of understanding of the importance of updating software come from more than just the corporate industry. Individuals are also a big part of the problem as unprotected intelligent home devices often end up under the control of hackers who use them to perform malicious activities such as DDoS attacks. A hacked “smart” birdfeeder might not sound very dangerous. Still, an army of hacked intelligent devices controlled by cyber criminals might end up responsible for downing an airline website or a government service. Botnets made of weak smart devices and routers can cause much damage. Delays in software updates also give hackers the time to deploy malicious codes and steal sensitive information from personal devices, leading to identity theft, ransom requests, loss of important files, etc.

Tech giants such as Microsoft and Apple constantly release patches and updates that are in place to protect individuals and businesses from becoming victims, and those need to be applied promptly. If you are struggling to stay up to speed with the latest software versions on all your connected devices and you care for your cyber security, consider using anti-virus software. Top cyber security solutions are available out there and are reasonably affordable. Both individuals and businesses could use innovative anti-virus tools to stay secure and up-to-date with software improvements and patches.

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Selling your computer? Giving it to a friend? Throwing it away? Before doing anything you need to make sure your personal data has been removed to stop it falling into the wrong hands.

These steps will help you wipe everything from your computer before it moves on.

Microsoft Windows 10 and 11

Windows 10 makes it extremely easy to clean your hard disk:

• • Right-click the Start button and click the Settings option
  • Click the Update & Security icon
  • In the next window, select the Recovery option from the left-hand menu

• In the main window, click Get started in the Reset this PC section
• The page will reload again. Select Remove everything to start the disk wiping process.

Your computer will start a quick wizard that takes you through a few extra warnings and options. Follow the onscreen instructions and the computer will complete the rest of the process automatically. This may take a while…

The process is exactly the same for Windows 10 and 11 – even if the screens and menus look slightly different.

Apple MacOS

Apple make the disk wiping process slightly harder, mainly to stop people accidentally deleting all their data. Here’s what you need to do:

M1/M2 Macs

• Turn your computer off
• Press and HOLD the power button – eventually you see Continue holding for startup options appear under the Apple logo
• You will then be presented with some onscreen options. Click Options -> Continue
• Select your username from the list and click Next. Enter your password when prompted and click Continue
• When the screen reloads select Disk utility from the list of options and click Continue again
• Select your hard disk from the list on the left, then click the Erase button at the top of the screen
• Another screen will pop up – select Erase to begin the process of resetting your computer to factory defaults

Intel Macs

Accessing the Disk Utility on an older Intel Mac is slightly different:

• Turn your computer off
• Press and hold Ctrl and R on the computer keyboard, then turn the power back on
• Keep holding Ctrl and R as the computer starts up. You can let go when you see the MacOS Utilities menu
• Select Disk utility from the list of options and click Continue again
• Select your hard disk from the list on the left, then click the Erase button at the top of the screen
• Another screen will pop up – select Erase to begin the process of resetting your computer to factory defaults

The actual disk wiping process is exactly the same whether you have an Intel of Apple Silicon Mac.

Factory reset and ready to go

Once you have completed the relevant disk wiping process all personal data will have been deleted. So you can be sure your information is safe – and whoever gets your old computer has a fresh, factory ready machine to work with.

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Have you ever browsed an eCommerce site and added potential purchases to your cart, only to exit your browser and not submit the order? Did you ever navigate back to the site and find that your cart still held those items? If you’ve ever been grateful for that saved cart, you have internet cookies to thank. 

Browser cookies store small pieces of information so websites can personalize your experience. If cookies didn’t exist, you’d enter preferences like your language, currency, and authentication every time you visited a new webpage. Cookies are helpful for improving your user experience, so how can they be bad?

Although the standalone data of a cookie is not harmful, it’s possible for hackers to steal them and data-mine your browsing history. So even though cookies are not inherently bad, they pose some danger to the user’s privacy. As a responsible web user, you should distinguish the types of cookies you want to allow and to what extent.

HTTP Cookies: What Are They?

HTTP cookies are text files that store small pieces of data to improve the browsing experience. Also known as web, internet, or browser cookies, these small files are created by your server and sent to your browser. The exchange of information allows a web page to identify your computer and serve tailored information about your current and future sessions as a personalized experience.

First-Party vs. Third-Party Cookies

Not all cookies are necessary for a great user experience. Generally, first-party cookies are the helpful kind that allow websites to personalize your experience. Third-party cookies aren’t as useful and pose certain security risks. Learn more about how they’re different below.

• First-party cookies are directly stored by the website you’re visiting. They calculate things like the number of sessions and page visits.
• Third-party cookies transmit data to another website outside the one you’re visiting and may pose privacy concerns for your data.

Other Types of Internet Cookies to Know

In theory, cookies are a good thing. The personalization of browsing lends itself to a streamlined user experience. However, it’s possible for hackers to replicate information from a cookie even after it’s been deleted. It’s important to know about the different types of cookies and what they do, so you can enable the right ones.

• Session cookies: Session cookies are perhaps the safest form of web cookies. Their function allows a website to remember a computer while browsing from page to page. When the session ends, so does the cookie and transfer of information. 
• Persistent cookies: Persistent cookies exist in a more permanent way to maintain user preferences. They’re primarily used for authenticating a specific computer so you stay logged in while navigating between pages. These cookies also track multiple visits to the same webpage. When an eCommerce website remembers the items in your shopping cart after navigating away from the page, you have persistent cookies to thank.
• Evercookies, Zombie Cookies, and Supercookies: All one and the same, these “cookies” are not cookies at all. Rather than stored data, they are routines that recreate themselves even after a browser cache has been cleared. When you delete one, they’ll often still exist in others—typically video browser software like Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe Flash, which allow access to the same data in several locations.

Should I Accept Cookies?

In most cases, cookies are useful. They create a convenient online experience that remembers authentication, your cart, login information, and language or currency preferences. You’ll want to keep them on trustworthy sites so you can browse efficiently online. 

On the other hand, allowing cookies on websites that appear to be a threat could be harmful to your device. While cookies won’t harm your computer on their own, it’s possible for hackers to infiltrate the information that cookies store to track your browsing history.

What Happens If You Don’t Accept Cookies?

Like spring cleaning, it’s a good idea to occasionally clear your cookies from your browser. Doing so reduces the risk of breaches. Keep in mind that some cookies, such as zombie cookies, require clearing your cache across video browser software, like Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, to avoid replication.

How to Clear Cookies From Your Browser

Like spring cleaning, it’s a good idea to occasionally clear your cookies from your browser. Doing so reduces the risk of breaches. Keep in mind that some cookies, such as zombie cookies, require clearing your cache across video browser software, like Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, to avoid replication.

How to Clear Cookies on Chrome

In Google Chrome, you have the option to delete all site data or singular cookies. Analyze what websites are tracking your browsing history, and delete anything unnecessary.

1. Go to the Chrome menu.
2. Select preferences.
3. Go to privacy and security.
   
4. Choose clear browsing data.
   
5. Select cookies and other site data, then click clear data.

How to Clear Cookies on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge doesn’t have the option to delete single cookies, so when clearing your cache, make sure there’s no important information stored that you want to avoid deleting.

1. Go to the Microsoft Edge menu.
2. Click clear browsing data.
3. Select Cookies and other site data and click clear now.

How to Clear Cookies on Firefox

Firefox allows you to delete multiple cookies, single cookies, or all saved cookies. Follow these instructions to delete all cookies.

1. Go to the Firefox menu.
2. Select preferences.
3. Click privacy and security.
4. Go to cookies and site data and choose clear data.
5. Select cookies and site data and click clear.
   

How to Clear Cookies on Safari

In Safari, you can remove existing cookies and change your preferences to direct which cookies you’ll accept in the future.

1. Go to the Safari menu.
2. Click preferences.
3. Select privacy and manage website data.
4. Choose to remove all cookies or a select few, then click done.
   

The cookies created during website visits are stored to personalize the user experience. Although cookies themselves are not bad, there is the possibility of cybercriminals infiltrating data from cookies to gain access to your browsing history. Clear your cache, and give only trusted websites access to store cookies. 

As an added layer of protection, use antivirus software to scan for any known threats on your device. 

Sources: Web Technology Surveys

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You may think that when you delete your files and move them into the trash, they’re gone forever. Well, this isn’t the case. In reality, these files are simply redistributed throughout the hard drive. Therefore, if you’re trying to learn how to wipe a hard drive, you must understand that you will need to erase all data of those once-existing files.

Your hard drive may store financial documents, personal information and anything else that once called your computer home. Typically those interested in erasing all traces of former files are getting ready to sell a computer, discarding damaged drives, upgrading or wanting a clean slate.

When selling, trading or recycling your device, it’s important to clear all data from the hard drive so that whoever gets hold of your former device can’t leak or steal any personal information. If you’re interested in protecting yourself from malware, identity theft and other risks, then read on to learn how to wipe a hard drive.

Table of Contents: 

• How to Completely Wipe a Hard Drive
  • Step 1: Back It Up
  • Step 2: Hold Onto Passwords and Login Credentials
  • Step 3: Use a Program to Wipe Hard Drive
  • Step 4: Manually Wipe Hard Drive Yourself
• How to Wipe a Hard Drive on Windows
• How to Wipe a Hard Drive on Mac

How to Completely Wipe a Hard Drive 

Your personal life doesn’t need to be in the hands of anyone else except yourself. That said, when it’s time to let go of or sell your device, it’s important to ensure you’re thoroughly wiping your hard drive to reduce the risk of cybertheft or exposing personal information. You don’t have to see a tech-guru to have your hard drive wiped. Follow these simple steps on how to thoroughly wipe your hard drive. 

Step 1: Hold Onto Passwords and Login Credentials

Is forgetting your password a universal phenomenon? Trying to remember passwords, especially the lengthy ones you had to create to meet a platform’s requirements, is not second nature. 

When preparing to wipe a hard drive, it’s important to remember to save your passwords and login credentials. You can manually write them down for safekeeping, or you can back up a file containing all of them onto your USB or external hard drive. Doing this will prevent the stress that comes along with having to click “forgot password” every time you log in after emptying your hard drive.  

Step 2: Back It Up

It’s always sensible to routinely back up your hard drive and devices, but it’s a must when getting ready to wipe it clean. 

Often, backing up your data is as simple as connecting your storage device to your computer and transferring files to it. You can use thumb drives or USB flash drives to back up your data. But keep in mind that these are smaller storage devices, so you might not be able to save all the information you need. 

A better choice might be external hard drives, which can provide greater storage. Additionally, you can move your data to a different computer. Cloud backups are another practical choice and are often safe.

Backing up your hard drive can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the size of each file and the overall size of the backup. If you need to back up your computer, it’s recommended not to leave this till the last minute so that you have a sufficient amount of time for the backup to complete. If you rush a backup or skip over larger files before wiping your hard drive, those files are lost forever. 

Step 3: Use a Program to Wipe Hard Drive 

You can permanently erase data on your hard drive with the help of professional programs. Although the chances of retrieving erased data is slim with these applications, the good news is that no one else can recover your deleted files.

The majority of these data-destruction tools replace deleted files with zeros and other confusing information. Software for data recovery is unable to recover the files as a result.

Panda Security’s Cleanup program is an efficient and easy-to-understand program made for exactly this. Cleanup can free up space on a hard drive, monitor cookies and more. Luckily, wiping a hard drive is a common occurrence in today’s technology-driven world, so there are numerous programs that you can use to help you out. 

Step 4: Manually Wipe Hard Drive Yourself

If you’re worried that a program may have left files on the hard drive or you just want a safer guarantee, you can manually wipe your hard drive yourself. The drive can actually be erased. 

Rare-earth magnet method:

One option that will destroy your hard drive is to use a rare-earth magnet. A rare-earth magnet is a very strong one, so a standard refrigerator magnet won’t do in this scenario. 

• Remove the hard drive from your computer

• Place the magnet on one side of the hard drive and let it sit for two to three minutes

• Rub the magnet in circular motions along the drive for about one minute
• Repeat on the other side of the hard drive

This should cause irreversible damage to your hard drive, but use this method with caution as inappropriate use could result in bodily harm. 

Screwdriver disassembly method:

You can also use a screwdriver to physically disassemble your drive from your computer. You can harm it using this technique in such a way that any data can only be recovered by a skilled hacker.

• Flip the hard drive over so you can see the main circuit board

• The four Torx screws on the circuit board should be removed using a Torx driver.

• Take the board out, split it in half, and throw it away.

By using this technique, you can recycle the hard drive with confidence that no one will be able to read its contents by simply connecting the drive to another PC.

How to Wipe a Hard Drive on Windows

If you own a Windows 10 or 11 computer there is a simpler way to erase your hard drive. No need for a rare-earth magnet or screwdriver — this process involves multiple steps that can all be carried out from the settings application. Follow these step-by-step instructions for your Windows 10 or 11 devices. 

• Go to Settings → “System”  → “Recovery”

• For Windows 10 go to “Update & Security” instead of “System” 

• Find “Reset this PC” and click “Reset” 

• For Windows 10 click “Get Started” 

• Click “Remove Everything” 

• Reinstall Windows via either prompts: “Cloud Download” or “Local Reinstall” 

• Go to “Additional Settings” → “Change Settings” → “Clean Data”

• For Windows 10 toggle “Wipe the Drive” instead of “Clean Data”

• Click “Reset” 

How to Wipe a Hard Drive on a Mac

Not all devices function the same way. Therefore, if you own a Mac computer follow the instructions below for wiping your hard drive clean. 

• Restart your Mac 

• Hold the “Command” and “R” keys while the computer restarts

• Let go when the Apple logo appears 

• Click “Disk Utility” → “Continue”

• Go to “View” → “Show all Devices” 

• Choose your Mac’s drive → Hit “Erase” 

• Fill in “Name,” “Format,” and “Scheme” 

• Name: You can name the disk anything you’d like 

• Format: Choose “APFS (Apple File System)” or “Mac Os Extended (Journaled)” 

• Select “Erase” 

• Click “Done” when the button appears on the screen 

• Reinstall OS 

Whether you’re getting ready to sell or trade in your computer, wiping your hard drive is key to protecting your personal information. To make the process simple and easy, seek help from cybersecurity experts at Panda Security who can help you wipe your hard drive from the comfort of your home.

The post How to Wipe a Hard Drive in 4 Steps appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.

Europe has been gripped by a major heatwave this summer with higher-than-normal temperatures being recorded in some places like Britain. And although the heat is extremely uncomfortable for us – and potentially disastrous for our smartphones.

Take notice of the warnings

Warning messages on your smartphone usually mean there is a problem. So when it says “To resume use of your device as quickly as possible, turn it off, move it to a cooler environment (away from direct sunlight) and allow it to cool down” don’t ignore it.

This is your phone’s way of telling you that something might be about to go wrong.

Why does it matter?
If they overheat, the sensitive electronics in your smartphone could be permanently damaged. Worse still, the lithium ion battery that powers the phone could swell – or possibly even catch fire.

These heat-related issues affect all smartphones, including Android and Apple devices.

How to use your smartphone safely in the heat

Here are five tips you protect your phone in the heat:

1. Never leave your phone in the car

The enclosed space inside your car can become extremely warm – even hotter than the temperatures outside in the open air. Never, ever leave your phone in the car on a hot day to prevent serious damage.

2. Use your phone in the shade – or indoors

If you must use your phone on a hot day, move into the shade – or indoors – first. This will help to lower the temperature of your device and prevent it from overheating. Make sure you keep your smartphone in the shade at all times – put it under your towel when not in use.

3. Go easy on your device

Certain apps, like games or Facebook are very ‘resource intensive’. These apps make the smartphone’s processor work harder, which also makes them hotter. Stick to simple tasks like web browsing until you can find a cooler place. You could also consider enabling ‘airplane mode’ or low battery mode which will help to prevent overheating.

4. Take your phone case off

Smartphone design is about more than just building a visually appealing device. Parts of the case are designed to improve network connections – and others will help to draw heat away from the battery and internal components so that the device stays cool. When you put a case on, these heat transfer parts do not work properly – so taking your case off in hot weather will help to prevent overheating. Just be careful you don’t drop your phone!

5. DO NOT put your device in the fridge

Placing your smartphone in the fridge will definitely help to cool it – but it could also cause other problems. The air inside your freezer is moist – when it comes into contact with the hot phone, that moisture will condense, and could cause electrical shorts (just like dropping your phone in the bath would).

So there you have it, five ways to protect your smartphone this summer. Good luck!

The post Are you overheating? Your phone might be too… appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.

Over the last two decades, home internet morphed from a luxury to a utility. Couple years ago, even Congress finally acknowledged that broadband is essential and it must be accepted as a utility as other vital home services such as electricity, gas, water, etc. Governments around the globe are looking for ways to treat broadband as a utility by establishing blackout prevention strategies and network infrastructure support and replacement. And while they do that, the newest member of the utility family is one of the most unpredictable. Electrical and gas blackouts do not happen very often. Still, almost anyone complains of slow internet way too often than they should, especially since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, when people truly realized how crucial the internet could be for daily life.

Most people, who experience slow or unreliable internet speeds at home, hurry up to blame the local Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, ISPs do not always deserve to get all the blame for slow or unstable internet connectivity. In many cases, people just rush out to move onto the next tier of speed offered by an ISP and end up spending more money, hoping that their slow internet woes will go away. However, most of the time this does not help at all. Many forget that ISPs are simply internet outlets for homes. And speeds and reliability can often be limited by other factors such as dated equipment, viruses, constantly increasing number of intelligent devices used in a household, house building materials, weather conditions, etc.

Here are a few things to consider before calling your ISP and requesting them to increase your speeds… and your bill.

• Dated networking equipment

If your router is older than your dog or your children, the chances that this is the reason for your unreliable home internet are pretty high. The wireless internet is now well into adopting WiFi 6 and 6E standards, and your router may be stuck in the 00s. You may want to head down to your local tech shop to purchase more up-to-date equipment.

• Dated connected devices

Sometimes, internet slowness is not because of the internet but because of older connected devices. If your laptop or PC, or Mac has not been refreshed recently, your equipment might be the one that is causing the slowness in your connection. Getting a new device might be the solution for your slow speeds.

• Distance from the router or WiFi access point

People are becoming increasingly reliant on the internet, and sometimes they end up in parts of the house that do not have that good coverage. You can fix that by installing mesh WiFi routers or a network extender that can help you blanket your whole home and get you decent network speeds anywhere on your property.

• Smart devices

The more connected intelligent devices you have at home, the more it affects your internet speeds. For example, room lights can be connected, temperature sensors, surveillance video cams, smart thermostats, smart doorbells, garage door openers, etc. And that is on top of all the laptops, smartphones, PCs, and other equipment used for streaming. While none of these devices is a vast data consumer, all these devices affect internet performance.

• Weather

The weather can be a severe problem to internet speeds, especially satellite connections. Even clouds can prevent your antenna from beaming the internet signal, causing slow or unreliable speeds. If your equipment is up-to-date, but the weather is terrible, you may want to call your ISP – they will at least confirm that the weather is causing the troubles.

• Malware

If you have infected intelligent devices at home, you could experience a significant decrease in internet speeds. This is because the malicious code might be using a chunk of your traffic to send or download data. Or your computer might be so busy dealing with those malicious background processes that it affects the overall performance of your device, making you think that your internet is slow. The best way to be on the safe side is always to have reliable antivirus software on all your smart devices.

• VPN

If you’ve gone through all the possibilities and your internet continues to be unstable, your VPN provider may be limiting you. For example, if you are using VPN to connect to your work or school server, the limitations and slowness might be coming from them. Of course, using VPN is essential if you want to keep your privacy, but it is also necessary to have VPN that does not limit your internet speed and lets you browse at the same speed rates as if your connection was not going through a VPN.

Internet slowdowns sometimes occur because of problems within your ISP’s infrastructure but could also come from your house. The best way to identify the problem is to go through all the possible scenarios, measure your speed with Ookla and MLab and troubleshoot until you are fully satisfied. And if you’ve tried everything and are not yet happy with your internet quality, you may reconsider switching your ISP. Broadband is a utility, and as such, it needs to function correctly. You can check out the FCC National Broadband Map to learn more about your home internet options available at your location.

The post Is your Internet too slow? appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.

Having a slow PC or a laptop could be very frustrating. The idea of something with very few moving parts that suddenly stops working or starts operating on 50% when compared to yesterday can get on your nerves. In some cases, a PC or a laptop gradually becomes slower and slower with time. While it indeed is irritating to experience a decrease in PC performance, in most cases, there are ways to troubleshoot and possibly resolve the issue that might be causing the slowness.

Physical cleanliness

While wiping your screen with a cloth once in a while is certainly advisable, this activity does not improve performance. Instead, you may want to consider opening up the build and gently getting rid of the possible dust and hair that might have accumulated over the years in your system. Of course, cleaning up old PCs could sometimes be art itself, but even a quick cleaning can help your device’s fans run a bit more unobstructed, which may increase cooling and possibly help your PC be a bit faster.

Free up some space

Years of constant use of a PC or a laptop can accumulate many temporary internet files. Cleaning up unused files and emptying your temporary internet files folder might make a difference. Keeping an eye on available storage space is essential as your computer’s overall performance can significantly decrease if you start running out of space on your HDD or SSD. The more room you have, the more unlikely it is for your PC to be running slow because it is clustered. If deleting stuff from your PC is not possible, you may consider storing the data in the cloud.

Check for viruses or unwanted background tasks

If your computer is infected with malicious software, it will likely experience a slowdown. Background processes of any sort can impact performance as instead of having your CPU focused on the tasks you want it to run, it ends up running an unwanted or possibly malicious background process. You probably want your PC to focus on getting work done rather than having it transfer sensitive data or mine cryptocurrency for a hacker likely located on the other side of the world who somehow managed to infect your system. If you don’t already have antivirus software installed on your device, consider getting one asap so you can get rid of viruses that might be affecting your PC speeds.

Startup processes

In some cases, a PC can take way too long to power up. If it only happens from time to time, your PC is likely updating software. However, if it happens every time you power your computer, you may want to part ways with some of the startup processes. In many cases, programs can self-start when a PC is on and this is impacting the overall performance. So go ahead and check out if you have any programs that you want to remove from your startup schedule and open them manually only when you need them.

Uninstall old software

If you have apps or programs you have not used in years, now may be an excellent time to get rid of them. You will likely free up some space, and you would also close the gates for hackers who may be trying to exploit vulnerabilities in such software. All you have to do is find the add/remove software section on your laptop or PC and start deleting If you see non-system programs that you have not used in a long tie and you will likely not need it in the future, remove them and let your PC enjoy more processing power and space.

If none of these options help out and your PC appears not to be improving, you may have to head down to the PC shop for a new computer. In some cases, you may upgrade parts of the PC and continue using the same product. However, if your PC is dated, you may want to consider getting a brand-new PC or laptop. Finally, never ignore firmware and software updates, and always keep all aspects of your PC updated. Sometimes updates may make your PC slower, but those updates also make sure that your PC maintains a high level of security.

The post How to increase the overall performance of your PC? appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.