7 Steps to Securing a Microsoft Windows 7 computer.
These steps can be used for a new or used system, and if you are attempting to secure an already used computer there is a chance the process could cause you to lose valuable data so first backup the computer.
Backup:
To guard against data loss a full backup or your hard drive is recommended. Windows 7 is the first version of Windows to have a truly functional backup utility built-in. To use the Windows 7 Backup and Restore function you will need some media to store your data with the most popular being a USB drive large enough to hold the whole system. MLD Services wrote an article on backing up your system.
Set restore points in Windows:
If you are attempting to secure an already used computer there is a chance that the securing process causes Windows to function incorrectly. To guard against this you should set a Restore Point. If Windows starts to behave incorrectly you can sometimes fix it by restoring to an earlier restore point.
Create a Windows 7 restore point.
Scan for malware programs and remove:
If you are attempting to secure an already used computer there is a chance that the securing process causes malware already on the computer to make Windows function incorrectly. I personally use Microsoft Security Essentials which guards your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Make sure Windows Update is turned on:
Windows, like most software, has many security flaws that can be taken advantage of by malware. Many security patches are made available for Windows by Microsoft to fix these flaws. Before putting any security software on Windows you should make sure it is updated using Windows AutomaticUpdate feature.
Set your update preference:
By default Windows automatically checks for updates, downloads them, and installs them. However, Windows does have a habit of downloading and running updates at inopportune times.
How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows.
Update other software installed on Computer:
Check for automatic update functions in program menus and make sure function is enabled. If no automatic update function then check software’s web site for updates or use an online service such as The Secunia Online Software Inspector. Secunia is a fast way to scan your PC for the most common programs and vulnerabilities, thus checking if your PC has a minimum security baseline against known patched vulnerabilities.
Scan your system for software updates.
Try a Secure DNS provider:
Try free or low cost DNS alternative instead of the DNS supplied by your ISP. Using OpenDNS, Symantec or other DNS service offers another layer of protection.