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Welcome to the Windows desktop: Security and privacy course. In this course, we'll show you how to sign in to your computer securely, how to lock your computer to keep it safe, and how to check for software updates.
To follow along with this demonstration, your Windows computer must have the latest edition of Windows, which is Windows 10. All Windows 10 computers work in a similar way, but because each computer maker does things a little differently, some of the screens in this video might vary from those on your computer. Don't worry, though. You should still be able to follow along.
It should take around 15 minutes to complete the video, but you can pause or rewind at any time to check any step you're unsure about.
Before you begin, make sure your computer is installed with Windows 10, plugged into mains power, properly connected to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, switched on and showing the sign-in screen.
You'll also need the PIN or password you created when you first set up your computer.
Windows 10 is a very secure system with many features that protect your personal data and privacy. That means each time you want to use your computer, you need to sign in using your account. When you first set up your computer, you would've created an account and a PIN or a password to sign into that account. Let's sign into your computer using that account now. For this demonstration, we'll use a PIN. A PIN, short for personal identification number, is an easy way to secure your computer and the information on it. You can think of the PIN as a key you use to unlock your computer. When your computer is locked, no one else can use it.
First, you'll see your account name, and underneath, a box where you can enter your PIN or password. If the box has password written in it, use the keyboard to type in the password of your account. If the box has PIN written in it, use the keyboard to type in your PIN. You may need to press Enter on your keyboard after typing in your PIN or password.
Once you have successfully entered your PIN or password, the sign-in screen should change to the computer's main screen, which is called the Desktop. Whenever your computer shows the desktop screen, it means it is unlocked.
You should always secure your computer when you aren't using it to protect your information. Let's take a look at some of the different ways to secure your computer.
One way is to simply switch it off. Windows 10 is designed so that it is safe to press the power button whenever you are finished working. Of course, you should save your work and close any open applications first. To use your computer again, simply switch it on and sign in with your PIN or password.
You can also secure your computer by locking it. This means nobody else can use it or access it. Locking a Windows 10 computer doesn't shut down any applications you are using. It also doesn't save your work or sign you out of any accounts, so it's best to save whatever you are doing before you lock the computer, just in case. To lock your computer, first click the Start button in the bottom left corner. The Start menu will appear. Find your user account icon. It's this little picture. Click it and another menu will appear. From this menu, click Lock.
If the time screen appears, press any key on your keyboard to open the sign in screen. Then, just enter your PIN or password in the box.
Once unlocked, your computer will look exactly like it did before you locked it, with the same applications open and ready to use.
If you don't do anything with your computer for a while, it will automatically lock itself and the screen will turn off. To wake your computer up, press the Space bar or the power button once. Then, sign in with your PIN or password to unlock the computer.
Windows 10 does a lot in the background to keep your computer up to date and secure. From time to time, it will let you know about what it's doing by showing a notification in the bottom right of the screen.
Other applications and even websites can show notifications, too. They might alert you to an email or a news story from a website, for example. Most of these notifications will disappear after a moment, which means they are not very urgent or important. If the notification is from a website or application you trust, you can click on it for more information about what to do next. Once you've opened and read a notification, there will be a button you can click to close it so it goes away. If you're not sure about the source of the notification, you can just ignore it. Remember, a notification can't hurt your computer if you don't click on it.
Sometimes, Windows 10 will send you a pop-up notification that stays on your screen. This means Windows 10 wants to tell you something important. Let's have a look at a couple of examples of important notifications you might receive. Because these are just examples, you won't need to follow along with your computer.
In this first example, the notification says a feature called Windows Firewall has been turned off. Because this notification is to do with your computer's safety, it only goes away once the problem is fixed. Clicking on this notification will open up a menu giving you instruction on what to do next.
In this next example, Windows 10 is letting you know there's an important update it wants you to instal. This kind of notification often appears in the middle of the screen and will pause everything else the computer is doing until you take action. You may have to click on a button in the notification to start the update or tell your computer when to install the update. If you're ready to take action right away, make sure you've saved and closed any applications you have open before you proceed. If you're not quite ready, you can click Remind me later to make the message disappear temporarily. The notification will keep popping up until you take action to install the update.
Most Windows 10 notifications are safe to click on. Remember, a Windows 10 notification will never ask you for your personal information. If you are ever unsure about a notification, it's safest just to ignore it.
To finish this course, we're going to look at how to protect your computer from viruses. You'll be able to follow along on your own computer again, so let's get started. Your Windows 10 computer includes built-in Windows Security, which works away in the background to keep your computer secure.
If you see a little white shield in the bottom right of your screen, Windows Security is working. If you can't see the shield on your computer, click this little arrow and you'll find it inside the box that opens. Click on the shield now to open the Windows Security menu. Windows Security provides basic protection for your computer in many different ways. It helps stop viruses, keeps your account passwords safe, and much more. If there's ever a problem with Windows Security, instructions for what to do will appear in this menu. You might like to pause this video to explore some features in more detail. And don't worry, your computer won't let you turn off any important security features by accident. When you've finished, click on the X in the top right corner to close it.
In addition to Windows Security, you might wish to invest in an antivirus software to provide greater protection for your computer. Antivirus software is available to buy from a store or a website and can also protect some of your other devices. There are many to choose from and most offer a free 30-day trial, but make sure you carefully read all the fine print about ongoing costs before signing up. You're nearly at the end of this course on privacy and security, so well done.
But before you finish, there's one more tip you might like to know. Most computers have a small, built-in camera called a webcam. To see if your computer has a webcam, have a look at the top of the screen. You'll see a small circle in the centre. This camera is useful for making video chats or calls and your computer will automatically turn the camera on when you need it. Although it's very unlikely, someone else could access your computer's camera without your permission and turn on the webcam. A small light next to the webcam should come on when it's in use, but this may not always be the case. Fortunately, you can protect yourself against this very easily. Just get a small piece of masking tape and put it over the camera, simple as that.
This is the end of the Windows desktop: Security and privacy course. Congratulations. You should now know how to secure your computer, what to do about notifications, and how to check Windows Security is working.
Don't forget, you can rewind this video to go over any steps you're unsure about. When you're ready, feel free to explore some of the other courses and learn what else your Windows 10 computer can do.