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Welcome to the 'Windows laptop: Security and privacy' course. In this video, you'll learn how you can sign in to your computer securely, lock your computer to keep it safe, and install software updates. Before you can use your computer, you'll need to sign in using the account details you created when you first set it up. You'll see your account name and profile image in the centre of the Sign In screen. And underneath, a box where you can type in your account password or PIN. A password is an easy way to secure your computer and the information on it. It's a bit like a key. When your computer is locked, no one else can use it. Type in your password or PIN, and press Enter on your keyboard to log in to your account and unlock your computer. 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.
First, make sure you save and close any files or applications you have open before shutting down your computer. Then click the Start button in the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen. It looks like a window. When the Start menu opens, find the Power icon in the bottom right, and click on it. From the Power menu that appears, find Shut down. Shutting down will secure your computer, as you'll need to enter your account password or PIN to sign back in when you turn it back on. If you are just stepping away from your computer momentarily, you might want to put it in a state of temporary hibernation called Sleep. Click Sleep and the screen will turn off and go black. To wake up your computer, press any key on the keyboard. The Lock screen will appear. Press any key again to show the Sign In screen, then log in with your PIN or password. Your computer screen should look exactly like it did before, with the same applications open and ready to use. Locking your computer is similar to putting it to sleep, but doesn't turn off the screen.
From the Power menu, click Lock. Your computer will show the Lock screen. After a period of inactivity, your computer will automatically lock or go to sleep without you having to secure it yourself. To unlock it, press any key on the keyboard, then sign in with your PIN or password. From time to time, your computer 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. Most of these notifications will disappear after a moment, which means they are not very urgent or important. If the notification is from a source 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, your Windows computer will send you a pop-up notification that stays on your screen. This means it wants to tell you something important. For example, this notification lets you know there's an update it wants you to install. This kind of notification may pause everything else the computer is doing until you take action, or keep popping up until you install the update. 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 are ready to take action right away, make sure to close any open applications before you proceed. If you're not quite ready, you can click 'Pick a time' or 'Restart tonight' to do it later.
Most Windows notifications are safe to click on. Remember, a Windows notification will never ask you for your personal information. If you are ever unsure about a notification, it's safest just to ignore it. Your Windows computer includes built-in Windows Security, which works away in the background to keep your computer secure. If you see a small shield, bottom right of your screen, Windows Security is working. If you can't see the shield on your computer, click the 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 different ways. It helps stop viruses, keeps your account passwords safe, and much more. If there's ever a problem with Window Security, instructions for what to do will appear in this menu. You can explore the features. And when you finish, click on the X in the top right corner to close the menu.
Anti-virus software can provide extra protection for your computer. You can buy it from a store or a website, and it 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. Look for our courses on antivirus software on Be Connected to find out more. Most computers have a small built-in camera called a webcam. It's used for making video calls, and your computer will automatically turn it on when you need it. Although it's 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. You should now know how to secure your computer, what to do about notifications, and how to check Windows Security is working. If you are unsure about any steps, you can rewind the video or click the chapter headings to jump to the start of a chapter. If you are ready to move on, there are many other courses to explore on Be Connected.