5 Essential Tips to Keep Your PC Safe

4. Don't use an administrative account

Administrator accounts on your computer should only used when you want to make big changes to your system, or install new software. At all other times you should be using 'standard user' accounts when you're logging into and using your computer.

Luckily, Linux and OS X require a password anytime you want to make changes to the computer, and Windows 7 and Vista by default use "standard user" accounts when creating new accounts. Windows XP, on the other hand, defaults to an administrative user account, which allows unfettered access to the inner workings of the OS and makes it easier for malware and hackers to hijack your PC and steal data, or make potentially disastrous changes to your OS and files. If you're on Windows XP, make sure you create and switch over to a standard user account for all activities other than installing software.

Of course, since you need your administrative account to install stuff, then you'll need to follow or last essential tip, which we will post shortly.