Security on pc

[eap.lid]

I would like to have my pc as secure as possible.

Now I’ve Avast – Internet Security
-   Clean up
-   Antitrack Premium

What else do you suggest I buy more and why?

[bob3160]

I would like to have my pc as secure as possible.

Now I’ve Avast – Internet Security
-   Clean up
-   Antitrack Premium

What else do you suggest I buy more and why?

Nothing. Stay away from things that are known to infect you.
Clean Up is a tool to clean up your computer. It's a utility not really security related.

[DavidR]

Some things can help you as much as if not more than Security based software.  A robust backup and recovery strategy can cater for all types of issues not just security based issues.

Hard Drive Imaging Software (makes an exact copy of your Disk, Partition or folder) which can help you restore your system from the last backup copy.  So it is important to make regular copies and keep more than just the last one.  It is usually wise to keep the last 3, Grandfather, Father and Son.  I keep the last 6 weekly backups that I do.

[eap.lid]

I store all the important documents on USB flash drives.
Isn't that enough?

[bob3160]

I store all the important documents on USB flash drives.
Isn't that enough?

Only if that's all that's important to you. It's also a lot easier to restore a system from a recent image that to go through
re-installing the operating system, all of the programs. Then doing all the updates.
Once that's done, you still loose lot's of things. Pictures, emails etc.
It's up to you. It's your information and system.
Remember that infections aren't the only things that destroy your computer and it's stored information.
Hard drives usually crash when least expected.

[DavidR]

I store all the important documents on USB flash drives.
Isn't that enough?

The short answer would be no as it won't restore your 'system' back to a pre-issue state if you ever have a severe problem whatever that may be.  If that be an OS problem if you need to reinstall, that can be a massive size that a USB Flash Drive may not be able to handle, if you have a 124GB USB stick.  Even if you are able to boot from it.

[eap.lid]

But? Is it too simple to say: If I store my information on a USB flash drive and my computer crashes; I take another computer and continue working ....

[DavidR]

Yes it is, to continue working on the other computer you would have to have the same software program to do that.  But the other system could be a brick and your USB stick isn't going to change that.

Yes you would have copies of some files, but you have to select those files and back them up regularly to the USB stick, you could get caught out.

As I said I do a weekly drive image of my system, I also run a little batch program (at least once) daily for all volatile files that are likely to change frequently, documents, images, emails, bookmarks, etc. and save those to another drive, that could well be to a USB Stick. 

You have to have a backup plan (whatever that is going to be), fail to plan then you plan to fail.

[eap.lid]

Also if all my documents which are stored on a USB flash Drive are made in Word?

[DavidR]

Also if all my documents which are stored on a USB flash Drive are made in Word?

It really doesn't make a difference what those documents are, they are a minor fraction of what is on your hard drive.  The other system would also require that you had MS Word installed on that system or if those documents were able to be edited on-line (as some versions of MS Office are).  Otherwise they are just files that can't be worked on without the underlying programs or on-line functionality.

[eap.lid]

But 80% of the world works with Windows. Here in The Netherlands 90% has Word.

[DavidR]

Sorry that doesn't make a blind bit of difference if your system happens to be compromised, ransomware where these (and other) files could be encrypted. 

If the OS becomes corrupt for whatever reason (not necessarily malware) your system is an expensive paperweight.  A backup and recovery plan is to cater for the worst case scenario and this is what we are advising, it is your system and choice how you go about protecting it against possibility.

[bob3160]

I would like to have my pc as secure as possible.

Now I’ve Avast – Internet Security
-   Clean up
-   Antitrack Premium

What else do you suggest I buy more and why?

You asked the question. You received answers.
Following or taking the advice is up to you.

[eap.lid]

Ok, thank you very much DavidR!

[DavidR]

You're welcome.