Keep your PC running smoothly
Now we come to your PC. If you’re using a laptop that your company issued to you, they might not want you to fiddle with it. If it’s yours, though, that’s different!
Check for latest Windows Update: Maybe your PC is up-to-date with the latest Windows 10 update, but have you checked with everyone else? Imagine my shock and embarrassment when I discovered that a family member had set aside several updates because the “timing was bad.” It’s easy to manage Windows 10 updates so they don’t drive you insane. Some corporate PCs use a separate app (Lenovo’s Vantage is a good example) to manage firmware and driver updates; just launch it and let it download the necessary drivers and other updates from the cloud.
Speed up, declutter, and optimize your PC: If your PC is running slowly, we have a guide to Windows 10 tips for speeding up your PC that offers good places to start. Your PC might also be suffering from “bit rot,” the inevitable degradation of performance as your PC aggregates old code. If this is the case, resetting your PC might be the answer. Just make sure that a.) you specify that you want to keep your apps, files and settings, and b.) you back up your key files to OneDrive or to an external drive.
At this point in the PC’s development, you shouldn’t have to worry about PC registry cleaners, though you may want to purge your PC of the crapware games (Candy Crush, how I loathe thee) that Windows installs by default. We’ve tried some good programs to declutter your PC’s operating system and storage, though you’re certainly free to uninstall apps on your own.
Upgrade your laptop to an SSD: Graduating to SSD from a spinning hard drive is an incredibly effective way to increase the perceived speed of your laptop. It does require you to pay for a new SSD, though, and install it yourself.
Automate some PC maintenance: Windows 10 is smart enough now to help you take care of your PC. You really don’t need to defragment your hard drive or SSD, for example, as Windows will do it automatically in the background. But it might be worth it to turn on Windows’ Storage Sense in Settings (Settings > Storage) and explore some of the options, including automatically deleting temporary files and auto-archiving untouched content to the cloud.
Secure your PC with backup, antivirus and more
It’s better to assess your tech’s security and privacy now, both online and on your devices, then suffer later from a data loss or breach. Check these areas to make sure your systems are locked down.
Back up files online: Assuming you have the space on OneDrive, using OneDrive to back up your documents, photos, and even your desktop is the easiest solution. Box, Dropbox, or other cloud services are options, too. If your ISP has eliminated data caps, you may be able to perform a more comprehensive backup than normal. Just be conscious of the fact that your neighbors may be sharing your bandwidth, too.
Running antivirus software is easier than ever: You could stop paying for antivirus software and use the free, integrated Windows Defender to protect your PC. A free antivirus program can still be used as supplemental protection.
Visit your Microsoft account page and review its contents: How many devices are assigned to your account? Are the Windows 10 privacy settings still where you want them? Likewise, this is a good time to visit the associated Microsoft account security page and make sure you’ve told Microsoft what phone number or email address should be used as a backup, and turn on two-factor authentication if you haven’t already.
Check the security and privacy settings for other major accounts: There’s your Google account, assuming you use Gmail or an Android phone, and of course your social media accounts. Facebook’s privacy risks keep evolving, for example, along with your options for controlling Facebook privacy (or just quitting altogether).
Check your printer: A few months back, I had the opportunity to speak to Michael Calce, aka mafiaboy, who as a disillusioned youth launched attacks on Yahoo, eBay, CNN, and more. Calce, now a professional “white hat” hacker, told me that the easiest point of attack on your home network is your connected wireless printer, which chances are uses a default password and was not designed for security. Upgrade its firmware and consider turning off its Wi-Fi functions, too.
Change your passwords: Smart password management suggests that you should change your passwords at least every few months, even the master password that you use to secure a password manager. Running out of ideas? There are plenty of tricks to help you: mix and match words and titles from books on your shelves, addresses, poetry, takeout menus, or a random object: “BoxNo.BoxLocation#03325” is a pretty solid password, lifted from a packing box in my office. Two-factor authentication is still the smartest idea, however, and there are even 2FA apps we’ve reviewed to make it easy for you.
Clean up your phone: We’re focused more on the PC with this story, but tidying up your Android phone is a must, too. As with the PC, you should be concerned about “fun” apps and games that stream banner ads or ask to load other apps as a “bonus.” Removing these can often secure your phone and speed it up. Deleting a few photos (after storing the best ones in the cloud or another handy location) wouldn’t hurt, either.
If you’ve worked your way through this list, great job! There’s nothing like putting our lives in order to create a sense of calm. Just remember to make these maintenance tips a habit to ensure that your devices are clean, secure, and up to date. That should free up some of your time for a little fun.