How to Protect Your Device from Hackers in 2023 (10 Easy Tips)

Last Updated by Osama Zahid on November 17, 2023

Hackers don’t only target public figures, government agencies, and big businesses. The truth is you’re vulnerable every time you connect to the internet. Cyberattacks often go undetected and can be delivered to your computer via phishing scams, bogus websites, and spam emails. Plus, anyone can be a target.

To prevent hackers from exploiting your system’s weaknesses, you need a robust defense system to protect your PC. For maximum security, I recommend investing in a reliable antivirus (McAfee has a 100% malware detection rate). I’ve also compiled this list of the 10 best ways to prevent your device from being hacked.

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How to Protect Your Device from Hackers in 2024 (10 Easy Tips)

1. Use a VPN and Antivirus

Although Windows and macOS have some built-in security, the best protection against hackers comes from combining a VPN with an antivirus.

While both a VPN and antivirus provide extensive security on their own, having both installed on your PC yields the best results. A VPN secures your connection by masking your IP address and encrypting all traffic to and from your device. However, if you download a file that contains a virus or malware, an antivirus will identify and prevent malicious software from harming your device (but it does not provide encryption).

McAfee is a comprehensive solution to keep your phone safe from hackers. It’s got a built-in VPN, an anti-malware scanner, web protection to detect phishing links, and WiFi Security to alert you when you connect to an unsecured public network.

While there are many plans to choose from, I recommend McAfee Total Protection as it offers the best value. Plus, when you sign up for a McAfee subscription on the website, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the refund policy myself, and my request was approved in just 5 minutes on live chat. I only had to wait 6 working days for the full fee to be returned to my account.

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2. Keep Your OS and Apps Updated (and Remove Old Apps)

This may seem obvious, but it’s worth saying again: keep your device’s operating system (OS) and apps up to date. Along with new features, Windows and macOS regularly update their systems with important security fixes that help protect you from a wide range of threats.

You can make sure you never miss a patch release by turning on auto-updates. If your device is old, you might be hesitant to download a new software update since doing so can sometimes slow down your computer. But I’d rather have a slow device than one that could be hacked.

3. Only Download Apps From Trusted Sources

The apps you download have access to a lot of information about you, so it’s important to install only trusted software from reputable companies.

Starting at the source is the easiest way to do this. Make sure you only download apps from the Microsoft Store, the Apple App Store, or another reliable source. Before any apps are accepted to the Microsoft Store or the Apple App Store, they must meet certain security requirements and be scanned to ensure they don’t have malware.

If you’re unsure about an app you downloaded, you can use McAfee Total Protection to scan your device for malware and other security risks. McAfee provides real-time and manual scans to check for threats, so you can catch a rogue app before it gives away your personal information.

4. Use a Complex Passcode

Not all passwords are created equal — using a complex password will make you much safer. Aim for 16–20 characters with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Here are a few more ways to make passwords safer:

Change your password every 6 to 12 months or whenever you hear that a service you use has a data breach.
Don’t give honest answers to security questions. Instead, consider it an extra password and answer with letters and numbers.

5. Learn How to Lock or Wipe Your PC Remotely

Find My Mac from Apple and Find My Device from Windows are both ways to track the location of your PC if you lose it or it gets stolen. But these tools can do more than just track your device. They can also be set to lock your device and delete all of its data, so thieves can’t get to your information.

6. Be Careful When Granting App Permissions

Even if you only download apps from trusted stores like the Microsoft Store or the App Store, not many apps can be trusted with your personal information.

Many apps will ask for your location, photos, contacts, and other information. Even though giving these permissions might not seem like a big deal, they could become a privacy issue if the app were ever hacked or otherwise compromised. By limiting an app’s permissions, you can take extra steps to protect yourself.

If an app asks for permissions that seem odd, you should say no and send a ticket to the app store to make a formal complaint. You should also run McAfee to make sure your apps don’t install any malware.

7. Beware of Spam and Phishing Emails

While your spam folder will catch a lot of threats, it won’t stop all of them from getting to your inbox. Here are some ways to keep yourself safe from spam and phishing emails:

Don’t open any emails that look suspicious. Opening an email itself isn’t very dangerous, but it can still give the spammer information about you, like your IP address, approximate location, ISP, and more.
Never click on a link in a suspicious email. If you accidentally open a malicious email, delete it immediately and don’t click any links or attachments — they could contain viruses or other malicious software.
Mark suspicious emails as spam or junk. This helps your email service’s detection software learn how to spot these emails in the future.

If you click on a link or open an attachment that you think could be harmful, run antivirus software to scan your device immediately. McAfee will scan all the apps on your device and eliminate any viruses, malware, or other security risks. Plus, you can try McAfee for 30 days with its money-back guarantee.

8. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an extra layer of security for your online accounts by requiring you to give an additional piece of information (after entering your username and password). While it can feel tedious and inconvenient, 2FA is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself online.

For the best security, you should use a software token-based method like Google Authenticator, which gives you a time-based OTP. Avoid SMS text messages and voice-based 2FA whenever possible; they’re less secure and easy for hackers to trick.

9. Keep Your Device With You At All Times

Even though hackers can access your PC remotely, the easiest way for someone to get in is to get their hands on it. The good news is that it’s easy to stop someone from taking your device by keeping it with you.

Of course, this isn’t always possible, especially if you have a desktop computer. But, if you follow the other tips on this list, your data should still be safe even if a hacker gets their hands on your device.

10. Update and Secure Your Router

As the link to all your household devices, your WiFi router can be a major vulnerability. However, most people overlook their routers when it comes to online security.

Most people never update their router firmware or change the default password. This makes them an easy target for network-based attacks. You can bolster your security by:

Changing the default password. Remember to use at least 16 characters and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Be sure to keep the firmware up-to-date regularly.
Regularly check what devices are connected to your router. If you notice a device that doesn’t belong to you, it’s time to change your password again.

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What are the best apps to protect my device from being hacked?

After extensive research, I found that getting a top-tier VPN and an antivirus app is the best way to protect your devices from being hacked. With a VPN, your web traffic is encrypted to protect it from hackers, advertisers, and anyone else who might be keeping track of what you do online. This is especially helpful if you often connect to public WiFi networks at work, cafes, or airports.

McAfee is the best security solution for Windows and macOS devices in 2024, so I highly recommend it. Even if malware gets onto your PC, an antivirus app can spot and stop it before it harms your device. McAfee offers advanced anti-malware tools and intuitive apps for Windows and macOS.

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Best Antivirus to Protect Your Device from Hackers in 2024

1. McAfee — Ensures Airtight Defense Against Hackers With Its Multiple Security Features

Key Features:

Has an intuitive firewall to defend against network intrusions.
Offers real-time security to block malware infections.
Defends against unsafe websites with malware and phishing scams.
Includes a VPN for added online safety and anonymity.
30-day money-back guarantee.

McAfee is an excellent choice for defending against hackers, as it protects your system against all possible cyber threats. It has various tools for safety, and I was especially impressed with its reliable firewall. The firewall is pre-configured to provide excellent security, but it also has an intuitive interface that lets you customize its settings to your liking.

During tests, McAfee effectively protected my system by detecting [VDS: S] of malware via scans and blocking 100% of real-time threats. Its scans are also reasonably fast, as the full scan checked my entire system in an hour and removed all malware from it.

There’s also a built-in VPN that uses AES 256-bit encryption to secure your data. In my tests, the VPN kept any of my identifying information from leaking online, thus keeping me anonymous. Plus, the VPN delivers fast connection speeds on most servers, meaning you can enjoy lag-free browsing and streaming.

Other useful McAfee tools include the following:

TrueKey Password Manager — provides safe storage for all your passwords and sensitive information.
Tracker Remover — removes trackers, cookies, and other files that may monitor your activity.
File Shredder — shreds sensitive files multiple times to ensure they’re no longer accessible.

You’ll get the best value with McAfee’s Total Protection Plus plan, which costs just $49.99/year. Plus, you can try McAfee risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Claiming refunds is easy via McAfee’s support page, and I had my money back within 7 days of confirming my refund.

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2. Aura — Includes Tools to Defend Against Malware and Stop Identity Theft

Key Features:

Reliably detects all malware with its multiple virus scans.
Includes features to defend against identity theft and fraud.
Has a VPN to encrypt traffic and block unsafe sites.
Offers a password manager to safeguard and monitor all credentials.
60-day money-back guarantee.

Aura protects your device and identity against hackers and various other cyber threats. It’s a reliable antivirus with various safety features. Plus, its identity and credit monitoring features are among the best I’ve seen in an antivirus and ensure you never become a victim of fraud.

In my tests, I found that Aura’s multiple virus scans reliably detected all EICAR malware samples and removed them from my system. It also offers real-time security via the Auto-Scan feature, which works in the background to check all downloads and files opened on your system.

Aura’s unique highlight is the feature-rich ID Theft Protection. It monitors credit reports, Social Security Numbers, and financial accounts to protect against identity theft and fraud. Plus, it helps remove your information from people-search websites, thus providing further protection against identity theft.

Some other features you get with Aura include the following:

Built-in VPN — encrypts your traffic and blocks unsafe websites that may infect your device.
Password Manager — provides safe storage for your credentials and checks for any passwords leaked in data breaches.

Aura has multiple plans you can choose from depending on the number of people you want to protect. Best of all, you can try Aura risk-free with its generous 60-day-long money-back guarantee. If unsatisfied, you can contact support to ask for a refund but note that you can only get refunds if you have a yearly subscription.

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3. TotalAV — Provides Reliable Online Safety With Its Vpn and Web Protection

Key Features:

Includes WebShield to block unsafe websites with malware and phishing scams.
Offers a breach monitoring tool to check for leaked passwords.
Has reliable virus scans and real-time security to defend against infections.
Provides a built-in VPN for online safety and anonymity.
30-day money-back guarantee.

TotalAV’s online safety features reliably secure your devices against hackers. The app offers its effective WebShield to ensure you don’t open websites containing malware and phishing scams. Plus, the built-in VPN keeps you anonymous online while safeguarding your traffic using military-grade AES 256-bit encryption.

Besides the online safety, TotalAV also offers effective scans to secure your device. During tests, TotalAV’s malware scanner picked up [VDS: S] of malware on my system, while its real-time security blocked 100% of threats. So, this app is excellent at protecting your devices against malware propagated by hackers.

TotalAV also includes a useful Data Breach Test to protect your accounts against hackers. This feature informs you about accounts leaked in data breaches, thus letting you know which passwords you must instantly change.

You’ll get the best value with TotalAV’s Internet Security plan, which protects up to 5 devices with all of the app’s core safety features. Plus, you can try TotalAV risk-free because it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s easy to claim refunds by contacting support, and I got my money back a week after the refund was confirmed.

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Defend Your Device Against Cyberattacks Today

Hackers don’t just go after celebrities and wealthy people — every time you connect to the internet, you put yourself at risk. Although the built-in security measures of macOS and Windows provide some defense, they’re insufficient to prevent all attacks from today’s sophisticated privacy threats. For comprehensive security, you should be proactive and use antivirus software with a VPN.

McAfee Total Protection can protect your Windows or Mac device from all cyber threats, including phishing scams, malicious scripts and trackers, viruses, and more. And, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test out its features without any risk.