Follow These Security Tips Now to Protect Your Personal Data and Houston Methodist

Here are some ways to protect you and your loved ones from cybercriminal activity at home.

Keep your systems and applications up to date. Whether it’s your smartphone, a tablet or your computer, make sure you run operating system and software updates regularly. (For Microsoft, you should be on Windows 11.) It’s even better to auto-install updates as soon as they’re released.
- For Microsoft Windows: Click here.
- For macOS on Macs: Click here.
Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts. Just about every online account system — Google, Apple, banking sites, etc. — has the capacity to enable multifactor authentication. This is essential to ensure only you can access your accounts.
Use unique, complex passphrases everywhere. Websites and even your home PC should be protected with lengthy (15 characters or more) passwords, including upper/lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid reusing the same password for multiple accounts. Never use your personal passwords at work.
Enable Windows Security for basic protection against viruses and online threats. Windows Security monitors threats to your device, runs scans and gets updates to help detect the latest threats. For information on customizing your Windows Security features, click here.
Turn Microsoft Defender Firewall on. Even if you have another firewall enabled, it helps to use Microsoft Defender Firewall as an extra defense barrier. For instructions, click here.
Take advantage of any supported and updated antivirus platforms. Several free antivirus applications are available, including Norton, McAfee and more. These give you even more protection.

For more tips to keep your computer secure at home, click here.

Important Note to Protect Houston Methodist
If you have an HM-issued device, always use it instead of a personal device. HM devices have extra layers of protection to keep our patient and corporate data safe, and updates are automatically installed. If you work remotely and don’t have an HM-device, please speak with your manager.

Follow These Security Tips Now to Protect Your Personal Data and Houston Methodist

Here are some ways to protect you and your loved ones from cybercriminal activity at home.

Keep your systems and applications up to date. Whether it’s your smartphone, a tablet or your computer, make sure you run operating system and software updates regularly. (For Microsoft, you should be on Windows 11.) It’s even better to auto-install updates as soon as they’re released.

For Microsoft Windows: Click here.

For macOS on Macs: Click here.

Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on all your accounts. Just about every online account system — Google, Apple, banking sites, etc. — has the capacity to enable multifactor authentication. This is essential to ensure only you can access your accounts.

Use unique, complex passphrases everywhere. Websites and even your home PC should be protected with lengthy (15 characters or more) passwords, including upper/lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid reusing the same password for multiple accounts. Never use your personal passwords at work.

Enable Windows Security for basic protection against viruses and online threats. Windows Security monitors threats to your device, runs scans and gets updates to help detect the latest threats. For information on customizing your Windows Security features, click here.

Turn Microsoft Defender Firewall on. Even if you have another firewall enabled, it helps to use Microsoft Defender Firewall as an extra defense barrier. For instructions, click here.

Take advantage of any supported and updated antivirus platforms. Several free antivirus applications are available, including Norton, McAfee and more. These give you even more protection.

For more tips to keep your computer secure at home, click here.