Tom's Guide lists 10 quick settings that protect your phone and computer from thieves, nosy strangers and shady apps. Most take a few minutes.
Most phones and computers ship with settings that leave you more exposed than you need to be. Tom's Guide has published a list of 10 simple changes for smartphones, Windows 11 PCs and Macs. None needs special skills. They all live in your Settings menu, and together they make it harder for a thief or a hacker to reach your photos, messages and accounts.
Some items are about keeping the device itself locked down. Others are about limiting what apps, ad companies and websites can see. Beyond the steps in the alert box above, the list also includes these:
Security flaws will keep appearing as long as technology exists, which is why updates arrive so often. Turning on automatic updates means fixes install without you thinking about it. A stolen laptop is another risk. If its drive is encrypted, which scrambles the data, the thief cannot read what is on it. Lock screen previews matter too, because anyone nearby can read a message that pops up on a locked phone.
Some of this may already be done. Windows PCs usually have Microsoft Defender Firewall switched on, though checking is easy. Most devices also block unknown apps by default. The catch is that many people turn that block off once to install something from outside the official app stores, then forget to turn it back on. The Mac firewall is the reverse case: it is off by default.
The steps in the alert box cover the core changes. Menu names differ by device, so look in Privacy, Security or Notifications if a setting is not where you expect. On Windows 11 and macOS, drive encryption sits under Privacy & Security. It is called BitLocker on Windows and FileVault on Mac. If you want a VPN and do not want to pay, the article names Proton VPN as a reputable free option.
The article does not point to a specific attack or a new threat. It is general advice, so there is no deadline. The one habit worth keeping is checking for updates. If automatic updates are not available on your device, update by hand and check from time to time.
Spend a few minutes in Settings: turn on automatic updates, lock your screen right away, and encrypt your computer's drive.
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