Read our helpful guidance on looking after your computer system As well as looking after the physical devices themselves you should also look after the systems and software that run on them. System and software developers routinely release updates, patches and upgrades to repair any bugs or security threats so you should ensure that you act when prompted by your system. Always be sure to check that the prompts are genuine. The following guidelines should help you administer your systems: Back up files before administering updates to software or hardware. Keep hardware and software up to date with system updates. Install and configure anti-virus software to prevent infection and compromise to your device and data. Install and configure an anti-malware or anti-spyware tool. Ensure the firewall on your system is enabled. For more information on system administration our Information Services division has some useful guidance on firewalls and anti-virus protection. This article was published on 2024-08-21