Acer AN515-45-R9X1, User Manual

Page 1: ...USER SMANUAL ...

Page 2: ...3 Sign in or sign up for an Acer ID 4 Enter S N or SNID of your device to register it Important This manual contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright laws The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice Some features described in this manual may not be supported depending on the Operating System version Images provided herein are for reference onl...

Page 3: ...hield 49 Securing your computer 52 Using a computer security lock 52 Using passwords 52 Entering passwords 53 BIOS utility 54 Boot sequence 54 Setting passwords 54 Power management 55 Saving power 55 Battery pack 57 Battery characteristics 57 Charging the battery 57 Optimizing battery life 58 Checking the battery level 59 Battery low warning 59 Traveling with your computer 60 Disconnecting from th...

Page 4: ...4 Table of contents Network connections 86 Surf the Net 88 Internet security software 88 ...

Page 5: ...g for your computer and your health Where to find the power button ports and connectors Tips and tricks for using the touchpad and keyboard How to create recovery backups Guidelines for connecting to a network and using Bluetooth Information on using Acer s bundled software ...

Page 6: ...ntains detailed information on such subjects as system utilities data recovery expansion options and troubleshooting Once you have connected to the internet you can download updates for your computer from http go acer com id 17883 1 The link will open the Acer Support webpage 2 Scroll down to Drivers and Manuals and search for your model by pasting in or manually entering the serial number SNID or...

Page 7: ...select Power Sleep Right click the Windows Start button Shut down or sign out Sleep Taking care of your computer Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it Only use the adapter provided with your device or an Acer approved adapter to power your device Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight Do not place it near sources of heat such as a radiator Do not expose the computer to te...

Page 8: ... the power cord and any cables away from where people walk When unplugging the power cord do not pull on the cord itself but pull on the plug The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are using an extension cord Also the total current rating of all equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not exceed the fuse rating Cleanin...

Page 9: ...emperatures can cause battery deformation or damage The charging port must be clean and free from debris and should only be used with Acer charging equipment Use of a non Acer battery or charging equipment can cause damage to the product and will void the warranty If you plan to store the device for a long period of time turn off the device remove AC power and store the product at room temperature...

Page 10: ...ronment Do not put store or leave your product in or near a heat source in a high temperature location in strong direct sunlight in a microwave oven or in a pressurized container and do not expose it to temperatures over 50 C 122 F Failure to follow these guidelines may cause the battery to leak acid become hot explode or ignite and cause injury and or damage Do not pierce open or disassemble the ...

Page 11: ...iting the terminals may damage the battery or the connecting object The capacity and lifetime of the battery will be reduced if the battery is left in hot or cold places such as in a closed car in summer or winter Always try to keep the battery between 15 C and 25 C 59 F and 77 F A device with a hot or cold battery may not work temporarily even when the battery is fully charged Battery performance...

Page 12: ...12 First things first Recharge the battery by following the instruction included in the product documentation ...

Page 13: ...e Setup Guide let us show you around your new Acer computer Screen view Icon Item Description 1 Webcam Web camera for video communication A light next to the webcam indicates that the webcam is active 2 Microphones Internal digital microphones for sound recording 3 Screen Displays computer output 2 3 1 ...

Page 14: ...Acer notebook tour Keyboard view AN515 45 AN515 56 AN515 57 AN517 41 AN517 53 AN517 54 Icon Item Description 1 Keyboard For entering data into your computer See Using the keyboard on page 21 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 5 ...

Page 15: ...own firmly on the lower right corner to perform a right click 3 NitroSense key Launches NitroSense application 4 Power button Turns the computer on and off 5 Battery indicator Indicates the computer s battery status Charging The light shows amber when the battery is charging Fully charged The light shows blue when in AC mode Power indicator Indicates the computer s power status Icon Item Descripti...

Page 16: ...d USB Icon Item Description 1 Kensington lock slot Connects to a Kensington compatible security lock 2 Ventilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to stay cool Do not cover or obstruct the openings 3 Ethernet RJ 45 port Connects to an Ethernet 10 100 1000 based network Pull the lip down to open the port fully 4 USB port Connects to USB devices 5 Headset speaker jack Connects to audio devices e...

Page 17: ... 2 with transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps USB Type C Thunderbolt 4 port AN515 56 AN515 57 AN517 53 AN517 54 Connects to USB devices with a USB Type C connector Supports Thunderbolt 4 and displays 2 USB port with power off charging Connects to USB devices 3 HDMI port Supports high definition digital video connections 4 Ventilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to stay cool Do not cover or obstruc...

Page 18: ...nderbolt 4 Delivers up to 3 A at 5 V DC for USB charging USB 3 2 information USB 3 2 Gen 1 compatible ports are blue AN515 56 AN517 53 USB 3 2 Gen 2 compatible ports are blue AN515 45 AN515 57 AN517 41 AN517 54 Compatible with USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 and earlier devices For optimal performance use USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 certified devices Defined by the USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 specification SuperSpeed USB ...

Page 19: ...er Note Please press the AC adapter into the tunnel to the power connector You will feel a click indicating it is connected Then check the light of battery indicator shows amber while charging 2 Ventilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to stay cool Do not cover or obstruct the openings 1 2 ...

Page 20: ...20 Your Acer notebook tour Base view Icon Item Description 1 Ventilation and cooling fan Allows the computer to stay cool Do not cover or obstruct the openings 2 Speakers Deliver stereo audio output 1 2 ...

Page 21: ... characters typed are in uppercase Num Lock When Num Lock is on the keypad is in numeric mode The keys function as a calculator complete with the arithmetic operators and Use this mode when you need to do a lot of numeric data entry Scroll Lock When Scroll Lock is on the screen moves one line up or down when you press the up or down arrow keys respectively Scroll Lock does not work with some appli...

Page 22: ...keyboard backlight Fn F10 Keyboard backlight increase Increases the intensity of the keyboard backlight Fn F11 Pause Pause Sends a Break Command Fn F12 Scr Lk Scroll Lock Turns Scroll Lock on or off Fn Del Ins Insert Turns Insert on or off Fn Pg Up Play Pause Play or pause a selected media file Fn Pg Dn Previous Return to the previous media file Fn End Next Jump to the next media file Fn Brightnes...

Page 23: ...oard has two keys that perform Windows specific functions Key Description Windows key Pressed alone it returns to the Start screen or to return to the last open app Application key This key has the same effect as clicking the right mouse button ...

Page 24: ...u are using Touchpad gestures Single finger slide Slide a finger across the touchpad to move the cursor Single finger press or tap Press the touchpad down or lightly tap the touchpad with your finger to perform a click which will select or start an item Quickly repeat the tap to perform a double tap or double click Two finger press Lightly tap the touchpad with two fingers to perform a right click...

Page 25: ...dow or swipe downwards to exit Task View Swipe down to minimize all open windows and show Desktop swipe upwards to restore the minimized windows Swipe left or right to switch between open windows Four finger press Lightly tap the touchpad with four fingers to open the Action Center Four finger swipe Swipe across the touchpad with four fingers Swipe up to open Task View Move the cursor over a windo...

Page 26: ...uirements please do the following 1 In the icon tray in the lower right hand corner of the screen select the Notifications icon to open the Notifications pane 2 Select All settings 3 Select Devices Touchpad 4 Now you can adjust the settings to suit your personal needs You can switch off the touchpad if you prefer to use a mouse Or Note The touchpad is sensitive to finger movement the lighter the t...

Page 27: ...Using the Precision Touchpad 27 you can adjust the touchpad sensitivity to suit your needs Scroll down to see more settings ...

Page 28: ... data or create a factory default backup If you cannot access Acer Care Center click Settings in the Start menu select Update Security and then click Recovery Creating a file history backup Recovery Management allows you to quickly and easily back up your files and restore them if the originals are lost damaged or deleted 1 From Start select Care Center then Recovery Management 2 Select the Backup...

Page 29: ...rive from the drop down list 4 Click More options to select back up options which best fit your needs such as schedule the backup interval how long you want to keep those backups default is Forever which folders to be backed up or be excluded Click Back up now to continue 5 Follow the process until it completes ...

Page 30: ...d easily back up your operating system installed apps and data 1 Type Recovery Drive in the search box and then open it 2 Make sure Back up system files to the recovery drive is selected and click Next Important Write a unique descriptive label on the backup such as File History Recovery Backup Make sure you keep the backup in a safe place that you will remember ...

Page 31: ...the PC to detect the USB drive then click Next 4 Everything on the drive will be deleted Click Create to continue 5 You will be shown the backup progress on the screen 6 Follow the process until it completes 7 Unplug the USB drive and label it clearly ...

Page 32: ...gress on the screen Restoring your computer Recovery Management allows you to quickly and easily restore your computer back to its default status You can choose to keep your files or remove them before reinstalling Windows Reset this PC and keep my files 1 From Start select Care Center then Recovery Management Important Write a unique descriptive label on the backup such as Windows Recovery Backup...

Page 33: ...Recovery 33 2 Select the Restore tab and click Get started to open the Recovery window ...

Page 34: ...your personal files Click Next to continue Important If you have apps installed on your PC they will be removed If you d like not to restore apps and setting that came with your PC go to Change settings and turn off the option to not restore preinstalled apps that came with this PC before proceeding the restore progress Click Confirm to continue ...

Page 35: ...reset progress on the screen The screen will turn off during the reset process 6 The screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 7 Follow the process until it completes 8 When your PC has completed the reset process Windows will have been reset back to its factory default settings without removing your personal files Reset this...

Page 36: ...36 Recovery 2 Select the Restore tab and click Get Started to open the Recovery window ...

Page 37: ...Click Get started to Choose an option Select Remove everything to reset your PC back to its factory default 4 Click Change settings to choose restore settings which best fit your needs Then click Confirm to continue ...

Page 38: ...ss 8 The screen will turn back on when it is installing Windows Your PC will restart several times during the reset process 9 Follow the process until it completes 10 When your PC has completed the reset process Windows will use factory default settings Warning Turn on Clean data will remove all of your personal files and accounts along with pre existing drivers that may affect your Windows instal...

Page 39: ...ter is available Enable Bluetooth and add a device Every new device must first be paired with your computer s Bluetooth adapter This means it must first be authenticated for security purposes You only need to pair once After that simply turning on the Bluetooth adapter of both devices will connect them Bluetooth on your computer is disabled by default To enable your computer s Bluetooth adapter do...

Page 40: ... icon in the lower right hand corner of the screen to open the Notifications pane From here you can enable or disable Bluetooth or right click on Bluetooth Go to Settings to enter the Bluetooth settings Note Some devices using older versions of the Bluetooth technology require both devices to enter a PIN In the case of one of the devices not having any inputs as in a headset the passcode is hardco...

Page 41: ...s LAN A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network which can link two or more computers without using wires Once connected to WLAN you can access the internet You can also share files other devices and even your internet connection itself Your computer s wireless connection is turned on by default and Windows will detect and display a list of available networks during setup Select your ...

Page 42: ... your choice Make a note of the wireless network s name and password if necessary If you are trying to connect to a public network such as at a coffeeshop make sure you have the wireless network s name 2 Click Network icon in the notification area 3 You will see a list of available wireless networks Select the one you wish to use Note Please refer to your ISP or router documentation for details on...

Page 43: ...Connecting to the Internet 43 4 Once you select a wireless network select Connect 5 If required enter the network s password ...

Page 44: ...a port on your router refer to the image below Then you ll be ready to get online Connecting to a cellular network If your computer has a SIM slot you can connect to the internet using a cellular phone network To do this you must have a compatible SIM card and a data contract with your cellular provider Contact your cellular provider for more information on connecting to the internet using a cellu...

Page 45: ...tive edge as well as a more immersive experience The NitroSense main screen The main screen gives you a one glance overview of your computer s current status including the fan speeds power plan component temperature loading performance and more The screen provides options for each function to increase performance Note The temperatures listed may vary depending on your computer s configuration and ...

Page 46: ...u will see two sliders that allow you to set CPU and GPU cooling independently CoolBoost Turn CoolBoost on to increase the maximum fan speed enabling even faster fan speeds and increased cooling during heavy use Power Plan You can use various power plan to achieve optimal power usage in different scenarios Note The Balance Acer Optimized mode is only supported on preload operating system ...

Page 47: ...to show information for the time NitroSense and Acer TrueHarmonyTM settings Click the Settings icon to change settings for your Nitro system You can enable disable Sticky keys or Windows and menu key Display temperature can also be changed by Temperature units If Backlight off after 30 seconds is turned on keyboard backlight will automatically turn off with no action ...

Page 48: ...48 NitroSense To get a different audio experience you can click Acer TrueHarmonyTM icon to adjust the audio mode Note Function varies depending on configuration ...

Page 49: ...choose from four different modes to fit your needs No Item Description 1 Low Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 10 to 25 for basic protection 2 Medium Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 26 to 45 to protect your eyes 3 High Reduction Reduces blue light emission from the LED backlit screen by 46 to 65 for maximum protection 4 Long H...

Page 50: ...50 Bluelight Shield Note Specifications vary depending on model or Operating System ...

Page 51: ...Keeping your computer and data safe In this section you will find How to secure your computer Setting passwords What you need to prepare when you re traveling How to get the most out of your battery ...

Page 52: ...authorized access Setting these passwords creates several different levels of protection for your computer and data Supervisor Password prevents unauthorized entry into the BIOS utility Once set you must enter this password to gain access to the BIOS utility See Setting passwords on page 54 User Password secures your computer against unauthorized use Combine the use of this password with password ...

Page 53: ...ge appears Try again and press Enter When the User Password is set and the password on boot parameter is enabled a prompt appears at boot up Type the User Password and press Enter to use the computer If you enter the password incorrectly a warning message appears Try again and press Enter Important You have three chances to enter a password If you fail to enter the password correctly after three t...

Page 54: ...layed Boot sequence To set the boot sequence in the BIOS utility activate the BIOS utility then select Boot from the categories listed on the top of the screen Setting passwords To set a password on boot activate the BIOS utility then select Security from the categories listed on the top of the screen Find Set Supervisor Password and enter a password to enable this feature Once you have entered a ...

Page 55: ...rtup Your computer uses Fast startup to start quickly but also uses a small amount of power to check for signals to start These checks will slowly drain your computer s battery If you prefer to reduce your computer s power requirements and environmental impact turn off Fast startup 1 Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button then select Settings System Power sleep 2 Select Additiona...

Page 56: ...56 Power management 4 Select Change settings that are currently unavailable 5 Scroll down and disable Turn on fast startup 6 Select Save changes ...

Page 57: ... Plug the AC adapter into the computer and connect to a mains power outlet Conditioninganewbatterypack Before you use a battery pack for the first time there is a conditioning process that you should follow 1 Connect the AC adapter and fully charge the battery 2 Turn on the computer and complete setting up the operating system 3 Disconnect the AC adapter 4 Operate the computer using battery power ...

Page 58: ...y the faster it will reach the end of its effective life An embedded battery has a life span of more than 1 000 charge discharge cycles Optimizing battery life Optimizing battery life helps you get the most out of battery operation prolonging the charge recharge cycle and improving recharging efficiency You are advised to follow the suggestions set out below Use AC power whenever possible reservin...

Page 59: ...portant Connect the AC adapter as soon as possible after the battery low warning appears Data may be lost if the battery is allowed to become fully depleted and the computer shuts down Situation Recommended Action The AC adapter and a power outlet are available 1 Plug the AC adapter into the computer and then connect to the main power supply 2 Save all necessary files 3 Resume work Turn off the co...

Page 60: ...sington Noble lock if you are using one to secure the computer Moving around When you are just moving within short distances for example from your office desk to a meeting room Preparing the computer Before moving the computer close and latch the display cover to place it in Sleep mode You can now safely take the computer anywhere you go within the building To wake the computer from Sleep mode ope...

Page 61: ...n the battery by putting the computer in Sleep mode Press the Sleep hotkey or close the display cover whenever you are not actively using the computer Taking the computer home When you are moving from your office to your home or vice versa Preparing the computer After disconnecting the computer from your desktop follow these steps to prepare the computer for the trip home Pack the computer in a pr...

Page 62: ...s in temperature and humidity can cause condensation Allow the computer to return to room temperature and inspect the screen for condensation before turning on the computer If the temperature change is greater than 10 C 18 F allow the computer to come to room temperature slowly If possible leave the computer for 30 minutes in an environment with a temperature between outside and room temperature S...

Page 63: ...ng it into the gate area What to take with you Take the following items with you AC adapter Additional printer driver files if you plan to use another printer Special considerations In addition to the guidelines for taking the computer home follow these guidelines to protect your computer while traveling Always take the computer as carry on luggage If possible have the computer inspected by hand A...

Page 64: ...passport Special considerations Follow the same special considerations as when traveling with the computer In addition these tips are useful when traveling internationally When traveling in another country check that the local AC voltage and the AC adapter power cord specifications are compatible If not purchase a power cord that is compatible with the local AC voltage Do not use converter kits so...

Page 65: ...In this section you will find Information on the ports and connectors fitted to your computer Ports and connectors ...

Page 66: ...gle USB port Note Two USB standards are currently available on Acer computers USB 2 0 High speed USB and USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 SuperSpeed USB USB 2 0 ports on Acer computers have a black tongue in the port while USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 ports have a blue tongue For best performance USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 devices should always be plugged into USB 3 2 Gen 1 Gen 2 ports Consult your device s documentation to s...

Page 67: ... USB Type C ports support up to USB 3 2 SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps Other USB devices with a USB Type C connector are supported but transfer speed may be reduced and certain functions will be disabled such as Thunderbolt video support Important When removing a USB storage device you should right click on the USB icon in the Windows task bar and select Eject device to tell the operating system to stop u...

Page 68: ...play with can be connected to a single Thunderbolt 4 port If an adapter is used DisplayPort or compatible devices including HDMI DVI or VGA can be used Note Thunderbolt 4 ports support transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps and USB devices with a Type C connector at lower speeds typically up to 10 Gbps Other USB or older Thunderbolt devices with a USB Type C connector or adapter are supported but transfer ...

Page 69: ...solution and refresh rate should be detected automatically If necessary change the display settings used by the computer Headphones and microphone One or more 3 5 mm jacks on your computer allow you to connect audio devices Use the headphone port to plug in stereo headphones or powered speakers connecting an audio device to the headphone port disables the built in speakers Use the microphone port ...

Page 70: ...y compatible digital audio video source such as your computer a set top box DVD player and audio video receiver to any compatible digital audio and or video monitor such as a digital television DTV with a single cable The single cable keeps everything neat and tidy while ensuring easy connection and the best audio and visual quality ...

Page 71: ...uestion In this section you will find Frequently asked questions Tips for using Windows 10 Troubleshooting information How to protect yourself while online Where to find Acer service center contact information ...

Page 72: ...d into the computer and to the power outlet If power is being supplied to the computer check the following Do you have a USB storage device USB drive CD drive or smartphone plugged into your computer Unplug it and press Ctrl Alt Del to restart the system Nothingappearsonthescreen The computer s power management system automatically blanks the screen to save power Press any key to turn the display ...

Page 73: ...the computer If it works contact your dealer or an authorized service center as the internal keyboard cable may be loose Theprinterdoesnotwork Make sure that the printer is connected to a power outlet and that it is turned on Make sure that the printer cable is connected securely to a USB port and the corresponding port on the printer Iwanttorestoremycomputertoitsoriginalsettings This recovery pro...

Page 74: ...this passport thoroughly Always have your ITW passport on hand especially when you travel to receive the benefits from our support centers Attach your proof of purchase to the ITW passport If the country you are traveling in does not have an Acer authorized ITW service site you can still get in contact with our offices worldwide Please visit www acer com Beforeyoucall Please have the following inf...

Page 75: ...Frequently asked questions 75 You are required to provide the following information Name Address Telephone number Machine and model type Serial number Date of purchase ...

Page 76: ...Windows key or select the Windows Start button and select the power icon Shut down You can also turn off the computer by right clicking the Windows Start button Shut down or sign out Shut down CanIturnoffnotifications You can turn off notifications so that you can leave your computer running but not be disturbed by notifications Press the Windows key or select the Windows Start button and select S...

Page 77: ...ct Slideshow 3 Select Add a folder and open the folder you wish to use your Pictures folder will open by default Select Choose this folder to add the folder to the lock screen slideshow 4 Select a folder and select Remove to remove the folder from the lock screen slideshow 5 Change the other settings to suit your needs HowdoImovetiles Select a tile and drag it to the place on Start that you want i...

Page 78: ...isplay Alternatively you can also right click anywhere on the desktop and select Display settings Display How do I set the alarm Your computer can act as an alarm clock Type Alarms to search for the Alarms Clock app 1 Select an alarm from the list or select the in the lower right corner to create a new alarm 2 Enter the Alarm name 3 Set the time by choosing the hour and minute 4 Choose which days ...

Page 79: ... all apps list and you want to make an app appear on Start right click an app and select Pin to Start HowdoIremoveatilefromStart Right click a tile to select it and select Unpin from Start to remove the tile from Start HowdoImakeanappappearonmytaskbar If you re in all apps list and you want to make an app appear on the taskbar right click an app or tile and select More Pin to taskbar Hour Minutes ...

Page 80: ...ith friends and sign in to your favorite websites When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account you ll connect your PC to the people files and devices you care about DoIneedone You do not need a Microsoft ID to use Windows 10 but it makes life easier because you can sync data across different machines you sign in to using a Microsoft ID HowdoIgetone If you ve already installed Windows 10 an...

Page 81: ...Frequently asked questions 81 Where can I get more information For more information please visit the following pages Windows 10 information www microsoft com Support FAQs support acer com ...

Page 82: ...Error messages below If the problem cannot be resolved contact your dealer Error messages If you receive an error message note the message and take the corrective action The following table lists the error messages in alphabetical order together with the recommended course of action Error messages Corrective action CMOS battery bad Contact your dealer or an authorized service center CMOS checksum ...

Page 83: ...r dealer or an authorized service center I O parity error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Keyboard error or no keyboard connected Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Keyboard interface error Contact your dealer or an authorized service center Memory size mismatch Press F2 during POST to enter the BIOS utility then press Exit in the BIOS utility to reboot Error m...

Page 84: ...ion tools To accomplish these steps you should first select an Internet Service Provider ISP which supplies the connection between your computer and the internet You should research the ISPs available in your region not forgetting to talk to friends and family about their experiences or to check reviews and consumer reports The ISP you select will provide instructions on how to connect to the inte...

Page 85: ...es unavailable in rural areas Connection speeds vary depending on your location but DSL generally provides very fast and reliable internet connection As the connection is always on it is generally charged at fixed monthly rates Cable A cable connection provides fast and always on internet service via a cable television line This service is generally available in large cities You can use your telep...

Page 86: ...computers without using wires Setting up a wireless network is easy and allows you to share files peripheral devices and an internet connection Whatarebenefitsofawirelessnetwork Mobility Wireless LAN systems allow you and other users of your home network to share access to files and devices connected to the network for example a printer or scanner Also you can share an internet connection with oth...

Page 87: ...ess point router for detailed setup instructions Networkcable RJ45 A network cable also called RJ45 cable is used to connect the host computer to the access point see illustration below this type of cable may also be used to connect peripheral devices to the access point Wirelessadapter Most computers feature a wireless module and Wi Fi button that turns the network connection on or off You may al...

Page 88: ...ww acer com is your portal to a world of online activities and services visit us regularly for the latest information and downloads Internet security software To help you stay ahead of cybercriminals Acer has partnered with Norton to offer you security for all your devices SelectAcercomputersincludeprotectionbyNortonSecurity Norton Security is pre installed on select Acer computers protecting your...

Page 89: ... sending them your credit card number social security number or logging into a fake bank website that looks like yours but really isn t How to stay safe Use a strong antispam filter If an email looks strange don t click on anything and delete it immediately Instead manually launch a browser and type in your bank s website address and log in yourself Don tbefooledifsomeonecallsyourphone A tech supp...

Page 90: ...he first place by staying protected with internet security software like Norton Security Also perform regular backups of all your data either online or to a separate external hard drive that is only attached to your computer while performing the backup Ransomware has been known to lock access to external hard drives attached to the computer If you are infected with ransomware think twice before yo...

Page 91: ... virus TakespecialprecautionswhenusingpublicWi Fi Public Wi Fi is available just about everywhere from the local coffee shop to the hotels and airports you visit while traveling While public Wi Fi has made our lives a little easier it also poses security risks to the personal information available on our laptops and smartphones A virtual private network VPN gives you online privacy and anonymity b...

Page 92: ...rity software on your devices to help protect yourself from the latest threats ProtectyourcomputerwithWindowssecuritytools Windows provides a variety of protection applications WindowsUpdates If you have an active internet connection Windows can check for important updates for your computer and install them automatically These updates include security patches and program updates that can improve y...