PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSecure a laptop by keeping its software current, protecting sign-ins, encrypting stored data, maintaining recoverable backups, and reducing exposure to malware and theft. Work through the checklist below in that order. Operating-system menus differ by version; on an employer-managed laptop, follow your organization’s security and remote-access rules.
1. Keep the operating system and apps updated
Install operating-system updates and turn on automatic updates where available. Keep your browser and regularly used applications updated too: an outdated browser or app can leave a route into the device even when the operating system is current. Microsoft’s home-computer guidance recommends keeping software up to date: Microsoft: Keep your computer secure at home.
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- Remove applications you no longer use; unnecessary programs can add vulnerabilities.
- Review security and privacy settings for apps that connect to the internet.
- Avoid installing unfamiliar or unnecessary bundled software just because it is free.
CISA’s general guidance on software and data protection was released in 2006 and revised in 2019, so use it for these enduring principles rather than as a current product comparison: CISA: Safeguarding Your Data.
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2. Protect your laptop sign-in and important accounts
Use a strong, unique password or passphrase for the laptop sign-in, and do not reuse important account passwords. FTC small-business guidance says a strong password is at least 12 characters; that is the FTC’s recommendation, not a universal legal or technical standard. A password manager can help create and remember unique passwords.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) for email, financial services, and other high-impact accounts wherever it is offered. MFA requires an additional proof of identity beyond a password; options can include an authenticator app, a USB security token, or a passcode. Protecting email is especially useful because it may be used to reset passwords for other accounts. See FTC cybersecurity guidance and CISA’s small and medium-sized business resources.
3. Encrypt the laptop and safeguard its recovery information
Enable full-device encryption so files stored on a lost or stolen laptop are harder to access without authorization. Encryption primarily protects data at rest; it does not protect files from every kind of malware or guarantee safety after someone has unlocked the device.
Rank #2
- Filter Dimensions: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- Two Attachment Options - Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
- Superior Privacy and Anti Glare - Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces - Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- Package Contents - Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
- Back up important files before changing encryption settings.
- Use the instructions for your operating system and laptop; menu names and availability vary.
- Save the recovery key or passphrase somewhere secure and separate from the laptop. Do not keep the only copy on the device.
If the recovery information is lost, you may be unable to access encrypted data. CISA explains the importance of protecting stored data and recovery information in its guide, How to Protect the Data that is Stored on Your Devices.
4. Keep a backup you can restore
Back up important files on a recurring schedule, using an external drive, a vetted cloud service, or both. Choose a method you can actually restore from: consider whether files must be available without internet access, the risk of physical loss or theft, convenience, ongoing cost, and how you would recover files.
Rank #3
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 13.56" (344.5 mm), Height: 8.49" (215.6 mm), Diagonal: 16" (406 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
| Backup option | Useful when | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| External drive | You want a local copy that can be available without an internet connection. | Store it safely and disconnect it between backup sessions when practical. A permanently connected drive can also be exposed to ransomware. |
| Cloud service | You want files accessible through an internet connection and do not want to manage a separate drive. | Choose a service you trust, account for any recurring cost, and understand how you would restore files. |
For important data, a backup is useful only if it is current and recoverable. CISA’s device data protection guidance covers backups and protecting stored data.
5. Reduce malware exposure
Keep your existing security protection enabled and current. Windows includes Windows Security, according to Microsoft’s home security guidance; this guide does not establish that every user needs a paid antivirus subscription or that one product outperforms another.
Rank #4
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 13 9/16" (345 mm), Height: 7 5/8" (194 mm), Diagonal: 15.6" (396.24 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Two Attachment Options】- Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
- 【Superior Privacy and Reduce Glare】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
- Install apps from sources you trust and avoid software you do not need.
- Keep the browser and applications updated, since security tools cannot compensate for every outdated or risky program.
- Be cautious with unexpected links, attachments, downloads, and requests to install software.
6. Protect the laptop in public and while travelling
Lock the screen whenever you step away, keep the laptop in sight in public, and do not leave it visible in a parked car or pack it in checked luggage. FTC guidance for protecting personal information advises against leaving laptops visible in vehicles: FTC: Protecting Personal Information.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If people nearby could read your screen, consider a privacy filter that matches the laptop’s display size and aspect ratio. It is an optional aid against shoulder surfing, not a substitute for locking the device. For work resources, use only the VPN or other remote-access method approved by your employer; organization-managed laptops may have required security settings.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 12 3/16" (310 mm), Height: 6 7/8" (175 mm), Diagonal: 14" (355.6 mm) - There are two different 14 inch screen sizes, please select the correct one. SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
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