Securing a new Windows PC is a vital step that often gets overlooked in the excitement of setting up a fresh machine. However, investing time in strengthening your system’s security from day one pays dividends in peace of mind, data protection, and resilience against evolving cyber threats. The following detailed guide distills expert recommendations and best practices for securing Windows 11 PCs, building on practical advice and the latest insights into Windows security features and risks.
While Windows 11 comes with Windows Defender, a competent default antivirus, many security experts recommend supplementing it with a top-tier third-party antivirus program. Solutions like ESET, Bitdefender, Norton, or Kaspersky provide comprehensive protection that goes beyond simple virus scanning. They offer advanced phishing protections, safe banking environments, and network traffic scrutiny. Since cybersecurity threats today include ransomware, phishing attempts, zero-day exploits, and sophisticated social engineering, relying solely on Windows Defender may leave some gaps.
Premium antivirus software can sometimes produce false positives or be overcautious with trusted apps, but this tradeoff is preferable to missing a real threat. Free alternatives provide baseline protection but often encourage upselling or have limited features. Investing in a reputable antivirus eliminates many attack vectors, providing a robust first line of defense against malware, malicious sites, and unsafe downloads. The slight inconvenience of occasional alerts is a small price to pay for long-term security .
Experts recommend always enabling a strong password as the main line of defense, using biometrics and PINs as secondary authentication layers. This combination results in a multi-factor approach, making unauthorized physical access far more difficult. Even though passwordless options reduce friction, they shouldn’t replace robust password practices. Configuring Windows to require a password or PIN at login and disabling automatic, passwordless access strengthens overall account protection .
The best practice is to inspect app permissions immediately after setup and regularly thereafter. Through Settings > Privacy and Security > App Permissions, users can selectively disable permissions for apps that don’t require specific access. For example, turning off location access for a calculator app is prudent. This habit reduces the data footprint and limits attack surfaces for exploits aiming to leverage legitimate apps.
Beyond privacy, narrowing permissions can thwart zero-day exploits and malicious actors leveraging apps for backdoor activities. It’s a simple yet effective way to impose a principle of least privilege on your device’s software environment .
For privacy-conscious users, disabling optional diagnostic data is a straightforward way to limit corporate data collection. Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Diagnostics and Feedback to adjust these settings. Doing so restricts data shared to the minimum required for device security and updates without significant loss of functionality.
The loss incurred by turning off enhanced diagnostics is minimal for most users—mostly forgoing potentially more personalized support and minor feature tuning benefits. For many, the privacy gains far outweigh these small tradeoffs, contributing to a more transparent and private digital experience .
This safeguard prevents criminals from performing offline attacks by transplanting drives to other machines. BitLocker setup is accessible through Settings > Privacy and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption. Users must securely back up the recovery key, as losing it means permanent loss of access.
BitLocker is particularly vital for laptop users or anyone carrying sensitive or business data. While it doesn’t prevent ransomware infection, encrypted drives add a layer of protection, making it harder for malware to access or exfiltrate files directly. This turns a stolen device from a catastrophic breach into a manageable incident .
Cultivating awareness around permissions, legitimate update processes, and cautious interaction with email or downloads is critical. Security tools won’t replace prudent user conduct but amplify it. The discipline to maintain security configurations and regularly review privacy settings transforms a Windows 11 PC from vulnerable to resilient.
These adjustments require only a few minutes but drastically improve defenses against theft, malware, and privacy leaks. The digital landscape continually evolves, and Windows users who adopt thoughtful, layered security practices from day one equip themselves to meet future threats confidently.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing your system is locked down properly is well worth the initial effort. It turns a new PC setup from a potential vulnerability into a fortress for your personal and professional digital life .
Source: 6 security settings I always change on a new Windows PC
Install a Trusted Antivirus
While Windows 11 comes with Windows Defender, a competent default antivirus, many security experts recommend supplementing it with a top-tier third-party antivirus program. Solutions like ESET, Bitdefender, Norton, or Kaspersky provide comprehensive protection that goes beyond simple virus scanning. They offer advanced phishing protections, safe banking environments, and network traffic scrutiny. Since cybersecurity threats today include ransomware, phishing attempts, zero-day exploits, and sophisticated social engineering, relying solely on Windows Defender may leave some gaps.Premium antivirus software can sometimes produce false positives or be overcautious with trusted apps, but this tradeoff is preferable to missing a real threat. Free alternatives provide baseline protection but often encourage upselling or have limited features. Investing in a reputable antivirus eliminates many attack vectors, providing a robust first line of defense against malware, malicious sites, and unsafe downloads. The slight inconvenience of occasional alerts is a small price to pay for long-term security .
Turn Off Passwordless Sign-In
Passwordless sign-in methods like Windows Hello's biometric authentication or PINs offer convenience and improved security compared to traditional passwords. However, enabling auto-login or passwordless sign-in without strong fallbacks poses a significant security risk—especially on portable devices. If someone steals or finds your device, they could gain immediate access to all files, bypassing passwords altogether.Experts recommend always enabling a strong password as the main line of defense, using biometrics and PINs as secondary authentication layers. This combination results in a multi-factor approach, making unauthorized physical access far more difficult. Even though passwordless options reduce friction, they shouldn’t replace robust password practices. Configuring Windows to require a password or PIN at login and disabling automatic, passwordless access strengthens overall account protection .
Review and Restrict App Permissions
Modern Windows apps frequently request access to sensitive resources such as the microphone, camera, location, and contacts—often unnecessarily. Over-permissive apps pose privacy and security risks by collecting excessive data that could be exploited or leaked. Some apps request permissions preemptively for future features or third-party tools they rely on, which can lead to inadvertent overexposure.The best practice is to inspect app permissions immediately after setup and regularly thereafter. Through Settings > Privacy and Security > App Permissions, users can selectively disable permissions for apps that don’t require specific access. For example, turning off location access for a calculator app is prudent. This habit reduces the data footprint and limits attack surfaces for exploits aiming to leverage legitimate apps.
Beyond privacy, narrowing permissions can thwart zero-day exploits and malicious actors leveraging apps for backdoor activities. It’s a simple yet effective way to impose a principle of least privilege on your device’s software environment .
Turn Off Optional Diagnostic Data Sharing
By default, Windows 11 collects diagnostic data to improve the OS and provide tailored services. Basic telemetry is necessary for system updates and security, but optional diagnostics can include detailed app usage, browser history (particularly in Microsoft Edge), and device activity. This level of data collection, while useful for Microsoft, raises privacy concerns.For privacy-conscious users, disabling optional diagnostic data is a straightforward way to limit corporate data collection. Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Diagnostics and Feedback to adjust these settings. Doing so restricts data shared to the minimum required for device security and updates without significant loss of functionality.
The loss incurred by turning off enhanced diagnostics is minimal for most users—mostly forgoing potentially more personalized support and minor feature tuning benefits. For many, the privacy gains far outweigh these small tradeoffs, contributing to a more transparent and private digital experience .
Enable BitLocker Drive Encryption (if available)
If your Windows 11 edition supports it (typically Pro and Enterprise), enabling BitLocker is a critical defense against data theft. BitLocker encrypts the entire drive, ensuring that even if the physical hardware is stolen and the drive is removed, the data remains unreadable without the recovery key.This safeguard prevents criminals from performing offline attacks by transplanting drives to other machines. BitLocker setup is accessible through Settings > Privacy and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption. Users must securely back up the recovery key, as losing it means permanent loss of access.
BitLocker is particularly vital for laptop users or anyone carrying sensitive or business data. While it doesn’t prevent ransomware infection, encrypted drives add a layer of protection, making it harder for malware to access or exfiltrate files directly. This turns a stolen device from a catastrophic breach into a manageable incident .
Additional Critical Security Measures
While the first five settings are essential, a layered security posture requires attention to other areas:- Enable Windows Firewall: The firewall blocks unauthorized network traffic and is a core component in network defense.
- Keep Windows and Software Up to Date: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
- Use User Account Control (UAC) Effectively: UAC prompts when apps attempt system changes, preventing unauthorized installations or modifications.
- Avoid Running as Administrator: Use standard user accounts to limit damage from malware or accidental misconfigurations.
- Secure Wi-Fi Networks: Change default router passwords, use WPA3 encryption if available, and update router firmware to prevent network intrusions.
- Practice Safe Browsing: Use security-hardened browser settings, disable risky extensions, and clear browsing history regularly.
- Backup Regularly: Use Windows’ File History or cloud backup services like OneDrive to maintain recoverable copies of important data.
The Human Factor: Vigilance and Habits
The most secure systems can be undone by careless user behavior—clicking through security prompts without reading, ignoring updates, or reusing weak passwords. Day-one security configuration is as much about establishing conscious digital habits as it is about technical settings.Cultivating awareness around permissions, legitimate update processes, and cautious interaction with email or downloads is critical. Security tools won’t replace prudent user conduct but amplify it. The discipline to maintain security configurations and regularly review privacy settings transforms a Windows 11 PC from vulnerable to resilient.
Conclusion
Securing a new Windows 11 PC is not an overwhelming technical challenge. By prioritizing key areas—installing trusted antivirus software, disabling passwordless sign-ins, reviewing app permissions, limiting diagnostic data sharing, and enabling BitLocker encryption—users create a robust security foundation. Complementing these with firewall usage, updates, safe browsing, and secure networking nurtures comprehensive defense.These adjustments require only a few minutes but drastically improve defenses against theft, malware, and privacy leaks. The digital landscape continually evolves, and Windows users who adopt thoughtful, layered security practices from day one equip themselves to meet future threats confidently.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing your system is locked down properly is well worth the initial effort. It turns a new PC setup from a potential vulnerability into a fortress for your personal and professional digital life .
Source: 6 security settings I always change on a new Windows PC
