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Is your tech safe while you work from home? How to protect your computer from hackers

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Concentrated young female indian professional wearing breath protective mask, working on computer after washing hands with antiseptic liquid, preventing spreading coronavirus infection in office.Working from home has created a whole new issue around online security. Here's how to protect yourself. (Photo: Getty)
Don't let your computer fall victim to hackers.

Working from home has become an extended reality for millions of Americans.

But just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean everyone’s doing it right — particularly when it comes to optimizing the technology you’re using every day, and making sure you’re not vulnerable to viruses, malware and identity theft. Basically, you want to protect your computer from hackers. Here are a few tools to help:

Tip No. 1 to protect your computer from hackers: Use Yahoo Plus Protect Home

One of the toughest things about working from home as opposed to in an office is the lack of tech support. If something goes wrong in the office you call IT. If something goes wrong at home? You’re on your own. Well, not anymore.

Yahoo Plus Protect Home (a new service created by Yahoo Life’s parent company, Verizon Media) provides extended warranty protection for eligible home tech, premium tech support, and, for certain portable devices, protection for accidental damage from handling and extended warranty protection — all for $15 a month (plus tax). And premium tech support takes care of your tech questions and struggles, including how to protect your computer from hackers, with access to 24/7 tech experts by phone —if you’re having a problem with an eligible laptop, TV, printer, even headphones, just call for help.

Yahoo Plus Protect Home is perfect for anyone who struggles with evolving technology—your grandparents, your dad, you—since there’s always someone on the other end of the line to help you fix the problem, find those photos, access that software, update that operating system, and so on. Learn more, and sign up here.

Tip No. 2 to protect your computer from hackers: Invest in a password manager

LastPass will give you one master password so you don't have to remember all of your others. (Photo: LastPass)
A password manager can help protect your computer from hackers.

“A password manager is a good thing for people who have a tendency to use the same or similar passwords everywhere,” says Levin. The major problem with that tactic? If hackers gain access to one password, they can get into all of your accounts. We recommend the top-rated LastPass Premium (affiliated with Yahoo Life’s parent company, Verizon Media), a toolbar extension that simplifies password management by helping you create passwords, either by generating them automatically or letting you choose your own according to strict requirements.

The password manager then stores all your passwords securely and syncs them across your devices. Save each password once and you’ll be instantly logged in to any site you subscribe to going forward. The only thing you have to remember is the master password to LastPass Premium, which is protected by two-factor authentication.

Shop it: LastPass Premium, try it free for 30 days then $1.99 per month, subscriptions.yahoo.com

Tip No. 3 to protect your computer from hackers: Invest in security software

Antivirus protection, like this program from Norton, will protect you from hackers who are taking advantage of the shift to working from home. (Photo: Norton)
Antivirus protection, like this program from Norton, will protect you from hackers who are taking advantage of the shift to working from home. (Photo: Norton)

Americans are online more than ever before, since a large percentage of the workforce has shifted to working from home. This fans the flames for hackers, phishers, and identity thieves. Now is the time to empower yourself by practicing cyber hygiene—the online equivalent of frequent hand-washing—to keep your private information airtight.

A powerful piece of security software like Norton Security Online (affiliated with Yahoo Life’s parent company, Verizon Media) safeguards your web surfing, so you can pay your bills online, fill out web-hosted healthcare forms, and even use your credit card to sign up for streaming services with added protection against scammers. Manage all your devices from one main portal, and keep hackers away from your private information.

Shop it: Norton Security Online, try it free for 30 days then $4.99 per month, subscriptions.yahoo.com

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