When was the last time you updated your virus definitions? What about Windows? Although updating your computer seems like a chore, it's one of those items that if ignored long enough could cause serious problems like data loss and a bricked computer. To avoid this, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Is Your Antivirus Software Updated?

  Most virus infections are a result of users not updating their computer's virus definitions. Most of the antivirus applications perform updates in the background without requiring user interaction, but if you're running an older antivirus program or you've set updates to manual updates, then you are going to have to do the updating yourself.

2. Is Windows Updated?

  Microsoft releases updates for Windows on a regular schedule to ensure security and stability of the Windows platform, however there are times when vulnerabilities are discovered that require immediate patching.

In a case like this Microsoft uses the Windows Update system to alert users of the latest update so that they can download a patch to resolve the issue. If your computer is on manual updates or you go long periods without rebooting your Windows PC, you could be missing out on important updates necessary to keep your computer safe.

3. Are You Blocking Unwanted Connections?

  Windows ships with a built-in firewall, are you using it to block connections? One of the first things you should do is head over to the Control Panel to find out if the firewall is running, if it's not then you need to make sure you enable the Windows Firewall to block unwanted connections.