![\"CISA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765274708_346_0x0.jpg\")
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Make sure your PC is safe.<\/p>\n
SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n
America\u2019s cyber defense agency has plenty of sound advice this holiday season. Much of this focuses on securing your phones<\/a> and avoiding the fake shopping websites<\/a> that will see you get stung. But there\u2019s also some timely advice<\/a> for Windows PC users.<\/p>\n Whether at home or at work, \u201cbefore you dash out the door for your holiday\u201d or pack your bags and head out of town, \u201clock up your data like you lock up the office.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesSamsung One UI 8.5 Release\u2014Do Not Use This New Galaxy UpdateBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n CISA<\/a> tells all users to make sure they have a recent data backup \u2014 don\u2019t leave your data at risk in the event something happens to your devices. But just as critically, if you\u2019re leaving your PC for some time, \u201clog out\u201d and \u201cshut down.\u201d<\/p>\n Shutting down your PC each day is painful, Microsoft restarts are still not what they should be. But if you\u2019re away for a few days or more, you should do it. It provides a level of physical protection, making it harder for an in-person attack, but more critically it will stop anything processing on the device while it\u2019s unattended. <\/p>\n And that includes cyber threats.<\/p>\n \u201cTurning off your computer completely eliminates its vulnerability to remote cyberattacks and malware that rely on an active network connection or running processes.\u201d This is standard security expert<\/a> advice. <\/p>\n As we await the last set of Windows vulnerabilities of the year with this month\u2019s Patch Tuesday, security advice for the holidays should land well. It takes just seconds to log out and power down, but it\u2019s worth doing just that<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, this is already turning out to be a record holiday shopping season. \u201cWhile millions of Americans are online buying gifts,\u201d CISA says, \u201ccyber criminals are trying to take advantage of the influx of shoppers. Don\u2019t get scammed!\u201d<\/p>\n