{
  "id": 16568063,
  "title": "10 simple security settings you should change on your phone and PC right now",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/10-simple-security-settings-you-should-change-on-your-phone-and-pc",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-26T06:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/online-security/10-simple-security-settings-you-should-change-on-your-phone-and-pc-right-now"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ensuring your devices are secure is crucial in today's world. Keep your software current by enabling automatic updates or periodically checking for upgrades in the System Settings. Disable the Advertising ID, which collects data for targeted ads, and delete any personalized advertising data. Lock screen notifications should be turned off to avoid exposing sensitive info to passersby. Limit location permissions, restricting them to only necessary apps. Immediately lock your device with a unique password, and disable any settings that keep it unlocked in \"trusted\" locations. Block the installation of unknown apps to prevent unauthorized access. For PCs and Macs, encrypt the drive to protect data in case of theft. Enable the firewall on both Windows and macOS to prevent unauthorized connections. Consider using a VPN to enhance network privacy, such as the free Proton VPN. Adjust browser permissions to \"Ask first\" for permissions like microphone access or file downloads. Lastly, be vigilant against potential data breaches by corporations and malware on your devices.",
  "summary": "Your privacy and data are always at risk, but don’t make it easy for malicious actors — change these simple security settings now.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}