ChromeOS is not merely a simplified operating system.
ChromeOS is also a relatively secure operating system - thanks to its multiple layers of protection for preventing things like viruses and malware from harming your device and accessing your data.
This is an essential security move, whether or not you use ChromeOS. Two-step verification adds yet another layer of security to the login process of online accounts.
First, make sure you've enabled 2FA on your Google account.
Let's say you install a basic game on ChromeOS and, by default, it enables access to the camera or the mic - or both.
ChromeOS makes it possible to enable/disable access to either piece of hardware.
To do that, open Settings and go to Privacy And Security > Privacy Controls.
Click on either one, scroll through the list of apps, and disable access for any app that shouldn't need to use the feature.
With this feature, you can set ChromeOS to use DNS over HTTPS- which encrypts all of your DNS activity so no one can spy on you.
Also: 5 things ChromeOS needs to rival MacOS. To enable this feature, go to Settings > Privacy and Security.
To learn more about using DNS over HTTPS, check out How to configure specific DNS servers on your Chromebook.
Out of the box, ChromeOS - and the Chrome browser - will sync everything to your Google account, so that any browser or Chromebook you have associated with your account can use the same data.
Also: ChromeOS finally steals a faster multitasking feature from Windows and MacOS. With ChromeOS sync, you get only four options to enable or disable: apps, settings, Wi-Fi networks, and wallpaper.
I disable all four because I don't want any of those settings - especially Wi-Fi networks - winding up in the wrong hands.
To customize your sync, go to ChromeOS Settings > Privacy and Security > Sync and Google Services > Manage what you sync.
There are times I have house guests who'll need to use a laptop to browse - but who don't use ChromeOS. Although I'm happy to let them use a Chromebook, I do not want to simply hand over my laptop and let them use my account.
Instead, I use guest browsing - aka guest mode - a special, minimal) account with zero access to my data - it's nothing more than a web browser that doesn't save data from login to login.
Also: 5 ways to improve your Chrome browser's security.
To enable guest browsing, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Manage Other People.
Once you've taken care of these settings, ChromeOS will be a bit more secure.
This Cyber News was published on www.zdnet.com. Publication date: Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:43:09 +0000