State Private Communication provides answers to the most frequently asked questions of Ukrainians about countering threats in cyberspace, safe use of phones, internet and others. I bought a used laptop with Windows 10 already installed, what should I do to use it safely?

When buying used equipment, it is important not only to make sure that it works properly, but also to check the device for threats and clean it from “foreign” data.

Reinstall the operating system with simultaneous deletion of files:

• Settings – Update and security – Recovery – Reset PC – Erase everything (remove all personal files, programs and settings) – Delete files and clean disk. The process takes some time, so make sure the laptop is fully charged.
• Check the system again with an antivirus.
• Only after that install the programs you need and create an account.

On the other hand, if you’re selling a used laptop, don’t forget to take care of security as well. Three simple steps:

• Back up your data to avoid losing important documents, photos or other files.
• Sign out of all accounts.
• Reinstall the operating system while deleting the files. For reliability, you can also use special disk cleaners so that deleted files cannot be recovered.