Windows 11 Power User Guide: 21 Essential Security Features and Touchpad Tricks

BigGo Editorial Team
Windows 11 Power User Guide: 21 Essential Security Features and Touchpad Tricks

Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system comes packed with powerful features that many users may not be fully utilizing. This guide highlights 21 key security enhancements and touchpad gestures that can boost productivity and protection for power users.

Enhanced Security Features

Windows 11 incorporates several critical security measures to safeguard your system:

  1. Microsoft Defender - An integrated firewall and antivirus solution providing real-time protection against threats.

  2. Secure Boot - Prevents malware from loading during system startup by only allowing trusted software to boot.

  3. Reputation-based protection - Includes SmartScreen to warn about potentially untrustworthy applications and websites.

  4. Core isolation - Uses virtualization to protect the Windows kernel from attacks.

  5. Smart App Control - Adaptively blocks untrusted applications based on continuously updated security signals.

  6. Find my device - Allows location tracking of your device if it's lost or stolen.

  7. Windows Hello - Offers convenient and secure biometric authentication options.

  8. Presence sensing - Automatically locks your device when you step away (on supported hardware).

  9. Windows Sandbox - Provides an isolated environment for safely testing unknown applications.

  10. BitLocker - Encrypts your drive to protect data even if the device is stolen.

Configuring Secure Boot in BIOS settings to enhance system security
Configuring Secure Boot in BIOS settings to enhance system security

Productivity-Boosting Touchpad Tricks

Modern Windows laptops with Precision Touchpads enable a range of useful gestures:

  1. Task switching - Three-finger swipe up to enter Task View, left/right to cycle through apps.

  2. Virtual desktop navigation - Four-finger swipe left/right to switch between virtual desktops.

  3. Enhanced scrolling - Two-finger swipe to scroll in any direction, with customizable speed and direction.

  4. Window snapping - Configure three or four-finger swipes to quickly snap windows to screen edges.

  5. Right-click options - Customize how to perform right-clicks using taps or corner presses.

  6. Volume and media control - Set four-finger swipes to adjust volume and control media playback.

  7. Custom shortcuts - Assign your own keyboard shortcuts to specific gestures for quick access to favorite functions.

  8. Browser navigation - Configure swipes for quick back/forward navigation in web browsers.

  9. Disable unwanted gestures - Ability to turn off specific gestures to prevent accidental activation.

  10. Mouse priority - Option to automatically disable the touchpad when an external mouse is connected.

  11. Gesture sensitivity - Adjust touchpad sensitivity to match your preferences.

By mastering these security features and touchpad gestures, Windows 11 users can significantly enhance their system's protection and streamline their workflow. Take some time to explore these options in the Windows Settings to customize your experience and unlock the full potential of your device.

Utilizing touchpad gestures to boost productivity in Windows 11
Utilizing touchpad gestures to boost productivity in Windows 11