Published May 7, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Marshall is a writer covering NAS, data storage, cybersecurity, AI, and general tech with over a decade of experience. His work has been featured in publications like ZDNet , Business Insider , Zapier , and many more, where he breaks down complex topics into clear, actionable insights. His work has been read over 100 million times. He now lives his life as an expat in Tokyo, where he works as a technical API writer and builds PINION , an online gaming media. Many years ago, when I'd get my hands on a new Windows PC , I did what a lot of people do. I opened the browser, signed in to a few accounts, changed my desktop wallpaper, and installed a few apps. It felt ready within minutes. Then I stopped to check the security settings and realized almost none of the important stuff had been left half configured. I don't do that anymore.…