At Work and At Home

In addition to the above, these recommendations will increase the security of any computer, on campus and at home. If you are unsure of your computer’s settings, call the Computer Center Help Desk (x-7300) for assistance.

• Turn off your computer at the end of the day, rather than leaving it on or in sleep mode. This makes it harder for unauthorized persons to access it and protects it from viruses and other compromises. (And it’s better for the environment, too.)

• Your computer should be set to automatically check for and install Windows or Apple Updates. If you need help, follow these instructions:
  • How to enable automatic Windows XP updates
  • How to enable automatic Windows Vista updates
  • How to enable automatic Apple Updates in Mac OS/X

• We recommend the use of the firewall software included with Windows or Mac OS/X. If you need help, follow these instructions:
  • How to enable the firewall in Windows XP
  • How to enable the firewall in Windows Vista
  • How to enable the firewall in Mac OS/X

• All computers should have Symantec antivirus working and enabled. Our license for Symantec also covers personally owned home computers. You can pick up an installation CD at the Help Desk.

• Use caution when downloading and installing software -- particularly free software -- as doing so could affect the stability of your computer or introduce spyware or adware.

• Do not open e-mail attachments unless you know the sender and are sure that the attachment is safe.

• Do not access web links in e-mail messages, unless you are certain that they are not malicious. Messages claiming to be from banks, Amazon.com, eBay, PayPal, etc., are generally fraudulent attempts to steal personal information or access data on your computer (a practice commonly known as “phishing”).

Related pages:

• Data security practices
• Geek Speak Glossary
• Security homepage