Safe Home Computing

Smart and safe home computing begins by building a secure barrier between your home computer and threats on the Internet. Below you will find information that will assist you in building an effective barrier.

Passwords
E-mail
Web
Preserving Your Privacy
Install, Use and Update Anti-virus Software
Back Up Files and Data
Keep Your Operating System and Programs Patched
Spyware/Adware

Passwords

• Choose a password that is difficult to guess. Use a minimum of eight characters, vary the case of letters and intermix letters, numbers, and punctuation if the system allows. Example: 3ElecTric;13.
• Keep your passwords private. Do not share them with anyone.
• Use password-protected screen savers on your computer. Windows and current versions of the Macintosh operating system include this functionality.
• Regularly change your password.

E-mail

• Be skeptical of e-mail attachments:
  • If the sender is unknown, delete the message. Never open unsolicited or unexpected e-mail attachments unless you have confirmed the sender actually meant to send them.
  • If the sender is known, be as certain as you can that they intended to send the attachment before you open it. If you are absolutely sure the sender intentionally sent the attachment, scan it with an up-to-date virus scanner before opening it.
• Never use the "Unsubscribe" feature of spam e-mails or reply to spam e-mails. By doing so, you confirm the validity of your e-mail address, and the spammer will continue sending you unsolicited commercial e-mail, which you probably do not want. The proper way to deal with spam is to delete it.
• Ignore virus warnings you receive via e-mail and do not forward them unless you subscribe to a serious virus newsletter, and know they are legitimate.
• Be aware of e-mail hoaxes. You may receive e-mails warning you of an impending or already rampant virus that will "delete all of the files on your hard drive" or some such catastrophic event and that you should warn all of your friends and family by forwarding the e-mail to everyone you know. Virtually all of these e-mails are hoaxes. They are not real viruses and are completely fictional. Do not forward these e-mails. Simply delete and ignore them. The malicious starter of a hoax is simply trying to get you to congest the e-mail servers and Internet servers by having you forward e-mails. Hoaxes can be almost as destructive as actual viruses in that they often slow e-mail progress and Internet connections. To verify if a message is legitimate, refer to an anti-virus software vendor’s website such as http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html.

Web

• Free programs from the Internet can cause major computer problems. Be aware that seemingly harmless games, utilities, and other “fun stuff” downloaded from the Internet can work behind the scenes to
  • Transfer malicious code to your computer,
  • Send a hacker your passwords,
  • Send a hacker your credit card information.
• Never obtain software from warez sites or peer-to-peer programs like Kazaa. Get it from known, trusted sources only.
  • Warez (pronounced as though spelled "wares" or sometimes pronounced like the city of "Juarez") is a term used by software pirates to describe software that has been stripped of its copy-protection and made available on the Internet for downloading. People who create warez sites sometimes call them "warez sitez" and use "z" in other pluralizations.

Preserving Your Privacy

• Never select the option on web browsers for storing or saving your username and password.
• Never disclose personal, financial, or credit card information to little-known or suspect web sites.
• Never use a computer or a device that cannot be fully trusted.
• Never use public or Internet café computers to access online financial services accounts or perform financial transactions.
• Never leave computers connected to the Internet when not in use.
• Never download files to your hard drive or to another drive from an unknown source. If those files are infected with a virus or Trojan, they can potentially infect all of the other files in that drive.

Install, Use and Update Anti-virus Software

• Make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer.
  • When purchasing a computer for your home, make sure anti-virus software is included in the package. If not, be sure to buy the add-on CD (usually $30-50) and install it immediately upon starting up the computer.
• Check daily for new virus definition/signature updates.
• Keep anti-virus software up-to-date. This means installing virus patches on at least a weekly basis. Most anti-virus software companies offer their latest versions of patches and software upgrades on their web site via downloadable files. These are usually free with your license number or can be purchased for a small maintenance fee.
• Periodically, scan all the files on your computer for threats.
• CSB/SJU IT Services is currently using Symantec AntiVirus on your campus workstation. This software has been deemed a reliable software application for accurately detecting viruses and other malicious threats.

Back Up Files and Data

Back up your files and directories, so that if something happens to your computer, files and data will be recoverable.

Keep Your Operating System and Programs Patched

You are strongly advised to apply all security-related patches for your software as they become available. The latest versions of Windows XP with Service Pack 2 are more secure than previous versions of Windows. Use the Microsoft Windows Update (http://www.windowsupdate.com) and Microsoft Office Update (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate) sites to keep your computer up to date. For more information on protecting your computer, follow the instructions below:

• Go to http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect.
• Select your operating system from the drop-down list provided, and click Go.
• Choose Let Us Do It for You.
  Note: If you are running Windows 98 or NT, you’ll have to choose Use the Detailed Steps and perform the steps manually.
• Click Start Here.
  Note: If prompted to install the Windows Security Advisor, allow the installation to complete.
• If you are prompted to turn on automatic updates and/or the internet firewall, click the appropriate buttons to turn them on. It is strongly recommended that if your operating system supports a firewall that it should be turned on.

If you do not regularly apply operating system and software updates to your computer, it will not be protected from viruses, worms and hackers.

Note: The Windows Update and Office Update sites only work with Internet Explorer. You may have to lower your Internet security settings in order for them to function correctly. Do not forget to set your security preferences to a higher level again when you are done.

Spyware/Adware

• See Spyware Removal.

Please note: The information provided includes recommendations to assist most users to create a safer and more pleasant home computing experience. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of solutions for every possible security risk that may exist today or in the future.

Please direct questions related to this information to the Help Desk ext. 2228 or email helpdesk@csbsju.edu.