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General Information
Safe Practices
Set Good Passwords
Limit Access To Your Machine
Turn Your Computer Off When Not In Use
Handle Email Attachments With Care
Be Cautious when Using Peer-To-Peer File Sharing Software (KaZaA, for example)
Stay Current
Keep Your Software Updated
Run Anti-Virus Software
Run Anti-Spyware / Anti-Malware Software
Use A Firewall
Safe Practices Details
Set Good Passwords
• Choose secure passwords that cannot be easily guessed by using a combination of letters and numbers.
• Change your password immediately if you suspect someone else may have guessed it.
• Keep your NEIU passwords different from any other personal passwords that you may use.
Limit Access To Your Machine
• Log off or Lock your computer if you are going to be away from your computer.
• To lock your computer in Windows 2000 or Windows XP, press Ctrl-Alt-Del, then click on Lock Workstation.
• Lock the door if nobody is in the office.
Turn Your Computer Off When Not In Use
• Your computer cannot be infected or invaded when it is not connected to the network.
• Consider shutting down when done for the day, unless you have an automated backup, upgrade or scan scheduled to run overnight.
• This is particularly important when you will be away from your system longer than a few days.
• If you haven't turned on your computer in a few days, be sure to check for updates for software and antivirus files before you do anything else.
Handle Email Attachments With Care
• Many viruses are transmitted through E-Mail, often as attachments.
• Never open an attachment unless you are sure who sent it and what it contains.
• Always use your Anti-Virus software to scan an attachment for viruses before opening it.
Be Cautious when Using Peer-To-Peer File Sharing Software (KaZaA, for example)
• If you have used one of these programs even once, your computer is probably configured to distribute files that can slow down your computer and network. You also risk legal trouble for copyright violation.
• Learn enough about the program you are using to select which files are shared and limit the number of downloads from your computer. Better still, turn sharing off (closing the application window usually won't do it).
Stay Current Details
Keep Your Software Updated
• The two components most frequently attacked, and therefore most important to keep up to date, are your operating system and web browser.
• Two good ways to stay current are to check for updates once a week, or allow your operating system to be updated automatically using Windows Update or Mac OS's Software Update.
• New versions of software are released on a regular basis to counter threats. Without current software, your computer risks being infected or compromised. Keep current with Security Patches and Updates for all of your software.
Run Anti-Virus Software
• NEIU has purchased a campus site license which allows Academic Computing to install Symantec AntiVirus on all campus computers and manage the configuration and updates from a centralized server.
• There are good low-cost and free Anti-Virus solutions for home computers as well.
• See the Resources & Downloads Section of this website for more information.
Run Anti-Spyware / Anti-Malware Software
• Just like a virus, spyware and malware can wreak destructive or potentially damaging havoc on a home computer. Using free programs such as Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy can keep malicious and dangerous programs off of your computer.
• See the Resources & Downloads Section of this website for more information.
Use A Firewall
• Windows XP Service Pack comes equipped with a Security Center to prevent unauthorized access to your home computer.
• View the Resources & Downloads page for more information on Firewalls.
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