Computer Security at UB
  • Home
• Tip of the week
• Security / Resources
• Best practices
• Tools
• Incident Help
• UB Security policies
• Find your support unit
• Best Practices
• Support and Tools
• Security Threats
• How-To...
• Useful links

Did you know?
58% of the users reported having
at least 1 virus on their computer in the past 2 years

 

 
Your role in keeping your computers secure
Your situation Your role
Managed Workstation
Configuration, installations, and updates are done for you, usually automatically over the network. 		Do not change anything without explicit permission from your IT support staff.  Someone else is taking care of security management for you.
Supported Workstation
An IT support person works with you to perform installs & updates on the computer.		 Talk to your IT support staff about what is being done for you and what steps you need to take yourself.
Do-It-Yourself
You have no assigned IT support person for this computer. Your will need to do all the steps of computer security management listed in the 4 Steps to Keep Your Computer Secure  yourself.		 Follow the 4 Steps to Keep Your Computer Secure in the right hand column of this page. Use the Tech Tools CD or software download site to get antivirus software for your computer free-of-charge. 
* Adapted, with permission, from the University of Washington, Every Computer Needs Management Web page and security campaign: http://www.washington.edu/computer/security. Many thanks to Rick Ells from Computer & Communications, U. Washington.
four steps of computer management

1. Before connecting a new (or used) computer to any network or the Internet for the first time...
• Apply operating system updates: Mac / Windows UBLinux
• Install Symantec antivirus software from the Tech Tools CD and scan & clean your system: Mac doc, Windows doc
• Reset any default passwords: Choosing a good password (CERT)
• Turn off file sharing: Mac Windows
• Ask your IT support person about turning on a firewall: MacOS X  Win XP

2. Establish a security routine
• Automate your operating system updates
Mac / Windows
• Automate your antivirus updates
• Perform other software updates regularly
• Ask your IT support staff about turning on a firewall
• Regularly run an anti-spyware program
• Don't use administrator accounts to do your work

3. Be ready for infections & system failures
• Backup your files regularly
• Be prepared in case you have to rebuild your system
— Keep your installation CDs for the operating system and other software handy
— Have a plan for getting system updates on CD or other media
• In case of infection:
— Update your antivirus software before scanning
— Run scan/reboot/scan/reboot until system is cleaned
— You may have to "flatten"/reformat and rebuild your system
• Upgrade to supported operating systems

4. Don't be fooled into helping attackers
• Do not share your password with anyone; choose a good password
• Do not open unexpected attachments: the best practice is to scan all attachments before opening
• Do not download unknown programs from the Web
• Do not trade unknown files with peer-to-peer programs such as Kazaa; Turn off file sharing in peer-to-peer software
• Do not believe amazing offers and unlikely stories