Safe Computing
Safe Computing Home | Protect Your Computer: Operating System, Firewall, Antivirus | Protect Your Information: Email, Social Networking, Passwords, Browser Security, Wireless, Sensitive Data, File Sharing | Getting Help: Compromises, Harassment, Account Recovery, cMail Remediation
10 Easy Ways to Keep Your Computer and Personal Information Secure:
Protect your computer
- Update Your Operating System: As operating system flaws are discovered, vendors release patches to cover security holes—install these patches regularly to stay secure!
- Use Your Computer's Firewall: Make sure that your computer's firewall is turned on.
- Install and Update Antivirus Software: Download the latest antivirus software and make sure its autoupdate feature is turned on to ensure continued protection.
Protect your identity and personal information:
- Email Safely: Identify fraudulent emails and immediately delete them. Only open expected attachments from people you know.
- Safeguard Your Personal Information: Don't send or post your Social Security Number, bank account number, passwords, or any other private information on the web.
- Protect Your Passwords: Use good password practices to keep your information safe.
- Remember to Log Out of Web Applications: If you're using a public machine, remember to explicitly log out and quit the browser before you walk away.
- Be careful When Using Wireless Networks: Never use an insecure wireless internet connection (e.g., internet cafe or random connection you pick up) when banking, buying or sending private information over the web.
- Data Security - Learn about what you can do to keep sensitive data safe.
- Think before you share: Do not share copyrighted material. Read NSIT's File Sharing policy and find out how to disable file sharing on the most common peer-to-peer clients. Find out more about copyright issues from the Copyright Information Center.
In case of trouble: How to get help
- Computer Compromises: What to do if you believe your computer has been compromised.
- Network Harassment and Abuse: Report network harassment or abuse.
- CNetID Account Recovery: What to do if you need to recover your CNetID account.
- cMail Remediation: How to restore your cMail settings if your CNetID account has been compromised.
Stay informed
- Read and follow information technology policies: Read NSIT's Information Technology Policies and related guidelines.
- Subscribe to NSIT Announcements: Get the latest technology news on campus.
- Tip Sheets: Find solutions to common problems
- See our security campaigns: NSIT has produced a number of posters promoting aspects of safer computing.
Related Topics from Find IT 
- Get help with a compromised computer
- Get safe computing tips
- Get tips about choosing a good password
- Get tips about keeping passwords secure
- Get tips on keeping high risk files safe
- Learn about browser security
- Learn about data security
- Learn about firewalls
- Learn about good safe computing practices
- Learn about NSIT policy guidelines for minimum encryption standards
- Learn about regulated computers
- Learn about the University's policy for regulated computers
- Learn about wireless network safety
- Learn how to choose a good password
- Learn how to protect my personal information
- Learn how to protect myself from an email scam
- Learn how to securely store passwords using the password escrow service
- Patch my operating system software
- Protect myself from scammers and network miscreants
- Recover a compromised CNetID Account
- Remediate my email account after it has been compromised
- Report Network Stalking or Harassment
- Report that someone has access to my account
- Watch NSIT's data security video
Last updated: 9/17/09