Practicing secure computing is everyone's responsibility. Help protect yourself and the UWB Network from computer viruses and intruders by following the steps below. These steps are also highly recommended for protecting your home computer:
If you need help with these steps, please contact the Information Technologies Helpdesk, either by phone at (425) 352-3456, by email at IT@uwb.edu, or in person at LB2-218.
You should install the latest versions of anti-virus software on your laptop or home computer to protect it from viruses. Information Technologies recommends:
Both of these products are included in the UW Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK), which is available for $1 at the University Book Store and its campus branches or for free directly from the web, just go to UWICK CD Contents.
New viruses are being produced constantly, so it is extremely important that you regularly update your virus protection software. Computers on the UWB campus are updated at least once every week. You should plan to update your own computer on a regular basis (monthly is probably a good goal). For Step-by-step downloading instructions refer to how to configure McAfee VirusScan for optimal performance and protection.
Because intruders are constantly looking for weaknesses in software, it is important to keep your software up to the latest patch level. Unpatched computers are the leading cause of compromised systems on the UW campus. Taking the time to ensure you have the correct and most recent patches installed will save both you and the University of Washington time and money. Below is a list of official security patch sites where you can download the latest patches for your operating system:
In addition to keeping your operating system up-to-date, it is important that you keep your browser current by installing the latest patches or the newest product version. These patches often contain fixes to security vulnerabilities. You can download the latest patches for your Web browser at one of the follow web sites:
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Macintosh OS-X have methods for setting passwords for each user account. By setting passwords on all accounts you prevent someone from simply walking up to your computer and using it. In addition, each of these operating systems has methods for "locking down" folders so that only their owner can access them.
Operating systems like Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Macintosh OS-X and many network programs (such as servers) arrive with a default password set for the administrator, or no password set at all. It is very important to promptly change the administrator passwords to a good, difficult-to-guess password. Many viruses check for default or unset passwords. When a virus or hacker gains access to an administrator account, it is particularly serious because such accounts have powerful privileges.
Regularly backing up your files is one of your best defenses against lost files caused by viruses, worms, and software or hardware failure. Backup your files on a regular schedule. How often you backup depends on how much your files change, but once a week or once every other week is a good interval for many people.
Each person at the UWB has his or her own UW NetID and NT Logon and password. It is against policy to share yours with someone else. For more information about UW policy, refer to Ethics in Computer and Network Use.
It is also important that you do not share your passwords inadvertently:
Using an insecure email, browser, or file transfer program exposes your UW NetID password by sending it in plain text over the network. It is easy for hackers to listen in on a network and grab plain text passwords for their own use, which may include destroying your files. Secure programs prevent this by using encryption to scramble transmissions between your computer and the remote computer.
Secure software, already configured for use at the UW, is available in the UW Internet Connectivity Kit, which can be purchased at the UW Bookstore. Much of the software in the UWICK can also be downloaded free from the UWICK page of the Software Guide.
