October is Cyber Security Awareness month and University Technology Services is working to make sure students know how to keep their electronics themselves safe.
“These events are aimed at educating both average citizens and tech people on how to use their information systems wisely,” said Kimberly South, public relations coordinator for UTS.
Everything from simple e-mails to large networking systems is covered in the seminars. South said many people aren’t aware of how they are at risk or how to keep themselves safe.“We are trying to inject security awareness and consciousness into the university,” said Marcos Vieyra, information security director for UTS.
UTS encourages students to take simple steps as preventative measures to keep their computers and their data safe. South said everyone should have antivirus software that is up to date and running properly. It is available free of charge on VIP. Anti-spyware software is also important.
South also cautions people to be aware of what they’re clicking on and the Web sites they’re going to.“The largest problem is user behavior,” Vieyra said.
With this in mind, UTS created presentations to promote awareness and give training that is relevant to cultural needs.
Vieyra said the presentations “Social Networking,” “The Dark Side of E-mail” and “Wireless Attacks” would all be very helpful for students.
The social networking presentation will cover everything from Facebook to Amazon and Ebay, focusing on how hackers can get into your computer and how to keep yourself safe.
The e-mail and wireless presentations will highlight different threats and help you protect yourself.
However, no students have attended any of the presentations yet.
“We’re not encouraging people to not do the things they want to do online, we’re just trying to teach them how to do them safer,” Vieyra said.
Vieyra said that using a computer safely is much like driving a car. While it is important to wear your seatbelt and to make sure your brakes are working well, you also have to focus on the road and drive safely. With a computer, you should have all of the appropriate software, but knowing how to use it safely is equally important.
“The presentation may be an hour long, but it’s going to be one of the best things you can do for your computer,” South said.
The presentations will also be available online at www.security.sc.edu.
If a problem with your computer does arise, the iCare center with UTS is happy to help.
“We are here to help and we’re a free service to students,” South said.
For more information about computer security or to find out more about Cyber Security Month, visit uts.sc.edu.
TOP TEN WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER ON CAMPUS:
1. Lock your door. This is the single most important way to keep your computer secure.
2. Mark your property in a very visible, permanent way. Just as would-be thieves are often deterred by homes bearing “Protected by ...” signs, a computer thief is more likely to go for an unmarked laptop.
3. Don’t assume your desktop computer is safe. Invest in some inexpensive cables designed to tether the CPU to something immovable in the room.
4. Use password protection. Adjust your computer settings to prompt you for a password any time the computer is used. And change that password from time to time.
5. Don’t reveal too much. Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook may ask for your birth date, but birth dates are a boon to identity thieves. Likewise, do not reveal any other personal information on these public sites or in response to any e-mail requests for your Social Security number, credit card numbers or other personal information, even if it appears to be from a familiar-sounding company.
6. Keep thorough records. If your laptop is stolen, can you provide a full description for the police? Write down your computer’s make, model, color, and most importantly, the serial number. You might also need this information in case you want to file an insurance claim.
7. Install a tracking device. Use a GPS tracking device that runs invisibly on the computer to relocate the stolen property.
8. Use a multi-layered security approach. MyLaptopGPS, for example, offers six layers of protection, including permanent tagging, GPS tracking, covert data recovery, remote data deletion, stolen property tracing, and property registration, for $10 per month per computer. Other GPS tracking devices can be purchased individually for $50 to $400.
9. Start shredding (digitally shredding, that is). Use software, such as Identity Finder, to search and preview the personal data on your computer, including credit card numbers, Social Security number(s), birth dates, tax returns and financial aid documents.
10. Contact USC’s IT department about network security by phone at (803) 777-0707 or visit http://it.sc.edu/. Before you purchase any computer protection system, check with the IT department to ensure the system is compatible with USC’s network.
—Information from www.sans.org
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