Laptop Users Take Note!
In the past number of years, UCC has seen a number of computer virus outbreaks. These virus attacks cause serious disruption to the IT services provided by UCC. In a significant number of these outbreaks the main way that these viruses infiltrated the UCC network was through users connecting Laptops that had been infected at home to the UCC network without taking the necessary precautions to ensure that their laptop was protected.
So, if you have a Laptop computer that you use at home and plan to use at work, there are a number of things that you must do before connecting this device to the UCC network:
- Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date: All UCC staff are entitled to protect their laptops with the F-Secure Anti-virus software. Please do so!
- Keep your Operating System and applications up-to-date with all critical security patches, e.g. Use Microsoft Windows Update, http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Maintain strong passwords, http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/#6 have a mix of numbers and letters in your password and make it at least eight characters long. Hint - you can use joined dictionary words or phrases if you combine them with change of case and numerals
- If your Operating System supports one, enable a firewall. e.g. for Microsoft Windows XP
If you are not sure about how secure or vulnerable your Laptop is, do not connect it to the UCC network. Ring the helpdesk on extension 2120 or call to the helpdesk on the 3rd Floor of the Kane Building (Science Building) with your machine, and they will help you determine if your Laptop is safe.
