Cybersecurity Awareness Month, October, 2016 – Protecting your Computer

Categories: Information Security

Perhaps you notice your computer acting sluggish. You visit websites and are inundated with popups saying “your computer is infected, please click here.” Then, one day you start your computer and all your data seems to be gone! On your computer screen you read a message informing you that your computer has been taken over and your data has been encrypted; to retrieve your data you must call a telephone number and pay a ransom.

Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming all-to-common but the risks can be minimized with a few simple steps. While you should always practice good security habits, October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and is an excellent time to review what you are doing to keep you, your computer and your information safe.

One of the first things you can do is to make sure your computer has an antivirus program. Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) are programs the university supports. MSE needs to be installed on all Windows 7 computers and Defender is the updated version of MSE that comes already installed on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 machines. It should be noted, however, that too many scanners can cause problems. For example, running MSE, McAfee and Norton simultaneously is not recommended because they can conflict and slow your computer down.

Keeping your computer’s software updated is another great way to protect your computer from a malicious attack. Vulnerabilities arise on a regular basis. When they are discovered the affected software companies release a ‘patch’ to fix the vulnerability. Your computer should automatically check for Windows and Microsoft updates (which includes Office software). Another great software update tool we recommend and use in DASNR IT is called Ninite which regularly updates programs such as Java, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Adobe Reader, just to name a few. You should also consider removing software programs you no longer use.

Awareness of the sites you visit and links you click on is another way to stay safe online. Be wary of any sites that offer anything for free or that just sound too good to be true. Even Google ads on websites can install malware on your computer.

Emails are also a common place for ‘click-bait’ especially from senders you think you know. Before you click on a link, always make sure that you know the sender of the email and where the link is going to take you. If you aren’t sure, don’t click on the link. If in doubt, hover over the link in the email message and look at the address. Don’t click on links that have addresses inconsistent with the message or sender’s purpose.

Maintaining a secured computer is a great way to protect yourself, your computer, and your important data. If you suspect your computer is infected, contact your departmental Computer Support Specialist or Extension Technology Specialist. The longer you ignore an infection, the harder it is to remove.

Over the next month, DASNR IT  will be releasing additional articles regarding cybersecurity so keep an eye out in your email or on our blog site: spotlight.okstate.edu/dasnrit/. If you have any concerns, feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to ensure your computer is protected and updated.

~Cynthia Hobbs