PC & Network Security
The idea of PC and network security is scary to many people who do not believe they know enough to properly manage their computer. Despite this concern, computer security is one of the most vital considerations all users must deal with before they can begin to properly use the internet. It is also very easy to learn basic computer security.
The university strives to help you maintain your network security and privacy. Follow our rules, guidelines and suggestions and you should be able to avoid major problems while enjoying the internet.
As you view this page, please click on a word if you do not understand it, or look for it in our Terminology section. If you do not know the definition of a word that is not included in the Terminology section, or feel you need more information, please contact us.
Protecting Your Personal Computer
Make sure you have antivirus software on your machine at all times - With all the terrible stuff on the web, trying to get on your machine, antivirus software is an absolutely necessary first step to keeping your computer clean and safe. Without this protection, a computer on the network can become unusable in no time from excessive numbers of viruses, trojans and other computer infections. In addition, the invasion of your computer will help to propagate these viruses throughout the internet.
Antivirus protection is easy to get and relatively cheap (especially compared to the price of time and inconvenience to clean an infected computer) but be sure to read the instructions to make sure you are using it properly.
At NC State, antivirus software is available free of charge and is required to be on all network computers. You can download a copy from the university by going to http://www.ncsu.edu/antivirus. A Unity ID and password are required.
Once your antivirus software is installed be sure that you update regularly with the latest version of the application and it's list of known viruses. Without this, your computer will be searching only for older, outdated infections. You should make sure that automatic updates, which keep this list of known viruses up-to-date, is turned on and you may also want to set up regular virus scans for your computer.
Use other available tools to keep your computer secure - Additional applications are becoming available all the time to help you keep your computer safe and up-to-date. Two of the best applications to help you with this are Lavasoft's Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. Both of these applications are free and will go the extra mile to help you avoid pop-ups, spyware, data-mining, malware and more. It is highly advisable that you download both Ad-aware and Spybot S&D and that, like your antivirus software, you keep them up-to-date with the latest information, and scan your machines on a regular basis.
Keep all patches up-to-date - These may be operating system patches or related to other products you use to keep your computer safe and secure. Whatever it is, make sure that you are receiving automatic updates and that you double check that the system is working properly from time to time. Learn more here!
Networking Tips
Use a firewall - These days, the most recent versions of Windows and Macintosh operating systems have built-in firewall's. These need only be activated (or in some case, come activated already) and will help protect your computer. In addition, many networks have their own firewall. You cannot count on this however, and in some cases their firewall may not work with one you have enabled. Be aware of these things in the office or if you're connecting to a network elsewhere.
Remember that firewall's alone are not enough protection for your machine. If you are unsure, ask for help!
Need help configuring your firewall? Follow the instructions provided by NC State ResNet.
Secure all wireless networks - If you have a wireless network set up in your home, secure it! A secure wireless connection means that you will need to specify a password that users (including yourself) must enter to connect to the web through your router. This will keep random users from connecting and using your internet access for free, or from monitoring your online activity.
These days, any wireless router will come with detailed instructions on how to create a secure wireless network. If for some reason you need additional help, go online and use the tutorials that should be available from the company that made your router. There are additional tips on the web as well.
Remember that if you are not on a secure connection to avoid doing any work that might pass personal information over the web!
Be Smart About File Sharing - Avoid trouble. Don't share files that are copyrighted. The music and movie industries are very sensitive to this issue and are always on the look out for people stealing their products. University campuses are under heavy scrutiny, so be aware and follow the rules when using peer-to-peer applications.
Other help... - If you have serious computer vulnerability you should use "thin-clients" as much as possible. "Thin-clients" refers to programs or software that has an online or web-based version, such as a webmail client compared to using Outlook to view your mail. Thin-clients are less vulnerable to infections on your machine.
Other Devices
Remember that "computers" are no longer just desktops and laptops. Your cell phone, your PDA and other electronic devices may all be vulnerable. To learn more about this, see 'CyberSecurity for Electronic Devices'.