President Obama has again declared October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month! You can read the White House statement here:
The National Cyber Security Alliance team encourages everyone to STOP.THINK.CONNECT.
The internet is an incredible tool, but you must use caution to ensure that your personal information remains secure and to protect yourself from virus infections.
I have an antivirus, why do I still get virus infections?
Antivirus solutions can block viruses that they have rules or definitions for, but new malware is released daily. It is critically important that you update your antivirus often so you are protected against recent threats. Some viruses are installed by infected webpages. Some viruses exploit old versions of software, like Java or Adobe. Recently, more virus infections have been spreading through social media, such as Facebook and Skype. If you click on an infected message and then download and run a file, you may be bypassing the protection provided by your Antivirus program.
Keep a Clean Machine
- Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
- Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that’s an available option.
- Protect all devices that connect to the Internet: Along with computers, smart phones, gaming systems, and other web-enabled devices also need protection from viruses and malware.
- Plug & scan: “USBs” and other external devices can be infected by viruses and malware. Use your security software to scan them.
Connect With Care
When in doubt, throw it out: Links in email, tweets, posts, and online advertising are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, even if you know the source, it’s best to delete or if appropriate, mark as junk email.
- Protect your $$: When banking and shopping, check to be sure the sites is security enabled. Look for web addresses with “https://” or “shttp://”, which means the site takes extra measures to help secure your information. “Http://” is not secure.
When in doubt, ask us!
ASU ResNet is here to help you with Cyber Security and answer any questions you may have.
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You can also contact us at resnet@adams.edu, calling us at 719-587-7741 or stopping by ASU Computing Services.
