Safe Computing Practices

1
Safe Computing Practices
2
Outline

• Objective
• Safe Computing Defined
• Safe Computing Methods
• Summary
• List of References

3
Objective

• To provide familiarity with the concept of safe
  computing and some of the methods employed.

4
Safe Computing Definition

• Common practices and procedures to improve the
  chances of avoiding information security
  problems.
• Following these suggestions will reduce the
  probability that you will become infected, have
  your system broken into, have important
  information stolen, lose critical information,
  etc.

5
Safe Computing Methods

• Keep your operating system and application
  programs patched
• Install, use and update anti-virus and
  anti-spyware software
• Use a strong password
• When using public facilities, be sure to log out
  of applications
• Use two or more email accounts
• Use one for family/friends
• Another for other uses can be changed if/when
  start to receive spam
• Be cautious when reading email with attachments
  and downloading files from untrusted locations
• Dont open unexpected attachments

http//www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html http//safe
computing.uchicago.edu/practices/
6
Safe Computing Methods

• Be very careful with any private data
• Social Security Numbers, Account Numbers,
  Passwords, etc.
• Dont put personal information on web sites
• Watch out for phishing or social engineering
  scams
• Install and use a firewall
• Back up your system frequently
• Avoid filesharing programs
• Log in as User not Administrator
• Log out and use a screen saver password
• Disable Java, JavaScript, VBScript and ActiveX if
  possible

http//www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html http//safe
computing.uchicago.edu/practices/
7
Safe Computing Methods

• Be careful when shopping on-line
• Look for a secure connection
• Know who you are buying from
• Be careful what you post on social networking
  sites
• Data on the Internet can last forever
• Personal information is harvested from places
  like Facebook
• Review the privacy policy

8
Summary

• We have introduced the concept of safe computing
  for information systems and described some of the
  methods employed.

9
List of References

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_security
• http//safecomputing.uchicago.edu/practices/
• http//www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity
  /
• http//www.microsoft.com/protect/default.mspx
• http//www.techspot.com/tweaks/windows_security/
• http//www.nsa.gov/snac/support/I33-011R-2006.pdf
• http//www.internetsecurityguide.com/
• http//www.itsecurity.com/features/20-minute-guide
  -pc-security-021307/

10
List of References

• http//www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2004/12/safe
  _personal_c.html
• http//users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/safe2000.htm
  
• http//us.trendmicro.com/us/threats/home-user/prev
  enting-intrusions/safe-computing-guide/Windows-xp/
  index.html

CyberPatriot wants to thank and acknowledge the
CyberWatch program which developed the original
version of these slides and who has graciously
allowed their use for training in this
competition.