Protect Yourself from Computer viruses, spyware, scams & spam
Computer viruses, spyware, and spam not only disrupt your work day with computer and network problems, but can result in identity theft. To avoid these problems, please follow these guidelines.
- Do NOT open or preview any e-mail message
that looks suspicious. If you open an e-mail message
or see a pop-up window message and it is asking for
personal or financial information, do NOT click on any
links. For more information on avoiding identity theft,
please go to the "Don't Get Caught by Phishing Scams" link at http://is.unl.edu/phishing
- Protect your passwords and do NOT share them with anyone. Sharing account information with people you know or through "social engineering" are the most common reasons for identity theft. UNL will NEVER ask you for your passwords. If you fear an account may be compromised, change the password. (Your My.UNL password can be reset here) Learn how to select a more secure password here.
- Do NOT open any e-mail attachment you are not expecting to receive, even if the message appears to come from someone you know or from Information Services or Microsoft. Instead, first confirm its authenticity by contacting the sender. Neither IS nor Microsoft sends security patches or virus DAT updates as attachments via e-mail.
- Make sure your anti-virus software's virus definition files are automatically updated daily
(or more often). The UNL site license with Sophos
provides anti-virus software free-of-charge to all faculty,
staff, and students for work and home computers.
For installation and configuration instructions,
please see the anti-virus information page:
http://antivirus.unl.edu
- Set the "Windows update" feature to automatically
install all critical system updates as soon as
Microsoft issues them. The IS Computer Help Centerhomepage
www.unl.edu/helpdesk provides links to the Microsoft
web pages that provide instructions for enabling automatic
system updates for every version of Windows.
If you have questions on any of these guidelines, please
contact:
Computer Help Center at 472-3970 (toll free 866-472-3970) or helpdesk@unl.edu
**A note on Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE 6) IE 6 joins a long list of browsers no longer supported by UNL.edu. As the web becomes more standards-based, we have progressively abandoned the time- consuming hacks necessary to support nonstandard browsers as those browsers' marketshare has diminished and newer versions take their place. Released in 2001, IE6 is one of these browsers. Microsoft released IE7 in 2006, and IE8 in the spring of 2009. Since these versions of IE are far more standards-compliant than was IE6, they require fewer 'hacks,' and are supported browsers on UNL.edu.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
IS Security Site
Identity Theft FAQ
Vendor websites
It's very important that your PC is set to receive automatic updates from Microsoft and your anti-virus provider. If you have any concerns about your computer, contact your local computer support tech or the
Computer Help Center
472-3970 or toll-free
(866) 472-3970