|
For
Your Eyes Only
Published in the Aggie on April 28, 2004
Is your computer safe from the prying eyes and hot little hands
of roommates, acquaintances, and complete strangers? Follow
these three tips to prevent physical theft of your computer
and to help ensure that the personal information stored on your
computer remains private.
Label it and lock it down
- Physically secure your laptop or desktop computer to the
desk where it sits. You can purchase a cable lock (similar
to a bike lock) at the UCD Bookstore Computer Shop or any
tech-supply store for around $30. Simply loop the steel security
cable around heavy furniture and lock it back to your computer.
Laptops usually have a built-in key lock for this purpose;
for desktops, you can purchase a “security spot”
that adheres to your monitor and provides a base for the lock
(check out a site like www.securtech.com
for costs).
- Label your computer so it can be identified if stolen or
lost. Mark it with your phone number or email, or purchase
security plates for around $20 from places like www.stoptheft.com
or www.securitrac.com.
Aluminum security plates adhere to your computer and leave
a permanent tattoo on your machine if removed. Registration
with a tracking and recovery service is included with the
plates.
Maximize your Passwords
- Protect sensitive Word documents by requiring a password
to open the file.
- Prevent others from accessing your computer files by setting
up a user account and requiring a password at login. Be sure
to turn off the “Guest” account to prevent an
anonymous user from logging on.
- Set your computer to request a password to get out of sleep
or screen-saver mode. This prevents other people from accessing
your personal information if you’ve left your computer
unattended.
- Never leave your password settings “saved” on
your computer. This defeats the purpose of a password. Also,
create a complex password that would not be easy for people
to guess.
- Consult your operating system’s “Help”
function or call IT Express at 530-754-HELP if you need help
setting up these security safeguards.
Secure confidential information
- Minimize the amount of confidential information you store
on your computer. As a general rule, do not store your Social
Security number, driver’s license number, date of birth,
bank account numbers, financial records, or passwords on your
computer.
- Store confidential information on portable media, such as
a CD, flashdrive, ZIP disk or floppy disk, rather than on
your hard drive. Secure the portable media in a locked cabinet
when it is not being used.
For more information on protecting your computer and personal
information against theft and other security threats, visit
the campus Computer and
Network Security Web site.
Bits & Bytes Archives
2006-2007
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
|
