Safeguard your computer and your identity!
Threats to the security of your computer and your personal and financial identity are rapidly increasing in today's networked environment. Failure to protect both can cost you considerable time and money. While Windows-based PCs have been popular targets, attacks on Macintosh computers are increasing. And everyone is subject to "phishing" scams -- attempts to trick you into revealing personal and financial identity information.
It is essential (and required for connecting to BU's campus network) that you protect your Windows-based PC by (1) ensuring that you have the latest Microsoft service pack and security patches, (2) installing both anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and (3) turning on Windows AutoUpdate and the built-in Windows Firewall.
To assist members of the BU community in this process, we have created an automated process, called BUVS. You can download and run BUVS at any time to test a Windows-based PC's security, install the latest Microsoft service pack and security patches, and scan for viruses. (Students in ResNet should also read specifics regarding NetReg at the bottom of this page.)
Follow these steps now to protect your computer
- If your PC uses Microsoft Windows, download and run BUVS. Running BUVS from home does not exempt you from the requirement to run it again when you register a computer in your room in a residence hall, but running it early allows you to address any problems it reveals before you come to campus. BUVS is only for Windows-based PCs; it does not run, nor is it required, on Apple's Mac OS.
- Install anti-virus software. BU has site-licensed McAfee VirusScan software for both PCs and Macs; download and install it for free. More about viruses
- Install anti-spyware software. Spyware is becoming as prevalent as viruses, and can be even more dangerous. You can download a free copy of McAfee's AntiSpyware at the download site mentioned in step 2, above, for McAfee VirusScan. If you run Windows XP, you should also download and install a free copy of Microsoft's Windows Defender, which provides continuing, real time protection against spyware and runs a full anti-spyware scan each day. (You can safely install both McAfee AntiSpyware and Windows Defender.) Windows Defender is built in as part of Microsoft's Vista OS. If your computer is already infected with spyware, you should also do an additional scan and cleanup, using the free version of Ad-Aware. More about spyware
If you run Windows and you skipped step 1 (running BUVS): (1) run Microsoft's Windows Update and enable Windows Automatic Updates, and (2) turn on the built-in Windows Firewall. Or just run BUVS.
follow these recommendations to protect your identity
- Be skeptical of unexpected e-mail, even if it appears to be from a BU address or someone you know, and especially if it requests you to provide or verify personal or financial details or information about an account. "From" addresses are easy to fake. "Phishing" scams have become very sophisticated in their methods to get you to provide criminals with your financial and computer account information. These often appear to come from your bank, or services such as PayPal or eBay. They may say that they've observed suspicious activity on your account, and threaten to disable your access if you don't click on a link and provide verifying information about your account.
- Don't open unexpected e-mail attachments. They can infect your computer with a virus or spyware. They can install a keystroke logger on your system, allowing criminals to collect information about your online banking accounts, your passwords, and your credit card numbers. Clicking on a link to visit a malicious Web page can also install viruses, spyware, and keystroke loggers on your computer. More on identity theft
- Filter out spam. Spam is always annoying, but today's spam is also dangerous, because it often contains a virus, spyware, or a "phishing" exploit. You can protect yourself from many of these hazards by filtering spam.
Finally
- If you suspect your computer has a virus, follow these removal instructions.
- Protect against regular, old fashioned theft by registering your notebook computer with the BUPD.
Special requirements for connecting to ResNet
As part of the residence hall move-in process, all computers connecting to ResNet must be registered on the campus network -- a process known as "NetReg." Before any Windows-based PC can be connected to ResNet, it must successfully complete an automated scan, called BUVS, to verify that all current security patches are installed and no virus or spyware is present. Following the steps above should prepare your PC to pass this scan. We strongly recommend that you use these steps to safeguard your computer, regardless of whether you plan to connect to ResNet. Please note, however, that running BUVS outside of the NetReg context does not exempt you from the requirement of doing so again during NetReg -- it is simply one tool you can use to make sure the NetReg process will go as quickly as possible.
