West Virginia University

Security

Many of you have or soon will purchase a new computer in preparation for your first semester at West Virginia University. Some of you may simply bring a computer from home. In either case, you have a new responsibility. You are responsible for securing your computer from hackers, viruses and other malicious software.

West Virginia University uses a variety of tools and measures to detect and prevent viruses and hackers from compromising computers on the University's network. Unfortunately, these measures will not and cannot fully protect your computer. You must also take certain steps to secure your computer.

A new age of Internet crime focused on identity theft is evolving. If you think computer security need not concern you, we strongly encourage you to read the article Identity Theft and the Hacker Economy.

"But, I don't know anything about computer security", you say. Not to worry - we have prepared some tips and tools that will help you secure your computer. Check out our top 10 tips for securing your computer. The first four alone will substantially reduce your risk of being hacked or infected by a virus.

Unfortunately, properly securing a computer is not a trivial exercise, and hackers take advantage of our inexperience. Each of us should endeavor to learn more about computer security and the methods used by hackers. Make time to browse security articles posted on the websites of vendors such as Microsoft and Symantec, and be sure to return to those sites periodically for the latest news and information. If you use Microsoft Windows, sign up for Microsoft's consumer security newsletter.

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