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StartSafe Information for Home and Residence Hall Computers
last updated:
Tuesday November 06, 2007 03:55 PM
Most of these instructions apply to Windows computers. For others:
- MacIntosh OS-X
- Linux/Unix
For Windows computers:
STEP 1 - Enable the firewall on Windows XP and Windows 2003
Computers. If possible, do this before the computer is ever connected to a
network. Note - New Windows XP computers, those running Windows XP Service Pack
2, and computers running Windows Vista have their firewalls enabled by default
so no action needs to be taken.
We must enable a firewall to keep criminals and their programs (viruses, worms,
etc.) away from the defects on our
computers. This will allow us to connect to the Internet and install updates to
fix these defects. Afterwards, the firewall will help protect us against future
defects and operating mistakes. This step is only necessary for Windows 2000,
Windows XP, and Windows 2003 computers.
Windows XP and 2003:
- Click Start
- Click Control Panel.
- Click Network and Internet Connections
- Click the Network Connections Control Panel Icon
- Right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties
- Click the Advanced Tab. If you don't have an Advanced Tab,
right-click Local Area Connection again and click Remove from
Bridge. Then go back to Properties and Advanced Tab.
- Check the box labeled "Protect my computer and network by limiting or
preventing access to this computer from the Internet".
- Click OK
- Connect to the network
- Restart the computer
Windows 2000 (optional but recommended)
Right-click
here,
select Save Target As.., and download the firewall2000.exe file.
Create a folder to store the firewall files.
Double-click the downloaded firewall2000.exe file and tell it to install the
firewall files in the folder you created.
Double-click the firewall.hta file in that folder
Select Protect My Computer
Click Start.
Restart the computer
STEP 2 - Download and Install All Critical Updates from the Microsoft Windows
Update Web Site
This step will fix the defects in Windows software that lets criminals take
control of our computers (and our privacy, our identity, our network, etc.).
This step can be time consuming because there are so many security updates to
install, particularly for older computers. A later StartSafe step will have you
configure your computer so it keeps itself up to date so you don't have to do
this again.
You must repeat the process until you're told that no more critical updates
are available. Doing it once may leave you vulnerable.
To update your Windows Vista computer:
- Open Internet Explorer ( other browsers won't work )
- In the menu bar, click Tools and then select Windows Update
- In the Control Panel window that pops up, click Get updates for more
products. This will start the installation of the Microsoft Update program
which will better keep your computer up to date than the older Windows Update
program.
- Accept the terms of use.
- Click install.
- When the Control Panel window reappears, click Check for Updates and
follow the remaining directions. You'll need to repeat this process until
there are no more critical and security updates available.
To update your Windows 2000, XP, or 2003 computer:
- Open Internet Explorer ( other browsers won't work )
- In the menu bar, click Tools and then select Windows Update.
- If you see "NEW! Get Microsoft Update Today", then
- Follow the instructions to install the new Microsoft Update program which
will better keep your computer up to date than the older Windows Update
program. Then come back here.
- Otherwise,
- Follow the instructions to update your computer. You'll need to repeat
this process until there are no more critical and security updates available.
- If you need them, instructions showing screen shots are available
here but may vary somewhat from what you
actually see depending on versions and platform.
Older Microsoft Windows operating systems ( 95, 98, ME, NT ) are no longer
supported, are not provided with security updates, and cannot be secured so they
should not be used, particularly on a network.
STEP 3 - Download and Install All Critical Updates from the Microsoft Office
Update Web Site
This step will fix the defects in Microsoft Office software that let criminals
take control of your computer (and your privacy, your identity, our network,
etc.). The process is relatively simple with three caveats:
If you are running Microsoft Office 2000 ( as opposed to newer versions of
Office ), download and install
the Microsoft patch that makes Office 2000 work like more recent versions
helping to protect you from automatic exploitations of future Office defects.
JMU has purchased a license for Microsoft products making newer versions of
Office available to faculty and staff for their home computers under the "Work
at Home" license terms. Upgrading Office 2000 to a newer version is
particularly recommended.
Installation CDs are available from the JMU Bookstore for $5-$6.
STEP 4 - Set up your computer so it automatically downloads and installs future
updates
Once you are caught up with current critical Windows updates, you'll need to
install new ones that come out about monthly. You can do this manually, or, if you
have a Windows 2000, XP, or 2003 computer, you can set it up so that it takes
care of itself. Your computer will check
for updates, download them, install them at a time specified by you, and reboot
all on its own. If
your computer is turned off at your selected installation time, it will perform
the installation the next time it is powered on.
To set up the automatic updates, follow the instructions at
Microsoft's Automatic Update Site.
Note - The Microsoft update service does not support Office 2000 (
including Outlook ) products. If you are using Office 2000, you will need to
visit the
Microsoft Office Update web site once a month.
STEP 5 - Install Anti-Virus Software Provided by JMU
Anti-virus software must be installed to protect us from criminally written
programs that we may inadvertently run on our computers or that criminals may
caused to be run by using unknown defects. JMU has purchased a site license for
Symantec Corporate Edition that allows all faculty, staff, and students to use
the software both at the office and at home. The advantage of using this
software is that it is provided pre-configured to offer the best security and is
fully supported by the JMU Helpdesk. TO PREVENT PROBLEMS, ALL OTHER ANTIVIRUS
SOFTWARE SHOULD BE UNINSTALLED FROM YOUR COMPUTER. We have experienced instances
where the installation of the Symantec software on computers that have other
anti-virus software installed destroys the computer necessitating a complete
rebuild.
The Symantec anti-virus software can be downloaded from the
JMU
Computing Downloads web page. On a dial-up line, this can take several
hours.
If you find that your computer is already infected with a virus that cannot be
removed by the Symantec software, you will have to download and run special
cleaning tools using a special procedure. Guidelines can be found by clicking
here.
Having anti-virus software does not protect you from new viruses that are
released daily. A clean virus scan of a program does not mean its safe to run.
You cannot legally install or distribute the JMU licensed Symantec anti-virus software on
computers owned by people who are not current students or employees of JMU. You
can, however, get free anti-virus software elsewhere. Here are three review
articles on free anti-virus software products:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1864601,00.asp
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,124475,00.asp
http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivirussoftwarereviews/a/freeav.htm?rd=1
STEP 6 - Make sure you have a STRONG password set on the
Administrator account on Windows NT, 2000, XP, and 2003.
Windows computers allow people and programs (or criminals and viruses) that
can guess the Administrator password to take full control of your computer
over the network. This happens quite often. If, when you follow these instructions to set the password, you get an error message like "access
denied" it means you're logged into the machine with a non-privileged
account. Simply logout (Start->Log Off (username)) and log back in as
Administrator using a blank password. If your computer normally logs into
Novell, you'll need to click the box on the login screen that says "workstation
only" so you only log in to the local computer and not Novell.
STEP 7 - Configure your computer to display file names
correctly
Windows hides the real names of files from you which makes it easy for virus
writers to fool you. It also makes it difficult to do something which should be
simple - change a file name. You can tell your computer to tell you the truth
about most file names by making the simple change below. On Windows
Vista computers:
- Click Start
- Select Computer
- Select Organize
- Select Folder and Search Options
- Click the View tab
- Scroll down to the line "Hide file Extensions for known file types" and
uncheck the box next to it.
- Click OK
On Windows XP, 2000, and 2003 computers:
- Double-click My Computer
- Click the Tools Menu item and then select Folder Options
- Click the View tab
- Scroll down to the line "Hide file Extensions for known file types" and
uncheck the box next to it.
- Click OK
STEP 8 - Run a Spyware Removal Tool on Your Computer
Note: Anti-spyware and anti-virus programs are always out of date and
susceptible to the newest threats. Using the optional safer
account described at the bottom of this page can prevent even new ones from
being able to fully infect your computer. If you use such an account, you do not
need to install the anti-spyware software described here.
Several types of malicious programs not detected by anti-virus software have become common on the Internet and
many computers have become infected with them. These programs can compromise your
privacy and cause your computer to operate poorly. Two tools, Adaware and SpyBot,
are available on the
JMU Computing
Downloads site.
Depending upon your browsing and download/software installation habits, it
would be a good idea to run one of these programs monthly. You can use the
Windows Task Scheduler to start this automatically so you don't have to
remember. Simply set up the Widows Task Scheduler to run it, for example, on the
second Thursday of every month or whatever schedule would be best for you. To
set this up following these instructions:
- Click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Scheduled Task
- Click Add Task
- Select the program and schedule you want to run. It is not necessary to
run both anti-spyware programs every month unless you are very promiscuous
about your web browsing and download/software installation habits.
Step 9 - Install security updates for other software you may have
installed ( e.g. iTunes, Winamp, Firefox, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Skype, Flash,
Adobe Acrobat Reader )
People often add programs to their Windows computer. Many of these programs
have security defects that
can allow criminals and viruses to take control of the computer. Check the list of
critical security updates for software
that you may have installed on your computer. You only need to update these
programs if they have been installed on your computer. A list of programs
installed on a Windows computer can be found in the 'Add or Remove Programs'
Control Panel. Download locations for programs commonly installed that have
serious and/or actively exploited security defects are listed below:
STEP 10 - Configure your e-mail client to keep your
communications with the JMU e-mail server private
If you use an IMAP or POP e-mail client ( e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird,
Entourage, Netscape, Eudora ) set it up to require SSL protected sessions.
Instructions for the JMU e-mail service can be found
here.
In addition to ensuring your communications are private, if you don't do
this, you may not be able to reach the JMU e-mail server from off-campus.
Step 11 - Password protect your screen saver
Set your screen saver up so that you're required to type your password before
it will unlock. On Windows XP:
- right-click any blank portion of the screen and select properties
- click the Screen Saver tab
- Click the On resume, password protect checkbox
Step 12 ( optional but STRONGLY recommended ) -
Set up and use a safer account for day to day use
Safer accounts for day to day use on Windows XP and Vista computers can be set up fairly simply. If you want to take one more step that will reduce risk more effectively
than many of the other recommendations,
set up
a limited account on your Windows XP computer for day to day use (
procedure for Windows Vista is similar except that the account is called
'standard' instead of 'limited' ).
Most of
today's viruses and spyware will not install when using such an account. If
they do install, their damage will be limited. If you don't use such an
account, the chances are high your computer will be infected with
Spyware and other unwanted programs, particularly if you use Internet Explorer
as your browser.
Step 13 - Review Information on Safe Operating
Practices and Current Threats and Issues
Once you have set up your computer in a way that will protect it and you, it is
important to realize that your operating habits can reverse all the work you've
done and allow criminals or viruses to take control of your computer or
information. Please review the
JMU Computing Security web page for
guidelines on operating it in a safe manner, common mistakes, and current
threats and issues. If you handle constituent, partner, financial, or other sensitive
information, please review the
Protecting Sensitive
Information material.
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