NEWS FROM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Celebrate the New Year's Eve of Maryland Basketball
OIT prepares each fall for the return to campus of tens of thousands of personally owned desktop and laptop computers. Some of these computers arrive on campus infected with viruses, some are inadequately protected and fall victim to previously infected systems, and other computers that were previously used on private networks in the home are suddenly exposed to nosy neighbors.

• Use Antivirus Software—Updated software that protects your computer from hostile programs is an absolute necessity, especially for owners of Windows-based systems. Many computers are purchased with trial versions of antivirus software that work for a limited time unless a subscription is purchased. The OIT Help Desk provides FREE antivirus software to all members of the university community (www.helpdesk.umd.edu/virus/software.shtml). This software updates itself regularly in order to recognize the latest threats.
• Download Software Updates—The makers of computer software regularly find security flaws in their products and issue updates to correct the problems in their products. Those fixes are useless unless they are loaded onto your computer. Allowing your computer to perform Microsoft Updates is important, but don't ignore the other software on your computer. Companies such as Adobe and Mozilla also release product updates regularly. Macintosh and Linux users need to heed this warning, as well.
• Protect Your Files—Sharing the files on your computer with the network might be a reasonable thing to do on your home network, but it is an invitation for trouble when connected to a network with thousands of neighbors. Share your computer with extreme caution. There are incidents every year in which personal files, including pictures, are borrowed and distributed widely. Disable your computer’s sharing features and keep your private things private.

If you have questions about keeping your computer safe, please contact the OIT Help Desk at 301.405.1400.