Both Apple and Microsoft continually publish updates to their operating systems that improve weaknesses in the security of Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X. As well, they both build features into those operating systems that let people automatically download and install those updates.
In Windows, click on "Start", and then "All Programs" and then "Windows Update" or "Microsoft Update", and follow the prompts on the Microsoft website for updating your software.
On the Mac, go to "System Preferences" either from the dock or Apple Menu, and then click on "Software Update" and then click "Check Now". You'll be presented with a list of available updates, or a notice that you're already up-to-date.
Both of these features allow you to both get the current updates and to set your computer to automatically check for and download those updates in the background, which is a good choice for most users.
Not having a passwords set on one's computer is a lot like not having a lock on one's front door. It's a little bit inconvenient to have to unlock it, but a lot better than having it broken into or taken over remotely.
For Windows, follow this procedure:
- Go to the Control Panel, double-click on "Administrative Tools", and then "Computer Management".
- In the Computer Management window, double-click on the "Local Users and Groups" entry in the list box in the left-hand pane, and double-click again on the "Users" item that appears. This will show a list of user accounts for your computer.
- In the right-hand pane, right-click on an account entry, and select "Set Password. . ." from the drop-down menu as shown in the figure below.
- Do this for the built-in Administrator account, and your personal account, if it's listed separately.
On the Mac, all accounts have passwords. If you're unsure of what they are, reset them by going to the "Accounts" pane in "System Preferences", which can be found in the dock or Apple menu.
In either case, write down or be quite sure you remember each password you set. In many cases, if you lose or forget those passwords, it can be very difficult to get back into the machine.
One of the perks of being a Lehigh student is access to the Corporate version of Symantec AntiVirus. This gives you industry-standard virus protection without paying renewal fees to stay current.
To install the software, go to https://www.lehigh.edu/security/norton/ and log in with your Lehigh username and password (you'll need to open your Lehigh account to get them if you haven't already). From the security site, you'll be able to download the version of Symantec for your computer, as well as installation instructions.
Once the software's installed, set the machine to run a full scan overnight. This will help to ensure that your system is clean and protected before you dive into the internet at Lehigh. The software will remain active and updated throughout a student's career at Lehigh.
Besides anti-virus software, another important thing you can do to keep harmful software off of your computer is to make sure your firewall is enabled. A firewall is a networking feature that blocks portions of your network traffic so that only network communications of the types you want are occurring. In Windows and on the Mac, the built-in firewalls work well, and are configured correctly for most users by default, and can be simply turned on or off.
For Windows, follow this procedure:
- Go to the Control Panel, double-click on "Windows Firewall".
- In Windows XP, you're taken directly to a window like the one shown below. Click the radio-button next to "On (Recommended)" and close the window by clicking OK.
- In Vista, if a the "Windows Firewall" window shows a green banner indicating that "Windows Firewall is helping to protect your computer" you're set. If not, click on the "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" link in the upper left. This will bring you to Windows Firewall Settings window, as shown above. Again, select "On (Recommended)" and click OK.
On a Mac, follow this procedure:
- Go to the System Preferences, and click on "Security".
- In the Security pane, click on the "FireWall" tab.
- If necessary, click the lock icon on the lower left, and enter your password to allow changes.
- Select "Set access for specific services and applications" so that the listed services are allowed through the firewall.
Although everyone hopes nothing will ever go wrong with their computer, they are still simply man-made mechanical devices. Most computers come with a set of disks for re-installing the basic software needed for it to run, in case the hard drive needs to be replaced, the operating system be repaired, or specific device driver files need to be re-loaded. These disks specific to your model, as it's configured -- the WIRED consultants and staff may not have these files conveniently on-hand for you.
Either bring the original disks, or make copies and bring those. Gather them all together in an envelope or folder and have it with you at school -- just in case.
Another big "Just in Case" item is your computer's warranty. Most manufacturers allow you to purchase extended warranty coverage as long as your current warranty is still valid. With all of the use and abuse that work at school can entail for a computer, we recommend extending the warrantee for 3-4 years if you can. It makes getting on-site service (for recommended brands) as easy and painless as possible, and keeps you computing.
For students with laptops it may be a good idea to add an accidental damage protection warranty. Many computer vendors offer this type of warranty, which provides warranty coverage for any damage done to a laptop that results from an accident such as liquid spilled on the keyboard, damage from dropping the laptop, or a cracked display.
And speaking of "Just in Case", the files you create while working at school: papers, resumes, photos, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. are unique. Those files, which you bought the computer to be able to produce, cannot be found anywhere else, and need to be backed up. Don't be the student who's final paper gets lost forever when their laptop accidentally hits the floor!
What's required to weather such a disaster is a plan and a habit. Here are several methods of protecting your files, and if you select and follow one of them, you can avoid ever losing any files.
Whatever's best for you, test it out, and get in the habit of actually doing it. Every time you buy more songs or download videos or start working on papers -- be careful about where you save them, and think about where your backup copies are!