More Help - PC Security

PC security

• Are you connecting your PC to the Internet/campus network/readingConnect?
• Do you have updated anti-virus software installed?
• Is your copy of Microsoft Windows up-to-date?
• Do you physically secure your laptop with a lock?

No? Not sure? Then you may be putting your data and your PC at risk as well as data stored on other PCs in the University.

The Internet is a large community of people and information and, as with all communities, there are a small number of people who will try to damage data or obtain information without your knowledge. By taking a few simple precautions it is possible to increase the protection that you have against any attempted intrusion to your PC.

For example,

• Did you know that while you are a member of the University of Reading you are allowed to install our Sophos anti-virus software on your PC for free?
• Did you know that Microsoft regularly publish updates for their software to protect against known security issues through their Microsoft Update service?
• Did you know that some websites and programs install software, often called "spyware", onto your PC which monitors what you do?
• Did you know that some email messages and web pages try to trick you into revealing personal details by pretending to be from your bank or other organisations? This is called phishing.
• Did you know that laptops have been stolen from the S@il area in the Whiteknights campus library, as well as from cars and offices?