COX INTRANET

Safe Computing Guidelines

Purchase a licensed "legitimate" copy of Windows for your laptop if you have not already done so.

In order to run Windows Update, you must have a licensed and activated copy of Windows XP. One of the requirements to be on the Cox Wireless Network is that you must be up to date on your Microsoft Operating System patches and updates.

For Windows XP, we recommend using the "Custom" setting and not the "Express" setting when visiting http://update.microsoft.com.  You must install the "High Priority Updates".  We strongly recommend that you install the "Hardware - Optional" updates as these are driver updates for your hardware.  The "Software - Optional" updates should also be installed since many of these patch critical security issues. 

For Windows 2000, this means that you must have all the "Critical Updates" installed. We strongly recommend that you install the "Recommended Updates" as well as the "Driver Updates".

Purchase a licensed "legitimate" copy of Microsoft Office Professional for your laptop if you have not already done so.

In order to run Office Update, you must have a licensed and activated copy of Office. Some of the classes here will require you to have the latest patches and updates for Office. 

Run Windows Update at least once a week.

New patches and updates are released by Microsoft on a constant basis as new problems and issues are discovered in the operating system. The operating system is a large and complex piece of software that works as the "brain" of your computer. Everything else you do, from browsing the web to sending email to creating your class presentation, depends on the OS. Many of the patches correct things that function improperly. Many more, however, patch security issues and it is very important that you keep your patches current. This can be scheduled automatically to happen at a time when you won't be using the machine.

Do not install "cracks", "cracked", "warez", or other pirated software.

Most black-hat hackers do not crack software for the benefit of general public. They do so because it gives them the opportunity to install the code of their choice on your computer. What this does can take many forms. The most common ones either send your personal data (like on line stock trading, banking, or credit card purchases) back to the hacker or it will allow the hacker to control your computer remotely. Neither of these is a very desirable circumstance.

Have anti-virus software  and anti-spyware software.

There are a couple of free products as well as several that are available from Computer Corner fairly inexpensively with your Student discount. Having anti-virus software with current definitions is a requirement for using the Cox Wireless Network.

Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware definitions at least once a week.

Having anti-virus or anit-spyware software with virus definitions that are more than two weeks out of date is largely useless. New trojans, viruses and worms are released constantly. You must update your definitions so that your software can find or block the newer viruses. Most of the current vendors offer packages that can be scheduled to update themselves. Having anti-virus software with current definitions is a requirement for using the Cox Wireless Network.

Have your anti-virus software and anti-spyware scan your hard drive at least once a week.

Most anti-virus and anti-spyware software has scheduling built in so that you can configure it to scan automatically at some time when you know you won't be using the machine. For example, you may want to scan for viruses at 3 am and spyware at 4 am. Again, having anti-virus software with current definitions is a requirement for using the Cox Wireless Network.

If you're running Windows XP, turn on your built in firewall.

Each network connection that you have on your laptop (wireless or wired) has a built in firewall. Since this is designed to stop other people and/or their computers from connecting to your laptop, we strongly recommend that you activate it.

If you're running Windows 2000 and unable to upgrade, we strongly recommend that you obtain firewall software and install it on your computer.

Many vendors offer free versions of their products for home users. We strongly recommend that obtain one and install it.

If you're running Windows XP, we strongly recommend that you put passwords on all the user accounts on your computer.

You don't go to work in the morning and leave your front door open. You shouldn't do this with your computer either. There are many utilities available that will list out the user accounts on a computer. If you don't have a password set, it's very easy to connect and read the contents of your hard drive. This can include things like tax returns, credit card purchases, on-line banking, medical records, etc.

Think about Spy Ware before you install that "free" gizmo you downloaded.

People who write software rarely do so for "free". You generally have two ways to pay for software. You can pay cash or you can pay with your privacy. Many so-called free programs monitor you and report back. You install them and you can use the utility for free but in exchange for not having to pay money, it inserts itself in to various portions of your operating system that it can monitor your activities. Many things will make you "register" to use the free utility. What this does is to create a profile and some sort of a unique identifier for you back at "the mothership". It then "phones home" with reports about your various activities - which web pages you looked at, how long you spent, what you clicked to next, which programs you used, etc. RealPlayer in particular has been sued several times over this. The data is then harvested and sold to everyone from spammers to marketers. To compound the problem, many of the programs are poorly written and often cause a variety of problems with other legitimate pieces of software. Several of them, such as Gator, are notoriously difficult to remove.