{"176471":{"#nid":"176471","#data":{"type":"news","title":"OIT Shares Computer Security Tips for Break","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWinter break is the time of year when faculty and staff enjoy a week away from campus \u2014 leaving thousands of desktop computers unattended.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore you leave for the break, there are a few things you can do to keep your computer and computer files and the networks we operate on secure. Here are some tips from the Office of Information Technology:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERegister your personal computers with the Georgia Tech Police Department \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/police.gatech.edu\/services\/property\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. Also, activate location services on your laptops when possible. Mac laptops, for example, can be tracked using iCloud.com when location services are enabled.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETurn off your work computer during the break, unless told to do otherwise by your unit\u2019s IT staff. If you can\u2019t turn off your computer, log out of all accounts. If your machine must remain on and you can\u2019t log out before leaving, enable a screensaver with password protection or lock your computer when you leave. Windows users can select a password-protected screensaver from Start \u0026gt; Control Panel \u0026gt; Display \u0026gt; Screensaver. Windows users can lock their computers by pressing the Windows Key + L. Mac users should simply log out or set up a password-protected screensaver and activate it.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELock your workspace when you leave.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECheck with your unit\u2019s IT staff to ensure that your computer receives security updates and has the necessary antivirus security software installed. Users should also make sure they have the Tech-provided antivirus software suite (McAfee) installed on personal computers. If not, download it for free \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/software.oit.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse Tech\u2019s virtual private network (VPN). To use any of Georgia Tech\u2019s remote desktop or file-sharing programs from your home computer, you\u2019ll have to connect to the Institute\u2019s VPN first. For information on installing it, click \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/85qcekb\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. (You can access Tech\u2019s web-based services, such as My GaTech, TechWorks and T-Square without connecting to the VPN.)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EChange your password before it expires, so you do not experience any service interruption. If you forget your password, you can reset it yourself by having security hints defined in PassPort. To set up questions or reset your password, click \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/passport.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETake all personal and work laptops and mobile devices home over the break. Also, ensure that the password function and device location services have been activated on all of these items.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWinter break is the time of year when faculty and staff enjoy a week away from campus \u2014 leaving thousands of desktop computers unattended.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Winter break is the time of year when faculty and staff enjoy a week away from campus \u2014 leaving thousands of desktop computers unattended."}],"uid":"27445","created_gmt":"2012-12-10 15:05:25","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:13:22","author":"Amelia Pavlik","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2012-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2012-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.oit.gatech.edu\/","title":"Office of Information Technology (OIT)"}],"groups":[{"id":"1259","name":"Whistle"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"9223","name":"computer security"},{"id":"9299","name":"Office of Information Technology"},{"id":"4112","name":"oit"},{"id":"52371","name":"winter break"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amelia.pavlik@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmelia Pavlik\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}