Free Stuff

Checklist for Students

This is one of a set of 6 free security checklists.  To see the others, click the "free checklists" link above.  To use the checklist, we suggest that you print it out, consider each point in turn, then tick the box when you've dealt with it.

Remember, this isn't a quiz or a test. You don't score points for each box you tick or leave blank, and there's no league table of top scorers.

		What	Why
1	c	Ensure that your computer, whether laptop or desktop, always has antivirus software installed and that the software is up to date.	Viruses can damage your computer, delete your documents or spy on your private information.  Antivirus software prevents viruses getting onto your computer, but only if the software is up to date.  Otherwise it will be unaware of new viruses (of which there are more than 50 per week).
2	c	If your computer's operating system (probably Windows) has a built-in firewall, ensure that it's enabled.  You normally do this from the Control Panel.	The firewall will help to ensure that hackers on the internet can't access your computer.
3	c	Turn on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows.	This will ensure that important security fixes issued by Microsoft will automatically be downloaded and installed, to help keep your computer safe from hackers and bugs.
4	c	Most new computers are supplied with lots of unnecessary software that you don't need, including time-limited trial versions.  Delete any programs that you don't need.	It'll speed up your computer, free up some hard disk space, and help ensure that there's less to go wrong.
5	c	Make regular backup copies of all your important documents and other files.   Use a recordable CD, or a USB pen drive, or just email the files to yourself.  But never store the backups alongside the computer itself.	If your computer is lost, damaged or stolen, losing all the coursework stored on it will make the problem many times worse.  Keeping copies of important files removes this risk.
6	c	Download and install some anti-spyware software.	Spyware slows down your computer, and also invades your privacy by allowing advertisers to monitor your online activity in order to send you more "relevant" adverts.
7	c	Never reply to spam emails, even to request removal from the sender's database.  Just delete the messages.	When you reply to a spam, the sender now knows that your email address is valid and active so he'll start sending you even more messages.  And he can now sell your details to other spammers at a premium.
8	c	Keep your laptop safe from thieves.  Mark it with your name and telephone number, and never leave it unattended.	If your computer is stolen it'll be hugely inconvenient and expensive.
9	c	Take care when using social networking web sites dating.	Lots of users of such web sites lie about themselves.  Some people are not actually who they say they are.
10	c	Be careful when using online dating sites.	If you're going to meet someone face-to-face that you've only known online until now, always tell someone where you're going and let them know the details of who you're going to meet.
11	c	Watch out for "phishing" emails, whereby someone claiming to be a financial institution such as your bank, ebay or PayPal asks you to log into the site to confirm your ID and password details.	Banks never send emails asking you to do this.  Such messages are fakes.  The site into which you type your personal information is run by hackers, who will use the information to defraud you.
12	c	If someone emails you an attachment such as a document or spreadsheet file that you weren't expecting, don't open it.	The file may contain a virus or some other unwanted software.  Even if the message appears to come from someone you know, the virus may have infected their machine and started sending out attachments to their friends without the computer owner's knowledge.
13	c	Resist the temptation to post negative comments about your university, lecturers or other students on public web forums.	It's probably against the terms and conditions regarding your use of university computers, and could get you thrown off your course.
14	c	If your computer isn't fully up to date with all the latest security patches and some antivirus software, don't plug it into the university network sockets or attempt to connect via a w-fi network.	If your computer has a virus, it will attempt to infect every other computer on the system.  If it doesn't have a virus but someone else on the network does, your computer will have no immunity and will become infected.  Possibly within just a few seconds.
15	c	Never store unauthorised, illegal or pirated material on your computer, such as music tracks or videos.	At the very least, you'll be in breach of the university's conditions and could find yourself facing disciplinary action.  At worst, you could find yourself being prosecuted and/or thrown off your course.