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Protect Against Malware

These tips and links help you secure your computer.

  1. Use Good Passwords
    Don't use words from a dictionary, names, or common phrases. Use combinations of lower and uppercase letters, number, and special characters to create a strong password. Don't write your password down for others to see, do not include it in email correspondence, and do not let anyone else use your password. For more information, see Choosing Good Passwords.

  2. Password Protect Your Screen Saver
    It prevents unauthorized people from getting access to your system. Also, lock your screen whenever you leave. In Windows, you can do this by pressing the 'Windows' key and the 'L' key simultaneously.

  3. Keep Your System Updated
    Apply patches, fixes, service packs, when they become available. Keep your systems upgraded to the latest versions of software. If you are running Windows, set "Windows Update" to run automatically.

  4. Use Virus Protection
    If you have a computer on campus or are logging in to the campus network, you should be running some type of virus protection. McAfee Virus Scan is available at no charge to Texas A&M students, faculty, and staff at the SELL Software Store. If you choose not to use McAfee, several other companies provide antivirus software.

  5. Keep Your Virus Signatures Updated
    No matter which virus protection product you use, you must keep your virus signatures updated! It's how your antivirus program knows about the latest threats. You can set your antivirus program to update signatures automatically.

  6. Use Personal Firewalls
    Personal firewalls provide protection for your system from intrusions and attacks. They can be configured to block certain types of traffic from reaching your machine. Using a personal firewall along with the campus firewall provide multiple layers of protection. Most Windows systems have the built-in firewall turned on by default. If not, turn it on by going to the "Windows Security Center" in the Control Panel.

  7. Don't Open Questionable Email Attachments
    Don't open attachments that aren't from a trusted source. This also applies to files downloaded from the web or from instant messages. These files can contain malicious code that can harm your computer.

For further information on any of these tips or if you have any questions about securing your machine, please send an email to security@net.tamu.edu, or contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300 or helpdesk@tamu.edu.