10 Tips for Safe Computing

Keep Your NetID and Password Safe

Don't use your Texas A&M NetID and password anywhere other than internal university systems. You should set up different log in credentials for each of your other online accounts, such as banking, shopping, or email accounts.

Use Strong Passwords

Using simple steps like a mnemonic, you can create and remember strong passwords. Use separate strong passwords for your NetID, email accounts, banking and shopping sites, and so on. See more on choosing strong passwords. Examples of strong passwords: mA8#9$sI or y&uO9#dB.

Change Your Passwords Often

Change your passwords every three months at a minimum. Hackers use surreptitious "sniffers" or other techniques to collect passwords. Routinely changing passwords can combat this.

If you access computers on the Texas A&M network from an external location, you should change your NetID password more frequently.

Don't Expose Your Password

Never write your password on a Post-It attached to your monitor, your address Rolodex, under your desk pad, or anywhere else where it can be easily found. You might consider using a safe, cash box, or even your will to store your passwords or the mnemonic you use to create them.

Use Antivirus Software

Use antivirus software to consistently monitor your system and to check files you receive from the Internet, email, ftp, and disks. Antivirus software is available at no charge to Texas A&M students, faculty, and staff from the SELL Software Store.

Use Anti-Malware/Spyware Programs

Use recommended programs such as Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, or Microsoft Defender to protect against malware and spyware. Malware and spyware include programs that attempt to infiltrate or damage your computer; gather information on you and transmit it on the Internet; download files or run programs on your computer without your consent; change your system settings; or try to silently pass themselves on to others. See more on malware.

Be Careful What You Download

Download software or files only from trusted sources. Don't download applications from peer-to-peer files sharing. You may believe that you're downloading freeware or an evaluation version of commercial software but are actually installing malware on your computer. See more on file sharing.

Think Before You Post

Don't post information on personal web sites or social networking sites that might be used by identify thieves, scammers, or hackers to break into your accounts. This includes your address, cell phone number, or financial information. Don't post anything that is illegal, copyrighted, or goes against university policy. See more on privacy .

Back Up Critical Files

Always back up critical files so you don't suffer a catastrophic data loss. Use automatic backup options in your operating system or copy your most important files onto a portable media device.

Erase Your Hard Drive Before Throwing Out an Old Computer

Thoroughly and effectively erase your hard drive before discarding a computer. You can use degaussing, or simply remove the hard drive and physically destroy it.

If you have any questions or if you'd like to report a security-related problem, contact Help Desk Central anytime day or night at 979.845.8300 or helpdesk@tamu.edu.