Protect your computer - "DOs and DONT's "

Securing your computer

1. Microsoft Security Updates

Installing Microsoft security patches (Windows, Internet Explorer and Office updates) is extremely important for protecting your computer. There are several ways to update your computer:

• Minimum Supported Versions:
  Windows XP SP3, Windows 7 SP1.
  
  
• New Windows Installation on Old Computers
  NEVER connect a new Windows installation prior to Windows XP SP2 to the net/Internet. The security updates should be performed offline using a CD, which can be obtained from our support centers (you should bring a blank CD with you). You can also download the CD image from our site and burn it on another computer. This CD contains only critical security patches - following the installation of these patches you should run Windows update to complete the patch installation.
  • Download image for Windows XP
  • Burn instructions
    
    
• Campus computers *
  Update your campus PC using SUS (Software Update Services). Configure your Windows for automated updates of Microsoft security patches from HUJI's software update server. The advantage of this service is that patches are tested prior to distribution. Since the patches are hosted localy in our network, the update procedure is much faster than obtaining the updates from Microsoft.
  Minimum requirements: XP (Service Pack 3), Windows 7 SP1, Windows server 2003 and above.
  Download: http://ca.huji.ac.il/bf/auconfig1.8.exe
  Instruction: http://ca.huji.ac.il/services/security/sus.shtml
  
  *Ein-Kerem campus users: Those who have joined the new (EKMD) system should not do anything - the process has been completely automated.
  
  
• Home computers
  • Make sure the latest Microsoft update engine is installed in your computer - Instructions
  • Set your computer to automatic updates
    

NOTES:

• Office updates are not covered by SUS and you should perform them via Microsoft's site. During the Office update process you might be asked to insert your original installation CD
• Ein-Kerem campus users, who have joined the new (EKTNG) system  should  not do anything - the process has been completely automated
  

2. Anti-Virus

Install an Anti-Virus program and keep it up to date.

• Download & Install McAfee Anti-Virus,
  NOTE: Only campus computers in the Hebrew University network, and home computers that belong to users who are eligible to connect to the university are allowed to install the McAfee Anti-Virus.
  
  
• Download the latest McAfee Anti-Virus definitions, last updated on [an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive]
  
  

Detailed explanations about viruses: http://ca.huji.ac.il/bf/virus_guide.pdf

3. Spyware

Spyware consists of computer software that gathers and reports information about a computer user without the user's knowledge or consent. Spyware, as well as a wide range of related malware products, perform many different functions, including the delivery of unrequested advertising (pop-up ads in particular), harvesting private information, rerouting page requests to scam sites, etc.

Recommended Spyware removal tools:

• Spybot - Download and run according to our instructions.
• Ad-Aware - Download from site: http://lavasoft.de/

4. Login Password

Setting a strong password for all user accounts on your computer is crucial. Lack of passwords, or the use of weak passwords, could result in invasion of your computer by spyware, trojans and other malware, subjecting it to manipulation and possibly data theft.

Protect your computer with a strong password according to the following basic guidelines:

• The password should be changed frequently
• Do not give over your password to ANYONE
• Do not write down your password near your computer
• Do not store your password in a file in the computer
• Do not share the same password with other accounts on the computer or with other accounts (such as mail account)
• Password should contain at least 6 characters
• Password should not be based on a dictionary word, on a reversed word, or on common names
• Password should contain enough different characters
• Password should not be too simplistic or systematic
• Password should not resemble the username, full name or ID number
• Create strong passwords that you can remember: The easiest way to create a strong password that you won't have to write down is to come up with a sentence (preferably in Hebrew). Use the first letter of each word of the sentence (in English transliteration) and use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, or special characters that look like letters.

Follow our guide to setting passwords to your computer: http://ca.huji.ac.il/helpdesk/windows/passad.shtml

5. Firewall

Windows XP (and newer) users - turn on the built-in firewall.

• Check your Window's version and install the latest service pack (SP):
  • Download and run version.exe to check your Windows version
  • Install SP3 if it is not installed yet - Instructions
• Enable the firewall - Instructions
• Firewall may limit some applications and services. Follow our instructions to open up applications and services.

Windows 7 users - use the following Instructions in order to configure Windows Firewall.

NOTE: Ein-Kerem campus users: Those who have joined the new (EKMD) system should not do anything - the process has been completely automated.