Passwords
- Don't use passwords that are words, phrases, or birth dates.
- Do use passwords that are keyboard patterns. For example, use a pattern around a starting letter , such as the pattern around this sample password: GhYu&8.
- Use a couple of variations for various accounts you hold: one for your CU NetID, a variation for your retirement and bank accounts, and a simple one for Web-based accounts that don't have any sensitive information at all, etc.
See SecurityAwareness.com for helpful hints on making passwords hard to crack.
E-mail and E-mail Attachments
- Don't open attachments that have suffixes of .exe, .pcl, scr,.bat, .com, .zip, even if they look like they come from people you know.
- Configure your e-mail filter to send SPAM e-mails, identified with PMX:# in the subject by the CIT mail server, straight to the trash.
- Organize your e-mail with folders and use filters to keep your e-mail organized automatically.
File Management
- Move files that need to be retained for long-term storage to specific directories located on the server intended for that type of file. It is your responsibility to identify those files and copy or move them.
- Use naming conventions and folders to avoid overwriting existing files and having to request files to be recovered from backup media.
Help With Applications
- Use the built-in help features of common desktop applications, such as Word and Excel, to find out how to make use of advanced features.
Network Usage at Home and at Work
- Protect your home machine with anti-virus software, including free software available from Cornell, and a firewall.
