Help us keep the IT systems safe

Monday, 13 February 2017

The safety and security of the University computer systems depend on all of us. The Information Technology (IT) team has put together a quick reminder of what colleagues can do to keep their devices and our systems safe:

Emails and viruses:

Please treat emails from an unfamiliar address to your University account with caution.
If an email seems suspicious, please notify Service Desk by calling extension 6262.
Avoid clicking any link or open any attachment in such an email.
An email asking for your password or asking you to log on to a site is potentially dangerous.
It is always a good idea to hover your mouse cursor over a link before clicking it. If the website it is pointing to seems unfamiliar, do not click on it.
Pay attention to email attachments: files named Invoice, file extensions ZIP, EXE, JS files are particularly suspect
Delete anything suspicious from your ‘Inbox’ and ‘Deleted Items’ folders in Outlook
If you detect a virus on your computer, please notify the Service Desk immediately.

Passwords:

Do not share your personal passwords with anyone.
Avoid writing down your passwords.
Use strong passwords: at least 8 characters, include upper and lower case letters and special characters.
Do not disclose shared account passwords to unauthorised people

Physical Security:

Report any security incidents and issues to the Service Desk immediately.
Lock your computer screen (Press “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” then “Lock this computer”, or Windows button+L) when you leave your desk.
When leaving the office, make sure windows are closed and doors are locked.
Avoid leaving confidential documents unlocked or exposed.
Never share your access key or campus card.

Computer security

Do not install software that is not necessary for work.
Only use trusted sites when downloading software.

Please remember that the Service Desk is always available to help you. Go to www.reading.ac.uk/it to get in contact with them.