Online Safety Workshop

Stephanie Rojas, IMGKrystle Donnelly, IMGCyndi Backstrom, UNLV OIT

Purpose

To review programs and software that may put you and your computer at risk.

Ways to protect your information.

Malware or Badware

In legal terms, known as a “computer contaminant”.

Refers to software intended to gain access to or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.

Comes in many types of aggressive, invasive, or annoying software or program code

Terms to Know:

Infectious Malware Virus Worms

Greyware Adware Spyware

Phishing

Infectious Malware

Virus- Attaches itself to a program in the computer Runs when the program opens Damages/Changes files

Worm- Takes advantage of unprotected areas in

operating systems Makes copies of itself and can spread to other

computers on the same network Very commonly written for Windows

Greyware

Adware Files that are packaged with other

programs that automatically advertise materials

Spyware Software that takes some control of

your computer in order to redirect you somewhere, advertise, or obtain personal information

Adware Example

Phishing

Items such as emails and IMs that try to persuade you to give them personal information: passwords, social security numbers, usernames, etc.

Unlimited ways of what they can try to do in order to get your information

Not to do:

Do not click on links from emails. Type them in on the address bar.

Do not download files when you are unsure of whom they are from.

Do not give your password to anyone in an email. Companies do not ask for passwords

via email.

Ways to Protect

Close pop-ups. Be choosy of the websites you visit. Carefully choose what information

you post online about yourself. Be careful of which websites you

choose to shop online from. Choose passwords that aren’t easily

guessable.

How to Get Anti-virus Software

Symantec Anti-virus software is FREE for students. Download it from: http://oit.unlv.edu/software/symantec-antivirus

Constantly Update Antivirus!

New viruses and malware are constantly being developed.

Download updated anti-virus definitions at least once a week, and ideally every day.

Protect your information!!

What to Do if You Get a Viruso Download the newest anti-virus

definitions from the Symantec website, and run a full virus scan. Usually, Symantec will be able to quarantine the infected files.

o If the virus is on one of our lab computers, tell the lab manager.

o If the virus is on your personal computer and you have difficulty removing it, ask for help from OIT.