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Protect Your Computer

Protecting Your Investment

Protect Your PC!

A few tips on protecting your investment.

For college students, and for their parents, a computer is a significant investment, both financially and personally. Computers have become hubs for communication, work and entertainment – they are in many ways at the very center of a college student’s day-to-day life. However, this increasing reliance on computers comes with another cost—it requires an increasing awareness of how to protect your computer, and your data, against outside threats. While the suggestions below are general, at Elmira College we are committed to helping our students protect their PCs against contemporary dangers.

For complete information about connecting your computer to the Elmira College network and the Internet go to http://sites.elmira.edu/helpdesk and choose IT Connect. You may be prompted to log on with your Google Apps @elmira.edu account.

Before You Arrive on Campus
Please take these important steps to protect your computer before you arrive on campus. Your computer must have current and updated antivirus software and system updates installed before it can connect to the Elmira College network.

Install System Updates

To protect your Windows computer, you should set your computer to automatically install Microsoft Windows Updates. For more information go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
To protect your Macintosh computer, use the built-in Software Update program, which automatically checks weekly for updates. For more information go to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1338
Install Antivirus Software and Keep It Updated (Windows and Macintosh)
Go to to http://sites.elmira.edu/helpdesk and choose IT Connect for details. Elmira College recommends the free Microsoft Security Essentials for your Windows PC. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials for download and installation instructions.

Remove Spyware from Your Personal Computer (Windows only)

Go to to http://sites.elmira.edu/helpdesk and choose IT Connect for details.

Avoid File Sharing Software that Enable Illegal Music and Movie Swapping

Illegally downloading copyrighted files to your hard drive is a personal risk to you and is also a primary source of spyware. If you use software (e.g. Audiogalaxy, Morpheus, Kazaa, and Limewire) for this purpose, you are in danger of violating federal copyright law and could be subjected to lawsuits and large fines.
Engaging in file sharing on campus also violates Elmira College Policy.
Elmira College encourages you to use iTunes, which allows for legal downloading and music streaming

When you arrive on campus in the fall
When you first plug your PC or Mac into the Elmira College networked you will be asked to register your computer with your EC username and password. Your computer must have the latest system, antivirus, and spyware updates installed to gain full network access, including the Internet. Elmira College recommends the free Microsoft Security Essentials for your Windows PC. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials for download and installation instructions. Macintosh owners do not need to install antispyware software.

Once this service is installed, it will not only protect your computer while you are on campus, but also continue to protect your computer when you take it with you over breaks and summers as long as you are a full-time student at Elmira College.

Continue to apply system updates, protect your computer against spyware, and avoid file sharing software as explained above.