Information Security - Recommended User Practices
Contents
Physical Access Protection
There are many recommendations for keeping your computer, and the data on it, secure.
Protect yourself by:
- Locking your office door when you leave your computer unattended, even for a short period of time.
- For a laptop, be sure to use a cable lock and lock your laptop to a strong un-movable and un-breakable object.
- Have the outside cover of your laptop engraved with your contact information, or use a commercial asset tag.
- Record your laptops' serial number and store it in a safe place.
- Register the laptop with the manufacturer.
- Lock your computer (requiring your password to unlock) by pressing the Windows Logo Key and L at the same time when leaving your computer.
- Set up a password-protected screen saver that will start automatically after a specified period of time. Click here for more details.
- If you are in an area where your screen may be visible to others, press the Windows Logo Key and M and the Windows Logo Key and Shift-M to minimize and restore all open windows when appropriate.
- Encrypt your sensitive data using Cryptainer (required if you use a laptop).
- Set up a password-protected screen saver that will start automatically after a specified period of time. Click here for more details.
- Pressing Shift+Apple Logo Key+Q will Log Out.
- Pressing Shift+Option Apple Logo Key+Q will log you out immediately.
- Apple Logo Key+H will hide the active application.
- Option+Apple Logo Key+H will hide all but the active application.
For Windows XP:
For Mac:
Network Access Protection
Read about our recommendations for safely accessing your network services here.
Security Self-Test
Test your computer's exposure to online security threats using an online security test provided by Symantec.
Looking for help?
We offer a number of tutorials and FAQs available in the Guides & FAQs section.
If you have any questions, problems, or comments, please contact the IT Help Desk via email at helpdesk@ucmerced.edu, via phone at 209.228.HELP (4357), or visit them in the Classroom and Office Building room 132A.