Be sure the “automatic update” feature is turned on in Windows and in Mac OS. Students must have the critical security patches installed to dramatically increase security. They’ll need to patch their browsers separately.

Uninstall all programs that they don’t think they will use. Start with the programs that are easy to recognize and skip the rest for now. Each program is a potential toe-hold for an attacker to gain access to a system. Worst case, if they delete something now that they need later, they can re-install it. In particular, remove Java and Flash. These are two tools that are frequently hacked and may be unnecessary. If a student finds they need either, he or she can reinstall them with the newest version. Make sure they get Java only from java dot com and Flash from get.adobe dot com/flashplayer/

Make sure they make their user account a “standard user” on their computer. This helps block attackers. Steps for Windows and Mac: 1) Create a new user 2) promote that user to be a local administrator 3) Demote your account to a standard user and use your own account.

Turn on two-step verifications on all the websites they visit. The setting is usually in the security settings of the website.

They need to keep their computer physically secure. Someone could access their files, social media, and e-mail accounts easily and without their knowledge. Passwords aren’t that helpful. It is usually trivial to bypass passwords on computers once an attacker gains physical access to a computer.

And though they may not heed this last step, it is a really good idea to avoid connoting to Wi-Fi services at school, coffee shops, etc. It is better if they use their phone or personal hot-spot to connect their computer to the Internet when they need to. The phone charges may be lower than you expect, especially if you call your phone provider and check about new data plan options.

Please forward this to your friends who have students; it can help prevent some big heartaches.

The post Moms, Dads, and Friends: Take 7 Steps to Secure Your Students’ Computers appeared first on Foster Institute.

Microsoft presents the feature to users saying, “Download apps and OS updates from multiple sources to get them more quickly”.

Think about it and it sort of makes sense. Rather than every computer on the planet having to go to Microsoft’s servers to download patches and apps, Windows 10 computers can reach out to other Windows 10 computers and obtain the patch from them. This helps prevent Microsoft’s servers from becoming overloaded, and can allow your computer to receive patches and apps sooner. Ultimately, this can even reduce the amount of traffic flowing on the Internet in general.

Microsoft has built in strong security – though security can be broken.

Microsoft does their best not to use your computer to deliver patches if you are connected to the Internet using a mobile hotspot – helping you avoid unexpected data charges. You can also specify what Wi-Fi connections are charged as metered networks.

One concern is that, if your computer is being used to deliver updates, your Internet connection may slow down. Or, perhaps you don’t want your computer to be, what some users may feel is, a zombie for Microsoft to use as part of their patch delivery mechanism.

How to turn this feature off in Windows 10: Go to the Start button icon, choose Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options. You can choose to not participate, or to select either PCs on your local network only, or PCs on your local network and PCs on the Internet”

Please help spread the word and forward this newsletter on to those you care about!

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When you connect to a network that isn’t under your control, someone else on the guest network could capture your data and even hack your computer. Your IT Pros can take steps to reduce the risks, but it is best not to connect.

So, how do you work remotely?  Most phones these days permit you to connect your laptop through the phone to use the Internet. This functionality is often referred to as making a personal hot-spot. There are even devices that provide the 4G connectivity without using your phone.

Call your mobile phone service provider and ask how much of your data plan you use now. You might be pleasantly surprised that, especially using email and browsing the web, using your phone as a personal hot spot will be less expensive than you might think.

And a side benefit to connecting your laptop to the Internet through your phone:  the speeds may be faster too.

Please share this with everyone you care about who might be tempted to connect to a public wireless network.

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