Take
Control! Today's technology offers us greater power
than ever before, enabling higher productivity and convenient communication.
Unfortunately, along with the benefits come risks. Computers
are increasingly threatened by viruses, worms, spyware,
intrusions, and other system vulnerabilities. While
social networking helps makes online communication fun and easy, it's
critical to protect your digital identity. Learn
how you can take
control today.
For additional information related to computer security, see the sites listed below.
- Policies, guidelines, and laws: Individuals are expected to exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using the University's computers, information, networks or resources, and are expected to abide by University policies and local, state, and federal laws. For a quick summary of problem areas, see Use Technology Wisely.
- Security Operations and Services (SOS): This group, a unit of ITS, works to make Penn State a safer computing environment. At the SOS Web site you can find network and security news and references, user security tools, and contact information for reporting security problems.
- Alerts: notices about viruses, worms, security patches, and service changes.
- Residence Hall technical support: computing support provided by ResCom.
- Penn State Anywhere, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) Service: a secure encrypted network connection.
- Precautions for Selling, Trading, or Sending a Computer to Salvage or to a Repair Shop: tips on transferring or disposing of computers and media.
- Ethical and Legal Use of Digital Media: The ease of access provided by modern digital technology may result in the use of works without full understanding of rights and responsibilities. This site offers information on how to obtain copyrighted materials legally.
- Directory services: Faculty, staff, and students are automatically entered into the on-line phone directory database. Learn how it works, how to update your information, and how to request confidentiality.
- ITS secure utilities: a central Web site that allows you to securely change your password, change your mail forwarding address, edit your phone book entry, manage your Web space, and other tasks.
- Port Blocking: Due to the increasing level of hostile activity and security threats directed toward Penn State's computing resources, ITS now blocks (filters) selected TCP/UDP ports from the campus border to the Internet. Protective measures continue as needed in order to help protect University resources.
