Keep your mac or Windows operating system up-to-date

Computer viruses and worms frequently exploit vulnerabilities in Mac and Microsoft Windows operating systems. Learn how to get Mac and Windows updates at www.bc.edu/security:
Mac OS X | Windows

Don't click on links in email or Instant Messages that you are not expecting

Links in email and IM can be used to spread computer viruses to your computer and others on the BC network.

Don't use peer-to-peer file-sharing applications

Those who illegally share or download copyrighted material such as MP3s are subject to legal and disciplinary action. Don't risk it! A number of BC students have already been served with lawsuits by copyright holders. In addition, peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs such as BitTorrent should not be used on computers on the BC network. P2P applications can leave your computer open to threats including violations of copyright laws, viruses, and other malicious software that can go undetected by anti-virus software, as well as password and data theft.

Don't leave Windows log-in passwords blank

Every Windows computer has an Administrator account. Administrator accounts often arrive from the manufacturer with a "blank" password. Be sure to set a password for this account. If you leave the password blank you are leaving your computer open to viruses and hackers!

Learn how to create a strong Administrator password: www.bc.edu/winpassword

Protect your personal information

Be extremely wary of entering personal or financial information online, as identity theft scans are a growing problem. You will never receive an email from BC requesting your username and password. Learn more at: www.bc.edu/security

Consider how you're presenting yourself on Facebook and other social networking sites and configure your privacy settings accordingly.

Log into Agora Portal, review your privacy preferences, and change your password.
IMPORTANT - Please provide your cell phone number so that the University can contact you in case of an emergency/crisis situation. Always keep your contact information current.

Back up your computer

To make sure you don't lose important files if your computer stops working, you should back up your computer on a regular basis. The easiest way to do this is to use an online service (search for: “online backup services”) that will do it automatically for you. You can also use an external hard drive or the BC MyFiles@bc service (www.bc.edu/myfiles). Learn more at: www.bc.edu/backup

Recommended web browser

If you use Internet Explorer (IE), BC strongly suggests that you switch to another web browser because of "significant vulnerabilities" in technologies included in IE. To limit exposure to security vulnerabilities, we recommend that you use a web browser other than IE. ITS recommends you download and install FireFox. You may find that IE is still required for some websites. While ITS understands that it is inconvenient to switch between browsers, doing so will contribute to increased protection for your computer.