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Cyber Security Plus

Updated July 9, 2008

Welcome to the Central Pennsylvania College computer security Webpage. All of us here in the Central Penn Information Resources Department work very hard to make your computing and Internet experience here on campus both enjoyable and, more importantly, safe! Unfortunately, as access to the Internet expands, so does the number of both viruses and scumware (adware, spyware, hijackware and so on). Just use a little common sense, and the many resources we have listed for you below, and surfing the Web will remain a fun as well as informative experience. Start off by reveiwing Central Penn's Technology Acceptable Use Policy (TAUP), mandatory guidelines that everyone at the college must adhere to.

Please note that listings for particular products and services below do NOT constitute an official endorsement by Central Pennsylvania College, but merely provided for your convenience and information. Obviously Central Penn is not responsible for the quality, performance, or reliability of any privately owned software or hardware such as those below, nor is the Help Desk responsible for supporting them. You must be familiar with obtaining support from the appropriate software (such as Microsoft) or hardware (such as Dell) vendor, to include warranty service.

Remember you can contact our Help Desk for unresolvable problems at extension 2600. Normal hours of operation are Monday thru Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., or until 5:00 p.m. on Friday. However, hours may change by term so please check with the Help Desk to verify.

Microsoft Protect Your PC

Configure your Windows Me, 2000 or XP operating system to automatically update your computer with the latest patches and learn about their own Internet Connection Firewall. Please visit the Microsoft Windows Security at Home Website.

Manually Running Windows or Microsoft Update

Running Windows Automatic Update is the best way to keep your PC secure by downloading the latest patches from Microsoft. Please note that you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer or variant to access this site properly.

Microsoft Update Site

Anti-Virus Tools

All staff and faculty computers at Central Penn come equipped with Norton Anti-Virus Corporate Edition for protection. The following are exceptional free software packages that will work quite well on your PC.

  • AVIRA ANTIVIR Personal Edition Classic (currently offering a free version with both antispam and antivirus)
  • AVG Software (currently offering a free version for baseline protection, highly recommended)
  • AVAST Anti-Virus (another highly rated, free antivirus solution, this one offering multiple layers of protection and scanning when your screen saver is running)
  • THREATFIRE (another free version of a commercial product, this one detects based on the malware's behavior, not definition files)

    It also is prudent to add an additional layer of protection by running an online scan of your computer from time to time. Here are several sites that offer this service.

Free Firewalls

A firewall acts as a heavily armed traffic cop that not only restricts outside access into your computer, but also restricts what goes out of it over a network or the Internet as well. Windows XP SP2 has an integrated firewall that installs automatically, but only protects against outside intrusion, and not the reverse. The following are free and highly recommended.

Anti-Scumware Tools

Scumware includes a host of maladies that could find their way to your computer to include hijackware (which changes your Web browser's home page to Golden Casino, for example) and spyware (software that collects personal information without your knowledge or permission). For protection against such intrusion, staff and faculty computers have access to and use AdAware 6.0. Alternative products and download sites follow from these Microsoft partners:

Web Browser Alternatives

Because Microsoft's Internet Explorer with its ultra-vulnerable ActiveX control system, and its associated Email client Outlook Express, has been the target of so many virus and scumware problems, some users prefer to use a different browser. Here are two of the best, though note that Help Desk support is not normally available for these products.

  • Opera (from Norway, comes with its own Email client, very fast, now totally free)
  • Mozilla Firefox Campus Edition (free, very fast and very, very safe and now made especially for college students; constant award winner - Central Penn Help Desk recommended)
  • Mozilla Thunderbird (the Email client companion to Firefox, also free and with an excellent anti-Spam filter)
  • Mozilla Lightning (the calendar extension for Thunderbird, free)
  • Mozilla SeaMonkey (a free all in one package including Web browser and Email client, think Firefox plus Thunderbird 2 on steroids, for power users)

Instant Messaging (IM)

Instant messaging is popular, but also particularly vulnerable to viruses and scumware. Central Penn currently allows instant messaging via our Internet connection. Here are FREE safe alternatives that allow IM access via vendor's Webpages.

  • AIM Express (from America Online)
  • MSN Web Messenger (note, you must have popup blockers disabled to use this product)
  • Meebo (a Webbased IM system that will allow you to converse with folks on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ all at the same time, and all from one location - VERY fast and very secure)

System Utilities and Other Nifty Stuff

  • Microsoft Office 2007 Compatability Pack (a patch for Office 2003, it lets you read and work on Office 2007 files with the docx, etc formats with Office 2003, a must have, but your Office 2003 must have all updates installed)
  • Open Office (from Sun Microsystems, a free alternative to Microsoft's solid but expensive Office package, fully compatable with all office formats)
  • PortableApps (is a collection of specifically configured software products - such as Firefox and Open Office - designed to be run from your 1 GB thumb drive on any PC anywhere)
  • Fresh Diagnose (providing you with everything you could possibly want to know about the hardware and software on your PC; other free downloads available as well)
  • CCleaner (freeware to clean up both your hard drive and registry)
  • Auslogic Disk Defrag (freeware from Australia to defrag your hard drive, via download.com)
  • Auslogic Registry Defrag (freeware from Australia to defrag your registry, via download.com)
  • Speed Fan (small application that monitors fan speed and temperature to insure your PC does not overheat)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader (providing you the ability to read pdf files)
  • Foxit Reader (does the same thing as the Adobe Reader above, but much smaller and faster, highly recommended, and free!)

Wireless Networking at Central Penn

Central Penn is now a wireless friendly campus, allowing you to connection to the Internet, as well as Jenzabar ICampus, CPC Web and our library's online catalog. For specific instructions on how to access our wireless network, please click here.

Central Penn Technology Acceptable Use Policy (TAUP)

Click here for Central Penn's Technology Acceptable Use Policy (TAUP)
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Some information and hyperlinks courtesy Microsoft.com.

 

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Central Pennsylvania College is a career-oriented, baccalaureate, residential college in the suburbs of Harrisburg and offsite locations in Lancaster and Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Central Penn College offers bachelor's and associate degree and certificate programs for both traditional and continuing education students by providing hands-on and online distance education taught by experienced, caring faculty.