Wharton Computing Student Support

Manage Your Personal Computer Wisely

Owning your own computer is a great investment and a great resource if it is cared for properly. Your computer's manufacturer can provide you with tips on how to care for your computer to allow for optimal performance and durability. In addition to any instructions they may give you, we have composed some general steps that you can take to help care for your computer system. If you follow the steps below on a regular basis, they can help to assure you that you are doing what is neccessary to protect your computer from unwanted viruses or hackers and that your work is protected.

Obtain Anti-Virus Software and Update It Daily

Wharton students can obtain a copy of Symantec AntiVirus free of charge. It is available by download from Penn's computing webpage at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/product/specs/sav.html. Other packages that you can update daily will work too, but this one is free to you as a Wharton student, and we can help with configuration and installation. No matter what virus protection you have, make sure to update the definitions daily and perform a system scan on a regular basis.

Practice Safe Email Habits to Avoid Viruses

• Sign up for Wharton's anti-spam filtering service.
  Wharton has an anti-spam/anti-virus filtering service that current students can subscribe to. This service helps to reduce the amount of spam delivered to your account. It also helps to prevent the spread of viruses through email.
• Think twice before opening an attachment or clicking on a link in an email you weren't expecting, even if it appears to be from someone you know.
  Many self-propagating viruses will mail themselves to you before the sender has discovered that his/her machine is infected. Be suspicious of any attachment or link.

Perform System Updates Regularly

You should perform both Windows and Office updates on a regular basis to ensure that your computer is not vulnerable to security holes and bugs in the software. In order to perform these updates, you must be connected to the Internet.

Microsoft Windows Updates
Windows updates include known security issues that may leave your computer vulnerable to viruses and other attacks. To perform Windows updates on your operating system click on the Start button and select Windows Update (it may be listed as one of the programs)
or
Follow the instructions on Microsoft's Windows Update website at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

Note: In recent versions of Windows, you can configure your computer to automatically check for latest updates, download and install them for you. To do this, go to Start -> Control Panel and click on Automatic Updates. Select the radio button indicating that Automatic update is turned on and select a time that you would like your computer to check for updates.

Microsoft Office Updates

Microsoft office updates provide patches to known bugs in the software as well as known security issues that could make your computer vulnerable. To perform office updates do the following:

• Have your Office CD handy. You may be prompted for it during the update process.
• Direct your browser to the Microsoft Office website at http://office.microsoft.com/home/default.aspx
• Click on the Check Updates link on the left side of the page.
• Finally, click the Check Updates link and follow the directions from there.

    

Protecting Your Work

To prevent losing your work on your personal computer, back up important documents on your computer on a regular basis. Don't wait until it is too late to make sure you have copies of any documents that you are storing on your computer. If your computer freezes or crashes, documents on it may not be recoverable.

There are several great storage devices available that allow you to store a large amount on information on them such as CD-RW, USB flash and external USB hard drives. If you would like to find out more about the backup devices available and which one will best suit your needs see the "Backing Up: What are the best solutions for you?" webpage at: http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/wharcomp/backup/index.cfm

Internet Security

There are several security options that you should consider which will help protect your computer from hackers, worms and viruses. They are as follows:

Personal Firewall Programs and Devices

There are firewall software programs available which can be configured to monitor your computer's incoming and outgoing Internet traffic. These programs will help to block unwanted traffic coming into your computer and alert you to any suspicious Internet activity.

One of the most common firewall programs is the Windows Vista or XP firewall. This device comes built into the operating system and is easy to configure. If you are a Windows Vista or XP user, you should take advantage of this feature. To enable this, go to Start->My Computer. Right-click My Network Places and select Properties. Right-click the connection you are using (Wireless or LAN) and select Properties. Open the Advanced tab and check the box under Internet Connection Firewall to protect your computer and network.

In addition to firewall software, there are hardware devices that serve as firewalls. These devices are one of the most effective ways to monitor Internet activity and protect your computer from unwanted intrusions. Check with your Internet Provider for recommendations on which device will suit your needs. If you decide to purchase a wireless router for your home connection, you should consider one that has a firewall device on it.

Spyware Removal Programs

Spyware is software that is installed on your computer unknowingly by you or remotely by a third party in order to monitor your actions. These programs can record and transmit information containing your confidential data and your computer usage habits and can wreak havoc on your computer. If you download anything from the Internet there is a chance that a spyware program has been downloaded as well. Spyware programs can cause numerous problems on your computer which can cause severe damage. There are spyware removal programs available that will scan your machine and remove any spyware programs that are installed on it. For more information on spyware visit the Safe Computing section of the Get Started guide. The guide can be found on the home page of the Student Support website.

   

General Maintenance Tips

• Keep up to date with your computer's warranty.
  In the event that your computer needs repair, make sure you understand your warranty.
• Protect your computer from extreme weather.
  Do not store your computer in extreme heat or cold, this could cause damage to it.
• Keep all food and drink away from your computer.
  Eating and drinking around your computer could cause food or drink to get into the computer and cause damage.
• If you have a laptop computer, make sure to have a sturdy, durable case.
  A sturdy case can help protect your computer from getting banged up or damaged.
• For more information on the care of your laptop please see:
  http://spike.wharton.upenn.edu/support/laptopcare.cfm