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--- securing_your_computer [2019/08/24 06:07] – neil
+++ securing_your_computer [2021/07/06 09:26] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   *[[#Don't use an administrator account|Don't use an administrator account]]
   *[[#Take backups regularly and automatically|Take backups regularly and automatically]]
-  * [[#Encrypt USB drives before storing data on them|Encrypt USB drives before storing data on them]]
-  * [[#Don’t put your USB stick in someone else’s computer|Don’t put your USB stick in someone else’s computer]]
-  *[[#Don't trust anyone else's USB sticks|Don't trust anyone else's USB sticks]]
-    *[[#Do not take free USB sticks from conferences|Do not take free USB sticks from conferences]]
-    *[[#Do not use USB sticks as give-aways at conferences|Do not use USB sticks as give-aways at conferences]]
-    *[[#Do not pick up "lost" USB sticks|Do not pick up "lost" USB sticks]]
   *[[#Enable your computer's firewall|Enable your computer's firewall]]
 ====Don't share user accounts on your computer====
@@ Line 71: / Line 63: @@
 ====Take backups regularly and automatically====
 [[backups|Here]].
-====Encrypt USB drives before storing data on them ====
-If you are going to store information on a USB stick (perhaps as a backup), either use a USB stick with hardware encryption, or else encrypt the drive before you store the information on it.
-That way, if you lose the drive, or it is stolen, the finder or thief cannot access the information on it.
-====Don’t put your USB stick in someone else’s computer====
-No, this is not a euphemism.
-You have no idea what security might (or might not) be in place on the other computer, whether it is infected by a virus or dormant ransomware, and so on.
-Use an alternative whenever you can, such as a [[email_alternatives#ways_of_sharing_large_or_sensitive_files|file transfer platform]].
-If you absolutely have to transfer something to someone else’s computer via USB:
-  * wipe your memory stick first, using your computer’s disk formatting tools
-  * put on it only the file you need to transfer
-  * transfer it to the other computer
-  * use the other computer’s disk formatting utility to wipe the USB stick
-  * take the stick back and destroy it
-It’s not kind to the environment, but the price of small USB sticks makes them disposable.
-====Don't trust anyone else's USB sticks====
-Even if it is coming from your friend, or a trusted colleague, do you know what security they have on their computer? Do you know what state their anti-virus protection is in?
-Get them to transfer you the file some other way, and take precautions when opening it.
-===Do not take free USB sticks from conferences===
-Don't use USB sticks given away at events. If you need a USB stick for something, buy one from a vendor you trust.
-===Do not use USB sticks as give-aways at conferences ===
-USB sticks might seem like good giveaway items at conferences, but it's a bad idea, as it encourages poor security practice. If you want to make files away, host them on your website or some other sharing service, and give out the link.
-=== Do not pick up "lost" USB sticks ===
-Nothing found on the ground or in the carpark or “left over” in a meeting room.
-Yes, it might suck to feel that you could be a good Samaritan and return someone’s vital information or backup of family photographs, but you have absolutely no idea as to what is on that memory stick, and there’s a chance, perhaps even a strong chance, that it might be an attack.
 ====Enable your computer's firewall ====