securing_your_computer
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securing_your_computer [2019/08/04 15:32] – created neil | securing_your_computer [2021/07/06 09:26] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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She stored personal data, on her shared home computer, with no encryption, on a generic account, and it was accidentally uploaded to a cloud server. | She stored personal data, on her shared home computer, with no encryption, on a generic account, and it was accidentally uploaded to a cloud server. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Key points: ==== | ||
+ | *[[# | ||
+ | *[[#Use a strong password for your computer account|Use a strong password for your computer account]] | ||
+ | *[[#Enable the firmware password|Enable the firmware password]] | ||
+ | *[[#Turn on disk encryption|Turn on disk encryption]] | ||
+ | *[[# | ||
+ | *[[#Take backups regularly and automatically|Take backups regularly and automatically]] | ||
+ | *[[#Enable your computer' | ||
====Don' | ====Don' | ||
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If the option is open to you financially, | If the option is open to you financially, | ||
- | ====Use a strong password==== | + | ====Don' |
+ | Â | ||
+ | Make your everyday user account one without administrator privileges. | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | This may mean you need to jump through some extra hoops to install software, but it mitigates the risk of malware. | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | Increase your privileges only when you need them (for example, to install software). | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | ====Use a strong password | ||
Create a strong, but memorable, password for your account. | Create a strong, but memorable, password for your account. | ||
Here's some [[passwords|guidance on passwords]]. | Here's some [[passwords|guidance on passwords]]. | ||
- | ====Encryption====Â | + | ====Enable the firmware password |
- | Full disk encryption | + | Â |
+ | Some computers will let you set a separate password for their firmware, which is the initial piece of software which runs when you boot your computer. | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | Some systems require you to enter this password before every boot, while others only require it if you try to boot from a different device (such as from as USB stick). | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | Use a different password to your user account, and make it a [[passwords|strong password]]. | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | ====Turn on disk encryption====Â | ||
+ | Â | ||
+ | If your computer offers disk encryption, turn it on. | ||
- | ====Backups====Â | + | Depending on the software |
- | Ensure that you are in control | + | |
- | ====Don't trust anyone else's USB sticks====Â | + | ===FileVault for macOS === |
- | If you decide to allow staff to store information on USB sticks - and there may be perfectly good reason for doing so — ensure that they are encrypted. | + | |
+ | For macOS, this is FileVault. You can turn it on through System Preferences / Security & Privacy / FileVault. | ||
- | ===Free USB sticks at conferences===Â | + | Make a note of the recovery key which it shows you. Keep this securely |
- | Strongly suggest forbidding any USB sticks given away at events. Nothing found on the ground or in the carpark | + | |
- | Yes, it might suck to feel that you could be a good Samaritan and return someone’s vital information or backup of family photographs, | + | ===Windows === |
+ | BitLocker? | ||
- | USB sticks might seem like good giveaway items at conferences, | + | ====Take backups regularly and automatically====Â |
+ | [[backups|Here]]. | ||
- | ===But it’s from my friend…=== | + | ====Enable your computer' |
- | 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 | + | If your computer has a firewall, switch |
+ | You could also restrict outbound traffic, but this is more likely to cause you problems. |
securing_your_computer.1564932728.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/07/06 09:26 (external edit)