Skip to content

Security Tips

It is very important that your computer is well protected. Here is a collection of tips that you need to keep in mind.

 

Personal computer protection

  • It is essential that you use an antivirus to protect your computer:
      • If you are using Windows 7 make sure you have an antivirus installed and up to date.
      • If you use Windows 10 by default, it comes protected with the Windows Defender system antivirus, which is the most recommended option.
  • It is recommended that you have some antimalware software (e.g. Malwarebytes), especially if you suspect that you may have been infected with a virus or Trojan.
  • Make sure your operating system is up to date (remember that Microsoft stopped updating Windows 7 on 14/01/2020, so there are no more security updates for this operating system). Also keep your browser and base applications up to date.
  • It is highly recommended to have 2 user accounts on your computer:
      • A standard user to work with programs on a regular basis.
      • A user with administrator privileges only to install programs or make changes to the system.

 

Precautions with network connection

  • If you connect from a wifi network outside the UPC, make sure it is secure. A secure network should ask you for a password, and it should be different from the default password provided by your service provider
  • If you need to connect to your School computer or the UPC network, you must make a secure connection using UPClink (only in catalan).

 

Protection of accounts and personal data

  • Be careful with your account passwords:
      • Combine uppercase and lowercase letters with numbers and special characters.
      • Do not use the same password on all accounts.
      • Change them periodically.
      • Do not share or provide them to anyone.
  • Back up your data (on external devices or in the cloud).

 

Precautions with applications

  • Precautions to take with your browser:
      • Do not enter your username and password on untrusted pages.
      • Be very careful when browsing: watch the URL where you connect and do not trust only the appearance of the site; and whenever you can, just type the URL into the address bar instead of following a link.
      • Be careful when downloading files, especially if they are from unreliable sites.
      • Do not install software obtained from unreliable sources.
  • Precautions to take with mail:
      • Don't give your account passwords to anyone.
      • Never open an email from an unknown or suspicious sender.
      • Do not open an email when the subject makes you suspicious, despite being from a known sender.
      • Do not download or open any attachments from an unknown or unexpected sender.
  • Do not accept or open any documents shared by Google Drive from a stranger or that you do not expect, or if they have a suspicious name.
  • In general, do not open any file that has an extension that you do not know.
  • Be careful when you click on mobile phones, especially when it comes to icons or text that is too small or when the whole place where you are does not look good enough.
  • Be alert to the identity theft of known entities or companies (such as the Post Office, Social Security, the Police ...) for committing fraudulent acts (such as intrusions, theft of sensitive data ...).

 

More information

You will find more information and tips at: INCIBE and esCert