Ever worry about someone stealing your personal information through the Internet?
The Department of Information Technology and Communication will address this and other important computer safety issues today in the first of a series of seminars.
The seminar, titled "Security 101," will take place today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Wilson 216. Another seminar on the same topic will be offered Monday, March 25.
"The class is on the basics of locking down your computer so you're not victimized, whether it's through someone getting your personal information, using your computer against someone else or reading your e-mail," systems analyst Scott Crittenden said.
Crittenden emphasized that the class is designed to be fun, in spite of the fact that it deals with some technical material.
"We're trying to put safety on the radar screen in a light-hearted way," he said.
The class will address digital identity as well as physical protection of your computer through measures such as passwords and surge protectors.
"Not all security is against bad people," Crittenden said. "It can be against bad things that can happen to your computer."
The class also will cover data loss and how to backup your hard drive.
"I used to work at the ITC help desk, and the last week of the semester people would come in who had their thesis all on one disk and then their computer died," Crittenden said. "We'd say, 'We understand, but there's no way to get it back.'"
Crittenden said one of the most interesting aspects of the class is social engineering - what Crittenden called "how people get you to do stupid things with your computer." He cited forwarding chain letters and opening attachments that contain viruses as two such behaviors.
The class is part of Security Awareness Month, an effort to increase security awareness pulled together by the University Police, the University Health System and ITC.
"Personal safety is a comprehensive thing," Crittenden said. "We'd like people to think in those terms."
The police and ITC will be handing out information on safety today in the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.
"I'm glad people are really learning about their personal safety," Crittenden said. "It's a dangerous world out there"
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