Computer security is an ongoing process, not a single event or product.  Many of the items in this checklist should be repeated on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

No system is 100% secure, and threats are constantly evolving.  This checklist should be considered as a good start to the process of securing your computer, but you shouldn’t stop there. The checklist items below have links to respective pages of the How-To Library. To learn more, review the How-To Library's content listing, and explore the "Additional Resources" entries in the navigation bar to the right.

This checklist is presented in question format.  These questions imply security practices that you should consider implementing.  However, if your work computer is managed by an information technology specialist, please check with him or her before making any changes in your computer system.

• Does your computer require a password when you turn it on?  Click here to learn how. 
      
• Do you keep your computer’s password safe and secure?  (i.e., in your head not written down or shared with anyone else)?  Learn more about using passwords.
       
• When you leave your computer unattended, do you lock your computer or activate password protected screensaver? Click here to learn how. 
   
• Is your computer’s built-in firewall enabled? Or, is a third-party  firewall application installed on your computer? Click here to learn how. 
   
• Is your computer running a current-generation operating system (e.g., Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, or Macintosh OS X)?  To be most secure, you must have a current and up-to-date operating system. If you don’t have a current operating system running on your computer, contact the Ohio University Help Desk at (740)593-1222 for options that may be available to you.
   
• Is your operating system set up to automatically check for and install updates and patches? Click here to learn how.
   
• Is there an anti-virus application installed on your computer?  Click here to learn how.
   
• Is the anti-virus application configured to automatically check for and install new virus definitions on a daily basis?  Click here to learn how. 
   
• Do you perform a full-system virus scan of your computer at least once a week? Click here to learn how.
   
• Is there an anti-spyware application installed on your computer? (e.g. Spybot Destroy, Ad-Aware). Click here to learn how.
   
• Do you check for and download updates to your anti-spyware application and then perform a full-system spyware scan of your computer at least once a week? Read notes for using Ad-Aware. Or, read about Spybot S&D here.
   
• Do you check for and install updates and patches for your web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Netscape) at least once a week? Click here to learn how.
   
• Do you check for and install updates and patches for Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) at least once a month? Click here to learn how.
   
• Do you check for and install patches for third-party applications installed on your computer at least once a month?  Examples of popular applications include Apple iTunes and QuickTime, Skype, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Sun Java Run-Time Environment, Macromedia Flash Player, Instant Messenger (AOL, MSN, or Yahoo), Kazaa, and RealPlayer. 
   
• Do you back-up important files and data on a regular basis? Click here to learn how.
   
• Do you know the warning signs that indicate your computer may have been compromised? (i.e., hacked, infected with a virus, malware installed) Click here to learn the signs. 
   
• Do you know the steps to follow if you suspect your computer has been compromised? 
         
  If you believe your computer has been compromised in any way, disconnect your computer from the university network by unplugging the network cable from the back of your computer and contact the Ohio University Help Desk at (740)593-1222 for solutions on how to recover your computer.