All lab employees and visitors are asked to take a few minutes today to complete the following simple computer security awareness checklist. This will help ensure that you understand some basic principles and are following proper computer security practices. (We'll help you out with one small hint: the correct answer to questions 1 through 8 is YES.)

More detailed information about particular topics will follow in subsequent articles; some additional information about each question can be seen by following the web links.

Computer Security Awareness checklist:
Passwords
Are all of your accounts protected by distinct strong secure passwords that are not written down or shared with others?
YES__ NO__
Tell me more

Unattended machines
When your desktop machine is left on in an unsecured area (such as an unlocked office) is it protected with a password-based screen saver (and physically secured as well)?
YES__ NO__
Tell me more

Local system administration and registration
Do you know exactly who is responsible for system administration of the machine on your desktop, and in particular for installing new security patches and maintaining a secure configuration? (This could be yourself.)
YES__ NO__

Has that local system administrator (perhaps yourself) registered your machine and his/her identity in the lab's computing equipment database (so that he/she can be quickly notified of urgent computer security issues concerning your machine)?
YES__ NO__
Tell me more

Data backup
Are you aware of the procedures used to create backup copies of any data that you are responsible for, and have you ever tested these procedures by retrieving backed up data?
YES__ NO__
Tell me more

Reporting suspected computer security incidents Do you know how to report a suspected computer security incident?
YES__ NO__
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Virus protection
Is virus protection software running, with up to date virus signatures, on all Windows PCs that you use?
YES__ NO__
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Safe email practices
Do you exercise extreme care in dealing with email, in particular almost never opening attachments unless you are absolutely certain of their origin?
YES__ NO__
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Safe web browsing
Do you exercise extreme care in browsing the web, in particular using safer and patched browsers (Internet Explorer is specifically not recommended for general use), turning off ActiveX, and being cautious in clicking on new links?
YES__ NO__
Tell me more