Safe Computing: Data Privacy and Protection
Faculty/Staff:
As a UM-Flint faculty or staff member you most likely have access to sensitive information that is protected by such federal and state regulations as FERPA, FOIA, HIPPA, GLBA and others. It is of the utmost importance that you have a clear understanding of what information needs to be protected, and how to protect it. For a quick lesson on what information is considered sensitive, check out the link "MAIS Online Course for Data Protection/Privacy" on the right. The links listed below can give you a few tips on how to keep sensitive information safe.
Students:
As a UM-Flint student you may or may not have access to sensitive information that is protected by federal and state regulations, but you do have access to your own information. You probably don't want someone signing you up for classes you don't want, erasing your H: drive, or sending embarrassing emails out to everyone you know from your account. To keep these things from happening the number one most important thing you can do is keep your password private, and to make sure you log out from the computers in the open computer labs when you are done. For more tips check out the links below.
Threats to Your Data Privacy and How to Protect Sensitive Information
Disposing of old computers or hard drives
Properly erasing information from a computer is just as important as logging out. Before you dispose of a computer, or replace a hard drive, make sure that you clean it with special software to make sure that future owners of the equipment can't access your information. Even if you think it's just going in the garbage, completely wipe all of the information. Remember, your trash may be a criminal's treasure.
You need to do more than just delete your files—you need to sanitize your hard drive. You can purchase low-cost software for this purpose; check out some good choices at http://safecomputing.umich.edu/tools/clean_drive.html. For more information, check out the data removal policy and procedures on the University’s Property Disposition Web site: http://www.umich.edu/~ofa/PropDisp/html/compprocedure.html.
Google Desktop - Possible Threat to Sensitive Information
Keeping Your Virus Scan Up-to-date
Lock Your Computer
Picking a Secure Password
Using computers in open computer labs
Using the computers in the open computer labs (or the instructional computer labs) is really convenient; however, it can be dangerous if not done properly. If you forget to log out of a computer in the labs after you're finished using it, then the person after you may decide to send an email to everyone in your address book saying what a dork you are (or worse!). In addition to this risk, when you use a computer in the labs you may also unknowingly leave behind sensitive information (such as your name or address) in the form of cookies from websites you have visited. To safely use the computers in the open computer labs always follow the steps below:
- Log out of the computer when you are done. This step is the easiest and most important to keeping your account safe.
- Clear out the internet browser's cache and history. While it is unlikely that someone will just stumble upon something important in the cache/history it could still happen (especially if you were just doing some online shopping!). To clear out Internet Explorer's cache select "Tools" --> "Internet Options" and then "Delete Cookies", "Delete Files", "Clear History".
- Never leave the computer logged in when it is out of your sight. If you're going to run down the hall to use the restroom, log out of the computer. Five minutes is all it takes for someone to send inappropriate emails from your account, erase your H: drive, and/or sign you up for a few extra classes next semester.