Information Technology: Safe Computer Practices
- Always use a STRONG eight charcter password with capital letters, letters and numbers. Make it hard to guess!
- Protect your identity and do not share your password with anyone or display it on or near your computer.
- Use a password protected screen saver and protect electronic personal health information and other confidential data by not allowing your computer screen to be seen by others.
- Properly dispose of electronic media containing confidential data: the media must be physically destroyed.
- Logoff when you leave your computer and turn it off when not in use.
- Protect data retained as notes in Palm Pilots or laptos and use a power-on password.
- Backup data regularly and keep backup media at a different secure location.
- Encrypt confidential data on laptops and in databases.
Run Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware
- Run UT Antivirus with current anti-virus files at all times ( the software is free for UTHSC faculty and staff computers) .
- Perform regular on-demand scans with your anti-virus and anti-spyware.
- Run a personal firewall on your computer.
Be Careful with e-Mail
- Do not send confidential data outside "uthsc.edu" unless it is encrypted.
- Delete spam, chain, and other junk mail without opening or forwarding it.
- Use Automatic updates for updating your anti-virus and operating system.
- Download antivirus updates from the UTHSC web antivirus page at : http://antivirus.uthsc.edu/
- Download Microsoft security patches and updates.
IT Security Group
877 Madison Ave
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
Confidential Compliance Hotline: