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Cyber Security Awareness Month

These tips are part of a month long effort to distribute useful computer security information to the SLAC community.

Day 4 - Enabling the Road Warrior

We try to make the SLAC computer network safe so we can accomplish the work we need to do while still allowing the wonderful collaboration which makes this Lab so vital. We do this through protections in our network routers and firewalls and through automatic patching, configurations, etc. of our computers. But what about when people leave SLAC's network? Those that travel with their computers need to be more knowledgeable and more cautious. Notes from SANS Internet Storm Center: "Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean that you should."  Yes mister user, I know you're an admin on your machine.  Yes I understand you're experiencing poor performance but that doesn't mean you should uninstall your AV software, install every spyware remover, registry cleaner and any other widget guaranteed on some web page somewhere to do what you want.  For the record, you can format your hard drive.  I wouldn't suggest it though.  ;) While there are certainly technical controls we can require our mobile users to employ, the real safety comes from their knowledge of the dangers of using public networks, and even of social engineering at conferences, etc. We have several articles on the agenda for this month which should help. Please continue to read these awareness pages and find ways you can be on the road and still use your computer safely.