Laptop Security

A laptop can be made more secure through various physical and digital security measures.  Other types of protection can be found under Security & Updates with more information on other types of useful protection (the use of firewalls, guarding against viruses, etc.).

Physical Security

• Don't leave your laptop unattended
• Consider using a cable lock or locking case
• If you laptop has fingerprint identification, consider using it.   

Digital Security

Digital security can be and should be maintained at multiple levels. This involves using various forms of software solutions including passwords, external storage (internet and hard), encryption.  

Passwords

For information on password information click here

• Your machine requires a password to login at bootup (DO NOT save this password for auto-login)
• A password is required for e-mail
• A password is required for netFiles storage

DO NOT save passwords. Saving your passwords means anyone who has access to the machine when logged in has access to everything with a saved password.

Saving Files to K: drive or netFiles

Saving files to netfiles or K: drive is more secure than saving files to your local hard drive.

• netFiles requires a password for access to files.
• K: drive requires you to be logged in to Whitman's network

Both netfiles and K: can be accesed from off campus. K: drive requires you use SFTP, available in Filezilla, the standard program installed on all Whitman machines.

Password Keeper

With the average user having multiple passwords to track, it is a good idea to use a password keeper. This is simply a program that stores passwords for later retrieval when needed.

• The password keeper will store as many passwords as needed.
• The password keeper requires a password to gain access to the list.
• The password keeper will allow a pass phrase, using sentence instead of just a word.
• We recommend a program called KeePass.

KEEP YOUR PASSWORD KEEPER PASSWORD IN A SAFE PLACE

Password Protect a Word or Excel File

It is possible to put a password on a Word or Excel file. The file will not be able to be opened with out the password. To set a password in a Word or Excel File:

• Click on the "Tools" menu
• Click on "Options"
• Click the "Security" tab
• Enter a password in the space provided
• Click OK
• You will be prompted to enter the password again

NOTE: This password is more for protection against casual snooping. It is very easily broken by readily available programs.

Encryption

Encryption is a method of encoding a file so that the data cannot be read without knowing the mathematical equation used to encode the file. When you encrypt a file, the data can only be read if the program that encrypted it is available and you have the password for the file. In some cases a secondary key file is also needed to gain access to the file's contents.

Encryption:

• Protects files from unwanted access
• The file cannot be opened even if moved to another drive
• It can be protected with a Pass Phrase
• With an encryption key added, the file is not accessible without that key
• If you lose the pass phrase or key, the file will never be opened again.

Axcrypt Encryption Program

AxCrypt is a free program you can install to encrypt files. 

Instructions for using it can be found here.

Full Drive Encryption

An entire computer can be encrypted with the appropriate software. Once a whole computer is encrypted, that machine will not start without the encryption pass phrase. IF YOU LOSE THE PASS PHRASE YOUR COMPUTER WILL NEED TO BE REFORMATTED AND ALL DATA WILL BE LOST.

Please contact WCTS if you would like to purchase full encryption software.