How to: Protect your device from malware and viruses before it becomes compromised


Introduction

As with all software, please ensure that your usage falls within the licensing terms. For instance, some software may not be licensed for use on TTU-owned devices.

To prevent future compromises to your account, follow the steps below.

Instructions

1) Opt in to having legacy two-factor authentication always enabled on your eRaider account.

2) Understand that your credentials can be captured by malware and viruses. Unwanted, malicious software (malware) can be installed on purpose or by accident, and it can track when you input a username and password. Never install software from unknown sources. It is important to have up-to-date anti-virus and malware protection on your computer to protect your data. If your computer is owned by TTU, your department's IT support personnel can install anti-virus/anti-malware software free of charge. If the computer is personally-owned, we recommend using your operating system's built-in security features (for example, Windows Defender Antivirus) or an anti-virus product of your choosing. Additionally, a program such as Malwarebytes (free download) can be used for anti-malware on personally-owned devices.

3) Check for updates in your anti-virus and anti-malware software. These types of software can protect against the latest threats much more effectively if they are updated often.

4) Check for updates for your operating system and device.

5) You should never provide your eRaider account password to anyone, by email or in person, especially those claiming to be employees of Texas Tech University.

6) It is important to be able to identify if a hyperlink is taking you to a legitimate webpage. Please ensure you are aware of how to do this in the email client(s) you typically use to check your email.

Outcome

You have reduced the likelihood of an account compromise.