How to Protect Computers, Data, and Personal Information

Taking action to personally ensure computer security helps protect everyone from data and identity theft, viruses, hackers, and other abuses. Everyone who uses a computer makes Purdue’s computing environment more secure by following these strong recommendations.

Create Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are critical to system security. A strong password is:

• Something other than a word found in the dictionary
• Something other than the name of a person, character, or pet
• Without personal information, such as birthdates and telephone numbers
• Something unrelated to your institution or department name or other identifying information
• At least eight characters
• Both capital and lowercase letters and numbers, as well as punctuation; for example: “AgbdF&04”
• Up to 1,000 times harder to crack than a weak password

Change Passwords

Over time, even strong passwords lose security.

• The best practice is to change passwords regularly.
• Use the password-changing frequency recommended by the system administrator.
• Password-changing frequencies are commonly monthly or quarterly.
• Use password-creation techniques to create strong, yet easily remembered, passwords.
• Don’t write down passwords. The most easily cracked password system is a password written on a sticky note under the keyboard.

Avoid Untrustworthy Downloads

Virus writers use downloadable screensavers and other files to infiltrate computer systems. Only obtain and install applications from Verified sites.

Scrutinize Attachments Carefully

Email and instant messaging are major vehicles for viruses. Spammers are very skilled at making virus emails and attachments sound legitimate. Open only expected email attachments sent from known addresses.

View Email Messages Individually

Spam emails often contain code that automatically incites more spam or attempts to install viruses and spyware.

Avoid this problem by viewing email messages individually, rather than in a previewing pane. To toggle the Preview Pane in Microsoft Outlook, click View»PreviewPane.

Install Free Antivirus Software

Install and use antivirus software and set it to automatically update daily. 

Ensure Antivirus Software is Running

After starting up a computer, check that an up-to-date antivirus program is enabled. 

Ignore Unsolicited Emails

Spammers send emails that pretend to be from legitimate sources to trick you into providing your personal information. This practice is known as “phishing.” Never click on links in an email. Phishers can make fake email links that:

• Browse to the legitimate Web site, but sneak in a pop-up window from a phisher’s Web site that asks for personal info.
• Browse to a fake Web site that has a nearly identical look and address to the legitimate Web site.
• Cover up the browser address window with an image that makes it appear to be the legitimate Web site.
• Invisibly obtain a key-logging program that records and reports back every keystroke made on the computer, including entered passwords and credit card numbers.

Secure Internet Settings

Change the security settings on your browser to “high,” and adjust downward as necessary for your Internet use. The “high” security setting may prevent some Web sites from functioning properly, so use the highest setting that still allows for effective Web browsing.

Back Up Data

Back up critical data regularly. Keep a copy of important files on removable media, such as CDs, DVDs, or USB thumb drives. Securely store the copies out of sight and under lock and key.

Use Firewalls

Install and use firewall security. A firewall is a hardware or software barrier designed to prevent unauthorized network activity. 

Reduce Incoming Spam

Spam is the common term for unsolicited email and instant messages. Spam is most effectively reduced by keeping email addresses private and by using a properly secured Web browser and email client. For a list of best practices against spam, browse to https://www.purdue.edu/securepurdue/forms-and-resources/spam-filtering.php. For answers to questions regarding spam at Purdue on Purdue machines, email itap-security@purdue.edu.

Get Updates and Patches for Operating Ssystems and Software

As new ways to exploit computer software vulnerabilities are discovered, it is critical to system security to regularly patch and update software. For Windows patches and updates, browse to http://www.windowsupdate.com.

Log Off or Turn Off the Computer

When you leave your computer, make sure to lock it (Windows key + L) or log off. If you are leaving for an extended period (a weekend, for example), turn the computer off.

We’re always looking for interesting biohacks here on Hackaday, and this new research article describing a calibrated pulse oximeter for different skin tones really caught our attention.

Pulse oximeters are handy little instruments that measure your blood oxygen saturation using photoplethysmography (PPG) and are a course we’re no strangers to here at Hackaday. Given PPG is an optical technique, it stands to reason that its accuracy could be significantly affected by skin tone and that has been a major course of discussion recently in the medical field. Given the noted issues with pulse oximeter accuracy, these researchers endeavored to create a better pulse oximeter by quantifying skin pigmentation and using that data to offset errors in the pulse oximeter measurements. A slick idea, but we think their results leave a lot to be desired.

Their idea sounds pretty straightforward enough. They created their own hardware to measure blood oxygen saturation, a smartwatch that includes red and infrared (IR) light-emitting diodes (LED) to illuminate the tissue just below the surface of the skin, and a photosensor for measuring the amount of light that reflects off the skin. But in addition to the standard pulse oximeter hardware, they also include a TCS34725 color sensor to quantify the user’s skin tone.

So what’s the issue? Well, the researchers mentioned calibrating their color sensor to a standard commercially-available dermatology instrument just to make sure their skin pigmentation values match a gold standard, but we can’t find that data, making it a bit hard to evaluate how accurate their color sensor actually is. That’s pretty crucial to their entire premise. And ultimately, their corrected blood oxygen values don’t really seem terribly promising either. For one individual, they reduced their error from 5.44% to 0.82% which seems great! But for another user, their error actually increases from 0.99% to 6.41%. Not so great. Is the problem in their color sensor calibration? Could be.

We know from personal experience that pulse oximeters are hard, so we applaud their efforts in tackling a major problem. Maybe the Hackaday community could help them out?

The forms used in Security & Policy are listed below for ease of locating.  

Account Requests

Account Setup Reset Application

The Account Setup Reset Application grants authorized Purdue IT support staff the ability to issue a career account setup password to an individual so they may set up their Purdue Career Account. Once issued, the setup password is then used by the individual to set up their Purdue Career Account using the Career Account Setup Application.

To request access, please complete the Account Setup Reset Form. 

Departmental BoilerKey Administrator

To apply to become a departmental administrator, please complete the BoilerKey Administrator Request.  

Guest Access Application

The Guest Access Application provides authorized IT support staff the ability to create short-term computer access for guests of Purdue University. A guest of the university may use this account to access resources such as Purdue AirLink (PAL), the campus wireless service, and other IT resources.

To request access to the Guest Account Application, please complete the following form: Guest Account Request Form. 

LDAP

If your application cannot support CAS or SAML, and the application is hosted on a Purdue network, we can offer LDAP. 

Click to learn more about IAMO LDAP Authentication Service.

To request access to the IAMO LDAP authentication service, you will first need to fill out a LDAP Request Form between your group and the IAMO. Please fill out section VII Client Definitions: section A, VIII Signatures: section A and IX Appendix A: sections A, B, C D and E. In section C, make sure you check LDAP authentication. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing.

Request for Security Exception Form

Submit the request for exception form.  It is important that you provide detailed information in your request, including your identification of risks and costs.  You will be required to meet with the ITaP Security and Policy (ITSP) Senior Team to discuss your request.  This group may recommend that other areas such as Data Steward(s) and/or Internal Audit review certain decisions.

Requesting CAS Access

To obtain access to the Purdue IAMO CAS Server, you will first need to fill out a with Single Sign-on Request Form (qualtrics.com) between your group and the IAMO. Please complete the on-line Docusign form. Once completed, it will be routed for approvals. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing. 

SAML

Purdue runs a Shibboleth SAML Identity Provider (IdP). Deployment details and how to request access can be found here. Our IdP uses CAS for its authentication, so the user experience is equivalent to CAS, there's just a few extra browser redirects going on under the covers.  

Once approved, IAMO will authorize your web application server (Shibboleth service provider) to access the Purdue Shibboleth Identity Provider server and receive the requested attributes.

Vendor Security Questionnaire

To protect Purdue University IT Resources and Information Assets, all new purchases of IT software, applications, or cloud services for use by the University must undergo a security review prior to purchase to identify any risks that software or service presents to these resources. obtain the Vendor Security Questionnaire form from the New IT Solutions and Services Review page.

Our Mission

Our mission is to assure the security of McCormick’s Information Technology (IT) resources and the existence of a safe computing environment in which the McCormick community can teach, learn, and conduct research. 

The team collaborates with McCormick experts in the fields of computer science and computer security, Northwestern’s Information Security Office and campus IT leaders to define policy and best practices for security administration, implementation, and management. This includes testing and evaluating security technologies, advising on security related technology projects, and aiding management of security technology, with special emphasis on mission critical IT resources.

Protect Yourself, Protect the University

In 2017 alone, almost 1.9 billion records were compromised, lost or stolen in the first half of the year, up by 164% from the last six months in 2016. Malicious outsiders were responsible for 74% of breaches, up by 23%.  And the Education industry made up 13% of all breaches, an increase of 103%.

Institutions of higher education are particularly appealing to a cyber attack due to our open networks to foster collaboration, large volumes of research data, and a “bring-your-own-device” student environment.

People are our greatest asset and our weakest link when it comes to protection against a cyber attack. Whether at home or at work, security or data breaches can have different consequences; but the ways to protect yourself are largely the same.

Learn more about ways to become cyber mindful and build security awareness. Protecting yourself helps protect McCormick.

The April 2023 edition of the Africa’s Pulse shows growth across Sub-Saharan Africa remains sluggish, dragged down by uncertainty in the global economy, the underperformance of the continent’s largest economies, high inflation, and a sharp deceleration of investment growth – and is insufficient to reduce extreme poverty. Economic growth is expected to slow from 3.6% in 2022 to 3.1% in 2023. While headline inflation appears to have peaked in the past year, inflation is set to remain high at 7.5% for 2023. In the face of dampened growth prospects and rising debt levels, African governments must sharpen their focus on macroeconomic stability, domestic revenue mobilization, debt reduction, and productive investments. In a time of energy transition and rising demand for metals and minerals, resource-rich governments have an opportunity to better leverage natural resources to finance their public programs, diversify their economy, and expand energy access.

Highlights from this issue

Governments face rising debt payments and liquidity issues, linked with expensive borrowing and appreciation of the US dollar. Debt distress risks remain high with 22 countries in the region at high risk of external debt distress or in debt distress as of December 2022. Unfavorable global financial conditions have increased borrowing costs and debt service costs in Africa, diverting money from badly needed development investments and threatening macro-fiscal stability.

Africa’s natural resource wealth holds significant untapped economic potential.

Resource-rich countries can take advantage of the rising demand for minerals and metals linked to the global transition to a low carbon economy (such as cobalt, copper and lithium) to increase fiscal resources, create new regional value chains that produce jobs, and accelerate energy access on the continent. However, turning a “resource curse” into a “resource opportunity” will require good sectoral governance, appropriate taxation to capture a greater share of resource rents, and regional cooperation and investments.

Curbing inflation remains central to achieving macroeconomic stability and fiscal policy anchored in debt sustainability can help. African governments have the power to undertake internal reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and better prioritize spending to lay the groundwork for future growth and jobs.

The performance of the Sub-Sahara African economy is not uniform across subregions. The real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the Western and Central Africa (AFW) subregion is estimated to decline to 3.4% in 2023, from 3.7 percent in 2022, while that of Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) declines to 3.0% in 2023, from 3.5% in 2022.

Investment growth has declined sharply across the board. This decline has been broad-based across the subregions, resource abundant and resource scarce countries, and types of investors (public, private, and foreign). Slower investment growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is holding back long-term growth of output and per capita income.

Farmers and rural entrepreneurs told the House Committee on Small Business on Wednesday they’re often unaware of federal government resources intended to support them.

Kendell Culp, vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, told the lawmakers the word just doesn’t get out about available programs.

“Maybe that's partially the government's responsibility. That's partially the organization's responsibility, agriculture organizations as well, to research those and to see what's available and make sure their memberships aware of those,” Culp told Agri-Pulse in an interview. 

Culp also serves in the Indiana General Assembly and witnesses how government programs intended to spur economic growth and support farms fail to fulfill their missions at the state level as well.

“We appropriate the dollars and we wipe our hands and say, ‘Boy, we got the job done, look at what we did.’ But sometimes that dollars and certainly the information never gets down to the farm gate where it really needs to go,” said Culp.

Witnesses also told lawmakers that although federal government support is available to farms and small businesses, accessing the resources is time consuming, confusing and costly.

“One of the largest challenges that face young farmers today is access to capital,” said Matt Splitter, the owner of a 10,000-acre farm in central Kansas.

“Regulations placed on lending institutions make it difficult to access necessary funding that allows the small farmer and the young farmer to plant their crop. With little to no collateral, the ability to borrow is significantly limited,” said Splitter.

“Other resources such as USDA and FSA (Farm Service Agency) loans are a great alternative. But they're cumbersome and time consuming.”

Culp’s farm in Jasper County, Indiana, produces corn, soybeans, cattle, and hogs. He said he had to rely on a consultant to ensure the paperwork and application for a farm grant was filed correctly.

“If you don't go that route of hiring someone … if you forget to do that or file that on time, then you're liable to repay all of that and lose your grant,” said Culp.

Jennifer Cassaday, owner of Byrd’s Pecan Delights, a small business in Missouri, said regulatory hurdles keep rural small businesses from accessing federal support.

It’s easy to sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! For the latest on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and around the country in agriculture, just click here.

“I've talked with the local bankers…and I was told that to get an SBA backed loan is pretty well impossible,” Cassaday said. “You will just be drowning in paperwork and it seems to be never ending.”

Rep. Mark Alford, a Missouri Republican who serves on both the House Small Business and Agriculture committees, stressed the need for federal agencies to better communicate and collaborate on programs to help rural communities.

Alford said the Small Business Administration has an Office of Rural Affairs, “but little information is available on what that office is doing and how it's focusing on rural small business.”

None of Wednesday’s witnesses were familiar with the office. Alford said he’d be requesting reports in the coming month for clarity on their work.

Culp is also a member of the Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association and told the committee the first thing Congress can do to help rural communities is to pass a new farm bill.

“The farm bill impacts the well-being of all Americans and while it's not the fix for everything… the rural development title of the farm bill offers programs that can add tools that communities need as they plan for future and future growth,” said Culp.

Both lawmakers and witnesses at the hearing stressed the importance of healthy and vibrant rural communities and small businesses.

“Rural communities are the backbone of this nation and in many cases agriculture, along with those small businesses, are the economic drivers of those communities,” Culp said.

For more news, visit Agri-Pulse.com.