NUIT Tech TalkNUIT Tech Talk:Spring Cleaning –

Remembering the Technology?April 23, 2008

Alex EscalonaDistributed Support SpecialistDistributed Support ServicesNorthwestern University Information Technology

Spring Cleaning: Keep Your Computer in Great Shape

Agenda:• Why perform user maintenance? • Security measures• Computer performance • Privacy updates• Disaster planning

Why Perform User Maintenance?

• Prevent security lapses• Check up on vital functions• Assess current uses and needs• Discard junk

Security Measures• Antiviral protection• Firewalls• Operating system

updates• Application updates• Spyware protection

Complete instructions available at: http://www.it.northwestern.edu/getcontrol

Get Anti-virus Protection • Keep out dangerous viruses• NUIT provides Symantec

AntiVirus for download

• Highly recommended for all machines, including Macs

• Symantec uses LiveUpdate• Schedule daily updates• Schedule daily Scans

• Instructions at www.it.northwestern.edu

What:

When:

Where:

Use Firewalls • Enable native or third party

firewalls– Native: Windows XP and

Mac OS X have built-in firewalls

– Third party: Zonealarm, BlackIce, Norton Personal(For use with older operating systems)

• Compare firewall software:www.it.northwestern.edu/security/securing-machine/software.html

What:

Where:

Check Firewalls

• Test your firewall protection using Web-based scanners such as Shields Up!

Go to: www.grc.com

How:

Check Operating System Updates • Ensure that your operating system has the necessary

updates

• Automatic updates:– Enable in Start > Settings > Control Panel >

Automatic Updates in Windows– Enable in System Prefs > SW Update in Mac OS X

• Manual updates for Windows:– Log in with administrative account– Use Internet Explorer– Tools Menu in IE select Windows Update– More info: www.microsoft.com/security

What:

How:

Check Microsoft Updates • Microsoft Update

–Updates Windows operating system. Select Microsoft applications

• http://update.microsoft.com

What:

How:

Apple Software Update

• Apple Software Update– Updates Mac OS

and select applications

• Go to Apple Logo > Software Update

What:

How:

Check Application Updates

• Applications are a major source of system vulnerabilities

• May need frequent updates

• Enable automatic application updates– Look under Help in many programs

• Replace or remove obsolete software, if possible

• Visit vendor’s Web site• Sign up for vendor’s mailing list• Specific information at

www.sans.org/newsletters/risk

What:

How:

Use Spyware Protection

• Remove programs that monitor or track the way your PC usage

• Use Spybot Search & Destroy (NUIT recommended)

• Other options for non-University use: TrendMicro, Lavasoft Ad-aware, Windows Defender, AVG

What:

Use Spyware Protection and Removal

• To install:– http://www.it.northwestern.ed

u/getcontrol/ > Step 3– No charge to download– Easy to install– Use immunization feature

• To use:– Click Check for Problems– Click Fix Selected Problems

How:

Clean Out Your Browser:Remove Cached Files

• Your cache saves files and images from visited sites

• Creates a record of Web activity

• To remove:– IE 7 Tools / Internet

Options > General tab > Delete

– Choose Delete files and Delete cookies

What:

How:

Recommended Steps

• Setup Internet Options to use minimum space for Temporary Internet Files and History

• Setup:– IE 7 Tools / Options >

General tab > Browsing History > Settings

– Change the Default Disk space to 50

– Change the Default History to 1

What:

How:

Clean Out Your Browser:Remove Passwords

• Remove passwords and form fillers• AutoComplete remembers what you typed• Can be a security issue on shared machines

• To remove:– IE Tools / Internet Options – Content tab– In the AutoComplete section– Select Settings– Select Clear Passwords and Clear Forms

What:

How:

Clean Out Other Browsers• To remove

private data:– Tools > Clear

private data – Select what

you would like to clear

Firefox:

Check System Performance

• Remove temporary files• Check hard drive for errors• Defragment drives

Remove Temporary Files• Includes downloaded files

and programs• Clean out the junk to free

up disk space

• Disk cleanup– Start > Run– Type: Cleanmgr– Click OK– Select everything EXCEPT

for Office Setup Files

What:

How:

Check Hard Drive for Errors• Check the hard disk for file

system errors and bad sectors on a PC

• Perform a monthly check– My Computer > Select local

disk– Right click for Properties– Tools tab > Check Now– Will prompt for Restart to

proceed with Error-checking

What:

How:

Check Hard Drive for Errors• Check the hard disk for

file system errors and bad sectors on a Mac

• Perform a monthly check– Finder > Applications

> Utilities > Disk Utility

– Choose appropriate disk

– First Aid > Verify Disk

What:

How:

Defragment Drives • Fragmented drives:

– May hinder performance– Greatly reduces chances

of recovering files in case of system problems

• Run Disk Defragmenter monthly

• Need Administrator access– Start > All Programs >

Accessories > System Tools

– Disk Defragmenter– Select drive, Analyze, and

Defragment

What:

How:

Plan for a Computer Disaster

• Make a Backup• Know about System Restore

Make a Backup• Are you prepared to lose data?• Make a plan!

• For Windows backup– Start / Run– Type ntbackup– Click OK

• Third-party tools available– Ghost– Retrospect– .mac– Others

Make a BackupBackup media

– Second hard drive– External hard drives

• Many come with backup software– Optical media such as CDs, DVDs, or flash drives– Network drive such as mapped drive,

server space– Web-based tools or sites

Automatic or manual?– Automated backups are best

Schedule Backups • Scheduled Tasks:

– Setup once and the task will run automatically as long as the pc is on.

• Schedule Backups to run weekly – Start > Settings >

Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks

– Add Scheduled Task

What:

How:

Schedule Backups Cont’d

– Select Next– Select Backup from the

list and select Next

How:

Schedule Backups Cont’d

– Select Weekly– Select Next

How:

Schedule Backups Cont’d

– Select Time and Day of the week

– Select Next

How:

Schedule Backups Cont’d

– Enter User Name and Password

– Select Next

How:

Schedule Backups Cont’d

– Select Finish to close the Scheduled Task Wizard

How:

Backups on Mac OS

• Use Backup 3, available online– http://www.mac.com

/1/solutions/backup.html

How:

Know About System Restore• Go back in time with system restore

– Restores PC to a previous configuration

– Does not affect data– Used by Windows XP only

– Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools

– Select Restore my computer to an earlier time

– Directions on how to restore to a previous state:

How:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084/

System Restore Cont’d• Select any date from the

calendar

System Restore Cont’d- Make sure to save your

work before selecting Next

- Computer will automatically restart and display a confirmation after you login

Clean Your Desktop• Don’t use your desktop

as your primary file storage area

• In a System Restore, some desktop files may be deleted

• Store files in My Documents or Drive folders

Questions?

NUIT ResourcesLearn more at www.it.northwestern.edu/

“Get Control” Web sitewww.it.northwestern.edu/getcontrol/

Other support resourceswww.it.northwestern.edu/support/

Please Join Us for Upcoming Tech Talks:

Please Join Us for Upcoming Tech Talks:

Set Yourself to “Connected”This Summer

Wednesday, May 14, 2008Same location, 12:30 – 1:15 p.m.

Please register online: www.it.northwestern.eduwww.it.northwestern.edu