Secure your devices
Keeping your devices secure is vital to help protect your privacy and data. Be sure to follow our resources and tips to stay protected.
Security basics
Keep your device safe with system upgrades and security patches. It is recommended to turn on automatic updates.
Update Windows from Microsoft
Update macOS from Apple
Update Chromebook from Google
Update Android device from Google
Update Apple device from Apple
Antivirus and antimalware software
Application updates
Some computer applications like Mozilla Firefox or Adobe Reader have their own updater. Be sure to check all of your applications and run their updaters to protect from security exploits.
Phone applications also need to be kept up to date for security.
Update Android device applications
Update Apple device applications
Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is great to save on your data plan. However fake hotspots are also a target to capture your data. As a fake hotspot, the malicious can intercept your data and use that for their own needs. Ensure that the Wi-Fi you are connecting to is legitimate or use VPN software to secure your data stream as your surf the web.
Lock your device
If you are using your device and step away, locking your device when you are away
will help prevent anybody from accessing your computer. Locking your device does not
work if you have no password or passcode.
Use antivirus and antimalware software to help keep your device safer as you use it. It is an added protection that will help keep you safe but not completely. Be diligent on websites you browse, files you download, and emails you click. The University of Hawaii offers free antivirus software from third-party McAfee for UH active affiliated users. Malwarebytes is a third-party antimalware software that is popular. It has both free and paid versions.
Phones and tablets are also a target for criminals but protecting your mobile device with antivirus applications has proven to be less than effective. Your best bet to stay safe is to use only official applications that have been posted on your phone’s official App store. At this time we do not have any recommendations for antivirus or antimalware on mobile devices.
Shortcuts:
- On your keyboard, at the same time press Windows logo + L (
+ L) . - Windows > User > Lock
Shortcut:
- On your keyboard press Command + Control + Q (
+ Control + Q) - In the upper left of the screen
> Lock Screen
Shortcut:
- Press Search
+ L. - Press Launcher
+ L. - In the bottom right, click the time. Select Lock.