Theft happens. Laptop theft has happened at CCA in the past, generally when the user "stepped away" from their unsecured computer. To prevent this, we highly suggest that all laptop owners always remain vigilant in ensuring that your devices are accounted for. Stepping away from your laptop, even for brief periods of time could result in loss or theft of your device.

CCA strongly encourages all staff, faculty and students to install antivirus software on their computers, and keep it up to date at all times. For staff using a CCA laptop, Sophos Antivirus is required to be installed and running at all times. Read more about Sophos antivirus here.

Apple owners running macOS should frequently check for OS security updates. If your Apple laptop isn't already configured to automatically check for updates, you can check manually by clicking on the Apple menu (i.e. the Apple icon located in the top-left corner of your screen), and selecting “Software Update”. This will search for any potential software you are eligible to update for free. We highly recommend that you install the OS security updates as soon as they become available.

We recommend that you turn on your firewall to limit the amount and types of files that can be accessed from the outside world without your knowledge. In macOS, you can turn on your firewall by opening System Preferences and selecting the “Sharing” icon. This preference panel will allow you to select what kind of sharing you would like to do from your computer*. If you are going to do any sharing while at CCA, select the “”Personal File Sharing” check-box. If you want to share your iTunes music collection while maintaining your firewall, select the “iTunes Music Sharing” checkbox. After selecting which types of files you’d like to share, select the “Start” button to turn on your firewall. While at CCA, TURN OFF PRINTER SHARING. This causes untold printing problems for laptop users who are trying to print through the CCA Networked Printers

Malware, short for "malicious software," is a broad term used to describe any software that is designed to harm, exploit, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, and data. Malware is created and used by cybercriminals and hackers for various malicious purposes. Malware can come in many different forms like, viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and ransomware. Malware is typically spread through various means, including email attachments, malicious websites, infected software downloads, and removable storage devices. To protect against malware, individuals and organizations should use antivirus software, keep their operating systems and software up to date, practice safe internet browsing habits, and be cautious when downloading and executing files from untrusted sources.