Good practice
General IT advice
Turn off your PC when finished
To help reduce energy consumption, please switch off your PC and monitor when they are not in use. This will enable you to do your bit for the environment.
Mailbox maintenance
Every NTU associate has a size quota on their mailbox. If you do receive a message saying you are running low on space, please try and move any large emails to a personal folder. Any messages in your deleted items will still count towards the size of your mailbox.
Security
Password change policy
The University has a password change policy to ensure that you reset your password every 90 days. Please do not write down any passwords, as this is a security risk.
Phising emails and how to detect them
Phishing is a name given to the fraudulent practice of sending fake emails in order to obtain personal details or passwords for criminal purposes. We will never ask you to confirm your password, and any messages you receive from banks or credit card companies are most likely to be fake.
So, how can you tell if an email you receive is authentic? There are a number of ways:
- Look at how the email is addressing you. Watch out for phrases like Dear Member or Dear Valued Customer. If the messages were from the real source, they would address you by name.
- Also be wary of any emails asking you to update your details, or to log into your account using an email link. The link may appear to take you to the company's website with the usual login screen, but there is a chance that it's fraudulent. Check to see if the webpage is secure by looking for a locked padlock symbol, or HTTPS at the beginning of the address.
- Internet Explorer now has a phishing filter that we recommend you use.
What to do if you are unsure about an attachment that has been sent to you?
You can:
- Run a virus scan on the document by copying the file to your desktop, then right click on the file and select scan for viruses.
- If you are still unsure, you can always email the file to the Service Desk who will be able to help you further.
What to expect if your PC detects a virus
You will receive a pop-up message from eTrust Realtime Alert saying "A virus has been detected!" Your PC will then be quarantined for 15 minutes. During this period you will not be able to use it.
File storage
Use your personal home drive
Information Systems recommends that you store all your personal files on your home directory (H:\). All files stored on this drive are backed up overnight. If you store any files in your My Documents folder, and your hard drive dies, then you will lose all of the files stored on your PC.
