With so many college classrooms now relying on computers for everyday tasks, computer security (or the lack of it) has become a major problem for many universities. Students use computers in the classroom now more than ever. Computer use is no longer limited to "computer" classes, but is vital for learning in a variety of subjects.
University administrators now realize there is more than one way for a classroom's computer network to be sabotaged or misused. Here are just a few areas where a computer in a university setting can be vulnerable.
Reports, essays, software programs and other information are stored as files on a computer's hard drive, and usually in named folders. When hundreds or thousands of students have access to a computer, it's likely that files or folders will get deleted or moved, whether accidentally or intentionally. However, students will likely be required to save their work in files and folders, so this poses a threat to other files in the system. A good desktop security software or knowledge of Windows policy restrictions could substantially reduce these issues.
Unwanted programs or software can be downloaded if security measures aren't taken to prevent this function. Most computer viruses arrive by the download of seemingly innocent items such as screen savers, computer games, spyware, etc. These viruses can do permanent damage or even crash an entire network. Students are naturally curious, and enjoy downloading items while online. So, disabling this function would be wise. There are many applications that prevent downloading from the internet.
If unprotected, an entire hard drive can be wiped away with just the click of a mouse. When students are given access to the control panel and computer settings, the system's security is always at risk. It takes only a moment to totally manipulate a computer's settings. For example, scheduled tasks could be deactivated, a needful firewall or anti-virus program could be turned off, or user access could be modified. Fortunately there are many products available that can write protect hard drives, or at least roll back to the last known good configuration.
Other computer security risks for a university include creating user profiles for computer settings, user log-on controls, desktop shortcut functions, sending and receiving emails, and many others.
Knowing where security issues can arise is only the beginning. Now, it's time for action. Many universities are using sophisticated software to tackle the problem. There are software programs on the market that will secure a computer system or network through and through. From email and downloads to files and folders, every corner of the hard drive can be protected easily.
Universities benefit from this type of software because it helps with both protection and organization. When hundreds or thousands of students are logging on to a network, there must be a way to limit their access to certain functions or areas of the computer while still enabling access where needed. Controlling where and how users can log on helps in this respect as well. Students are able to log on to complete their assignments, but they cannot alter the way the computer operates or download any unwanted files. The teacher remains in control at all times.
Computer security doesn't have to become an issue if the computers are protected from the beginning. Students and teachers alike can benefit when these issues are eliminated.
Written: September 7, 2006
By Andy B. Griswald e-mail: media(at)horizon-datasys.com
