Securing Personal Computing Devices

If you use your personal computer or mobile device to access sensitive data at NYU, please review the “Policy on Responsible Use of NYU Computers and Data” and note that antivirus software is required for any laptop or desktop that connects to the NYU network.

As the policy indicates, the University expects users to "employ reasonable and appropriate" safeguards to protect NYU data resources.  The reasonable steps NYU Wagner recommends you take to ensure a secure computing environment at home includes the following:

• Install Malwarebytes on your personal computer.
  • Antivirus software is required by the university for devices connecting to the NYU network (via VPN or being brought on campus).
  • This version of Malwarebytes is intended for personal devices only, and should not be installed on any computers belonging to NYU Wagner.
• Password protect your computer with a strong password equivalent to NYU’s requirements. Consider using a password manager such as LastPass or 1Password.

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever the feature is available.

• Complete a Gmail Security Checkup on your NYU and personal Gmail accounts. Contact your email provider for security reviews appropriate for their service which should include an MFA setup.
• Enable full disk encryption: Bitlocker for Windows, FileVault for Mac, and LUKS for Linux.
• Review configuration settings for your smartphone by referencing NYU ServiceLink articles on Android and Apple mobile devices.
• Remove unnecessary or seldom used software and check your software and operating system frequently for updates.

• Ensure your computer locks when you step away (Windows icon + L ). For a laptop, ensure that your computer locks when you close the lid.

• Protect the physical security of your mobile computing devices: never leave your devices unattended.