Laptop Security

Avoid storing confidential data on your hard drive.

Excluding your own personal data, Tufts protected or confidential data should be on your laptop only in rare circumstances. Work with your Information Steward to determine which data is protected.

Implement theft prevention.

Try not to leave your mobile devices unattended - even for a moment. Secure your laptop with cables and participate in Tufts Public Safety’s Operation Identification program, which engraves your property with your information, making it much harder for thieves to sell.

Install IdentityFinder.

Use Identity Finder to locate, identify and remove any confidential data that may remain on your device.

Check your anti-virus software to make sure it's current and set up for automatic updates.

Ensure that the Tufts OfficeScan anti-virus is running on your laptop at all times. If you suspect that it's been disabled or compromised, contact your Frontline Support Provider as soon as possible.

Enable automatic updates.

Enable your OS's automatic update features. If your laptop is running the Tufts LANdesk agent, applications will be updated automatically.

Use whole disk encryption.

Tufts licensedwhole disk encryption is free and available for use on Tufts-owned laptops. Contact your Frontline Support Provider for more information.

Use Tufts VPN for a more secure connection.

We highly recommend using the Tufts VPN Network Connect for all web activity when working on Tufts Wi-Fi or and all other locations (wired or wireless). The VPN client prevents others on the same network from recording your internet usage. For more details, see the VPN Network Connect information on the VPN site.

Utilize secure data removal methods.

Whether you're removing a few confidential files or deleting an entire hard drive, be sure to do so using Secure Destruction methods. Contact your Frontline Support Provider if you need assistance.