Computer Security on The Thomas College Network

(with Specific Set Up Instructions)

You must be on campus to perform the complete setup. You can click here to access the live instructions if you are on campus.
If you are off campus, you can start your setup by following the steps below...

When operating a personal computer on a high-speed computer network, several security precautions need to be made to ensure the network and your personal computer can operate efficiently when you need them. New computer viruses and worms are being released on a daily basis. Computer software “security holes” are often exploited by new viruses and worms within a few days or weeks after the “security hole” is found. For this reason, Thomas College provides Symantec Anti-virus software to all students who will be connecting their computer to the College network. This software will automatically update each time the computer is started and connected to the network.

Thomas College, like most colleges, also requires a computer configuration meeting before any new personal computer is connected to the College network. A meeting between you and an IT Services staff person can take from 10 minutes to 2 hours (or longer) depending on potential security weaknesses found on your computer. This meeting is scheduled when you return to campus each year. During the first few days, computer configurations are performed in groups of 20. After the first few days, computer configurations assistance is given one-on-one by our help desk staff. To ensure that your computer configuration meeting is as facilities short as possible, we now strongly encourage everyone to follow the steps listed below before connecting any computer to the Thomas College network. The steps below are summarized for Windows XP personal computers. If you have a different operating system please make sure you have the latest version of your operating system and all applications.

1. Please note: Windows XP Home Edition does not have the networking security features that are built into Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Professional Edition can be purchased from the Student Financial Services office for a few dollars up to two weeks before classes begin.
2. Specify the correct computer name, etc: From the Start menu, choose Control Panel. Double-click on System. Click the Computer Name tab. In the Computer description field, type your full name (e.g., John Smith). Click the Change button. In the Computer name field, type your user name + PC (e.g., smithjPC). If you are running Windows XP Professional, under Member of, select Workgroup. In the Workgroup field, type RESNET if you are living on campus, and COMMUTERS if you live off campus. Click OK (several times if needed).
3. Create a new username to match your Thomas account: From the Start menu, choose Control Panel. In the right pane of the Control Panel window, double-click on User Accounts. Create a new user account with the same username as your Thomas user account (ex. smithj), click Next. Make sure the account is a "Computer Administrator" type account and click Create Account. Click on the account you just created and choose "Create Password". Enter the password that corresponds with your Thomas username in the first two fields and click OK. Close the User Accounts screen. You must use this account whenever you are connected to the Thomas network.
4. Configure your personal firewall: In the Control Panel window, double-click on Network Connections. Right-click on Local Area Connection, then select Properties. Click the Advanced tab to switch to advanced settings. Under Windows Firewall, choose Settings, and On and choose OK.
5. Running Windows Updates online: Connect to the Internet. Open Internet Explorer. Click Tools, then Windows Update. If you have never used Windows Update before, a Security Warning window may appear asking if you want to install and run Windows Update Control. Click Yes. In the right pane of the Windows Update window, click Scan for updates. In the right pane of the window, click Review and install updates. Note: If you receive a message that there are no critical updates available at this time, you do not need to install any updates. If you receive a warning about sending information to the Internet, click Yes. Click Install Now. Click Accept to accept the terms of the software license agreement. Wait for the updates to be downloaded and installed. (On slow connections, this may take hours.) When you are asked whether you want to restart Windows, click OK. Repeat this step until you receive a message stating that there are no critical updates available at this time.
6. Install windows defender: To install Windows Defender from off campus, connect to: http://www.microsoft.com/antispyware to download and install the program. After installing, Update the definitions, and scan your computer for mal-ware.
7. Check P2P applications to make sure servers are not running: P2P applications allow users to exchange files over the internet. These programs have many different names including: Napster, Kazaa, BearShare, Morpheus, LimeWire, Ares, and AudioGalaxy. If you make your files accessible to other people on the Internet for downloading, you are taking away bandwidth from legitimate uses, at no benefit to anyone at the college. Instructions for various programs can be found at the http://www.thomas.edu/it/faq/Sharing-Etiquette.asp web page.
8. When arriving to campus, ask your initial contact person where to sign-up for the computer configuration meetings.

If you have any questions regarding this initial meeting, please contact the IT Services Help Desk at 207-859-1204 or extension 204 if on-campus.