Tech Tips: Securing Your Home Work Environment

March 31, 2020

We're on our third week of working off-site. Based on the support requests our Information Technology team has received, we're getting closer to everyone having the tech they need at home. Zoom is now our most-used application. Now that you're all settled in, make sure your home environment is secure and works well. Here's what you should know:

Zoom... It's now a target

ZoomBombing is a real security threat that has hit Instructors at Duke. It’s where one or more uninvited guests join a Zoom session and share disturbing content with everyone in the meeting. This link is a full list of tips from Duke’s Office of Information Technology to prevent this from happening to your class or meeting. The list includes::

Generate Meeting ID Automatically – don’t use your Zoom Personal Meeting ID.
Require a Password – and send it in the meeting invitation.
Enable Waiting Room – so you can see who’s trying to attend before the meeting begins.

Get to know Zoom and other collaboration tools by joining one or more of these helpful webinars.

Your Home WiFi...

You and your family are probably relying on your home WiFi now more than ever. Here are some things to check:

WiFi slow or sluggish?

Make sure your wireless router is away from other devices and is in an open, central place.
Is your video or audio jumpy? Get an Ethernet cable and plug your laptop/desktop directly into the WiFi router.
- Send us an email if you’re not sure how to do this.
Connect to your wireless router as an admin and make sure your router’s software is updated.
- Don’t have your device documentation? Find the model number on the bottom of the device, then Google it. You should be able to get documentation online.
While you’re signed in as the admin, change the admin password.

Keep your Wifi Secure

Use WPA2 security
Change the admin password. Immediately.
If your WiFi router allows it, set up two password-protected WiFi channels – one for you and one for the kids.
- Don’t give anyone else the password to your work-related WiFi.
Reset and change the passwords for accessing all channels of your WiFi.
Don’t use any identifying information in your WiFi name –
- Never use your address, name, etc.

Not a Geek? Duke’s LinkedIn Learning provides video instruction that can help you learn to do these tasks. After logging in, do a search for Home WiFi. Some of the videos are a couple of years old, but most of the content is still applicable.

Home Office Best Security Practices

Please don’t use USB thumb drives. Use Duke Box or OneDrive.
Did you buy new electronics for your home office? Don’t advertise it – keep the boxes and old equipment off the curb.
Be on the lookout for phishing emails related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Update your antivirus software.
Be careful with family members using your work devices.
Working outside on the porch or deck? Porch pirates can quickly snatch an unattended laptop while you go inside for a few minutes.

If you have any technical questions or problems, contact the IT Service Desk at 919-684-9200, or email to citdl@mc.duke.edu.