Microsoft updates

You'll need to use Internet Explorer to access these updates from the web or you can configure your computer to update automatically or notify you when updates are available.

Windows updates: http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Office updates: http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/maincatalog.aspx?lc=en-us

Spyware

Spyware is any application that tracks your online behavior without your knowledge or consent. Spyware infects nine out of ten PCs connected to the Internet and has eclipsed viruses as the primary threat to online privacy.

Ad-Aware and SpyBot Search & Destroy are two free utilities that can help you keep your PC free of spyware. Microsoft's Windows Defender is also free and a stable beta release.

Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoft.de/

Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=home

Windows Defender: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Anti-virus protection

Computer viruses are a significant danger for any computer that receives information from other computers via e-mail, the Internet, or removable media (floppy disks, Zip disks, etc.). It's good practice to regularly check your hard drive for infection or your files may become corrupted and unusable.

Anti-virus software for Windows, Solaris and Linux can be downloaded from: http://www.oit.duke.edu/site/software/mcafee.html.

Anti-virus software for the Mac is available here: http://www.oit.duke.edu/site/software/virex.htm.

Wireless network access

Duke University OIT runs and maintains the wireless network throughout campus. Before you can register your personal computer on the network, it will need to be patched and up to date. More info is available here: http://netreg.duke.edu/.

Secure file transfer (SFTP)

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) lets you move files from one computer to another. You might use SFTP to upload HTML files to the Nicholas web server for web publishing or retrieve documents from your Nicholas account. The Nicholas SFTP server is accessible from anywhere on the Internet and uses strong encryption to protect your data and password, making it an excellent way to access your data from your home PC.

OIT distributes and supports the SFTP software programs SSH.com (for Windows), F-Secure (for Windows), and MacSFTP (for Macintosh).

Open source options are Fugu (for Mac OSX) and WinSCP (for Windows).

ePrint

ePrint is a print management system that makes printing quicker, easier and less wasteful. To print a document, select the print option from your application (i.e. File > Print).

Nicholas School ePrint clients are available from http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/it/software

Secure email setup

Recommended email clients can be found at http://www.oit.duke.edu/comp-print/software/supported.html under Email clients. Your Duke email client must be configured to use Secure Socket Layers (SSL), which protects your NetID password when you check your incoming mail.

Setup instructions are available here: http://www.oit.duke.edu/email_messaging/email/setup/

Nicholas School IT

If you need help with your Nicholas network login, your Nicholas network data, your desktop computer, your local printer, Nicholas-provided software or audiovisual equipment check the Nicholas School IT website first: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/it

Office of Information Technology

If the problem is with your NetID, NetID password, email account, Web mail, wireless registration, VPN, Blackboard or other Duke-wide resources, check the University OIT website first: http://www.oit.duke.edu/helpdesk/