Right now many parents are getting their kids ready to go back to school. Over 1/3 of parents expect to spend more than $1,000 on big ticket back to college supplies like a computer and smartphone. But have you thought about how to protect all those research papers, presentations, files and passwords? We’ve pulled together some tips to keep college kids safe:
•Anti-virus software is essential to protect networked computers from spreading malware to other computers. In many cases, colleges require that all computers on their network have anti-virus and anti-phishing software installed. In some cases, colleges will limit or remove a student’s Internet access if they determine your computer is causing an issue.
•Password managers will store all your e-mail, network, college portal, and online bookstore log-in information, so you don’t have to remember them. The master password keeps all of your passwords safe from prying eyes and hackers.
•Encrypted cloud storage keeps important documents safe and can also share data between devices. Conveniently sign into your online backup account from a college computer lab to print your research paper without discs, flash drives or portable hard drives.
Not only will these tools keep your personal information safe, they’re also perfect for a college student’s on-the-go lifestyle. Forgot the password to your campus e-mail, but don’t have your computer handy? A password manager that syncs to your mobile phone puts the same password information stored on your computer at your fingertips, wherever you go. Need to make a quick last minute change to your paper before your next class? Just open the document in your smartphone app, make changes and save it to the cloud again. These simple tips can save time and money going back to college.
