Holiday Reminder

When the holiday season approaches, we often see an increase in attacks against our computers. These attacks range from wasteful chain letters and hoaxes to viruses and network attacks and even so-called "social engineering" attacks. Your computer security and incident response teams would like to take a moment to offer a quick refresher on digital self-defense.

• Do not run unknown programs, even screen-savers, that someone sends you, or sends you a link to.
• Do not forward chain letters, petitions or even warning messages that you receive from non-authoritative sources.
• NOBODY ever has a legitimate reason to ask you for your personal password, or to ask you to change it to something of their choosing. Such inquiries about passwords or any strange or unusual seeming requests for information related to security or operations at Fermilab should be reported immediately to computer-security@fnal.gov or x2345 as possible incidents.
• If your duties include changing passwords for others and you are asked to do so, be positive that you are communicating with the right person. Don't hesitate to require confirmation of their identity from a mutual acquaintance — it's for their protection as well as yours.

As always, report suspected computer security incidents to computer-security@fnal.gov. If it seems urgent, go straight to the helpdesk or operators at 840-2345.