Why BlazeWare?
Computer and information security is a community effort. Keeping your personal computers and devices up-to-date, patched and secure will also help keep UT Arlington's network secure as you connect your devices to it. It also has the added benefit of keeping your devices running smoothly.
What is BlazeWare?
BlazeWare is a convenient one-stop security software and documentation reference site for students, faculty, and staff. It covers the security of personal (or non-UT Arlington) computers that might connect to our network.
BlazeWare is not a single piece of software ...
Rather, it's a bunch of links to commonly used security software or practices.
Patch your computer ... today!
It's free (well, usually). All software including Operating Systems and Applications are created by very smart human beings. However, human beings can make mistakes or overlook things in their creation, and these lead to software instability (leading to crashes), errors in processing (like something not saving correctly) or vulnerabilities that can be attacked by malicious software.
- All of the popular operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc) provide a mechanism to keep the operating system up-to-date; all you need to do is double check that it's working and that you keep your computer up-to-date.
- The applications that are installed on your device need to be updated periodically as well, to keep your information safe and secure, and keep your computer stable. Most modern applications have an automatic update feature that make patching and updating them easy.
Security can appear be a daunting idea, but the biggest impact you can have may actually be simple - ensure that your devices are patched.
Install Security Software
In addition to patching your computer, install security software such as anti-malware software to prevent and remove malicious software (malware). Install DLP software to find Social Security Numbers or Credit Card Numbers that might exist on your computer (especially those that you've forgotten about), VPN software to connect to UTA's network from home.
- Anti-malware software:
- VPN:
- Data Loss Prevention:
- Secure Shell:
- SSH (requires NetID logon)
- Anti-malware software:
- VPN:
- Data Loss Prevention:
- Anti-malware software:
- VPN:
- Data Loss Prevention:
Encrypt Your Computer
Have you thought of what would happen if your computer was lost or stolen? Is there stuff on your computer you'd not want other folks to see? The best way to protect your computer is to encrypt it. Fortunately, it's free and easy to do. Instructions are provided below: