Common-Sense Security Techniques

A system administrator can have the best system security measures in place, but without the users’ cooperation, system security will be compromised. The system administrator must teach common-sense rules regarding system security, such as the following:

• Use proper passwords. Countless sites use passwords such as admin or supervisor for their root accounts.

• Don’t give your password to anyone, no matter who he says he is. One of the best system crackers of our time said that he would simply pose as a system support person, ask a user for a password, and get free reign with the system.

• If you walk away from the system, log out or lock the screen. Think of the damage if someone walked up to your station and sent a scathing email to the president of your company—with your name attached!

• Don’t connect modems to your system without approval from the system administrator.