Turn Off Computer Regularly

Do you know that leaving a 150 watt computer operating continuously for one year uses an amount of energy equivalent to a 1,000 pound pile of coal or over 100 gallons of oil?  In dollars, it costs the University $100 a year per computer.  As a general rule of thumb, you should turn off computer if it is going to be idle for eight hours or more.

For idle periods of less than eight hours, use the Energy Saver feature t so your computer monitor and hard drive will go into a low power (blank screen) "sleep mode" when not actively in use. 

Turn off computer monitor when you go to lunch/meeting or will be away for a long period of time. Turn off printers and copiers when not in use.  Turn off  all energy consumption equipment before taking off for the weekend.

User Surge Protectors

Electrical surges can enter the computer through any exterior line including power lines, telephone lines, cable lines, and network lines.  If circuits are not adequately protected, electrical surges might damage the computer and result in data loss.  Surge protectors prevent electrical surges.  Surge protectors can be purchased at the campus bookstore or where office supplies are sold.

Secure Computer

Always log out of account or turn on screen lock when step away from the computer.  Students are encouraged to purchase security cable to tie the laptops to a desk or other stationary object.  These cables are available at the campus bookstore or where office supplies are sold.

Do Not Respond to "Spam"

Responding to unsolicited email only confirms that you have an active email address and exposes you to additional solicitations and scams that can fill your mailbox.

Do Not Open Email Attachments from Unknown Addresses

Exercise caution with email attachments and never open those from unknown senders.  Email attachments can potentially contain viruses that can infect your computer and the SCSU network.

Perform Monthly Computer Maintenance

Information Technology recommends the following tasks as part of a monthly maintenance program.  These tasks will help keep the computers running at optimal performance.

• Delete Internet Cache

Your computer stores information from all the websites that you have visited in a place called an Internet Cache.  This information can eat up memory and slow down computer's performance.  If you use Internet Explorer, you may delete the Internet Cache as follows:

1. Open Internet Explorer, click on Tools then Internet Options.
2. In the General Tab, under the heading, Temporary Internet Files, click on the Delete Files button.
3. A Delete Files warning box will open, click OK to delete all Temporary Internet Files.

• Delete Cookies

Some websites place cookies (small data files) on hard drives.  Cookies contain information on the site that can be used to track passwords, lists of visited web pages, and the date on which a certain web page was last visited.  Cookies are one of the first places that viruses and worms attempt to exploit.  If you use Internet Explorer, delete the cookies as follows:

1. Open Internet Explorer, click on Tools then Internet Options.
2. In the General Tab, under the heading, Temporary Internet Files, click on the Delete Cookies button.
3. A Delete Files warning box will open, click OK to delete all Cookies.