I got an email the other day from WebJunction and in it was their feature on Security for Public Access Computers. So I am reposting their email in the interest of all those who might want more information.

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FOCUS ON SECURITY FOR PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS

Security can mean anything from warm fuzzy blankets to big bad missiles. For your library, though, it's a serious practical necessity. This month we'd like to help you keep the computers your patrons use clean and running smoothly. Not the most fun (we would certainly rather browse through the latest fiction offerings in Library Journal!), but it's a lot more fun than spending a weekend (or more) cleaning up the effects of an unpleasant Internet attack.

Our security expert is Marr Madden of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has spent the last five years visiting sites to install computers, answering tech support calls, writing documentation, and otherwise making computers in hundreds of libraries work. He's also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

You've got a lot to do, so any public access security plan you implement will need to be simple and effective. That's why we've put together Marr's Six Step Security Reference Card.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=8030

And here are the six steps:

• STEP 1: SECURE YOUR PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERSPatrons: gotta love 'em. But make sure they don't put a dent in your computers through their (usually) well-intentioned mistakes.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=978
• STEP 2: KEEP WINDOWS CURRENTFingerprints, cat and dog noses, flyspecks--clean them all up by keeping your (Microsoft) Windows squeaky clean.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1181
• STEP 3: INSTALL AND UPDATE ANTI-VIRUS SOFTAREAnti-Virus: the electronic equivalent of Vitamin C and mouthwash.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1273
• STEP 4: INSTALL A FIREWALLRome may be burning, so there's no reason to fiddle around.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=980
• STEP 5: KEEP YOUR APPLICATIONS UP-TO-DATEMicrosoft Office and other applications need love too.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1334
• STEP 6: KEEP SPYWARE OFF YOUR COMPUTERSDon't let the bad guys know what your patrons are up to.Go to: http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=7405

But the fun doesn't end there: stop by our Security & Networking discussions any time, and join security expert Marr Madden for a free live interactive online event, "Six Steps to Security," on December 1 at 3 PM ET. Space is limited, so register soon!Discussions: http://webjunction.org/forums/category.jspa?categoryID=38Live Event registration: https://www3.oclc.org/app/request/bin/request.asp?specialCode=wj120104