To Stay Secure, Keep Your Software Current

If you are using old, outdated web browsing, email or IM software, you are vulnerable to malicious websites, email attachments and Instant Messages.  This can lead to infection with viruses.  It can also open up your system to harmful adware and spyware that tracks your web browsing, causes frequent pop-up windows, and makes your computer sluggish.  When you use the most current software, your computer is much less likely to get hacked.

To get the latest supported browser and email software, you can go to www.upenn.edu/computing/product/.

For the latest IM software, see:

AOL Instant Messenger http://www.aim.com/

Yahoo Messenger http://messenger.yahoo.com/security/

MSN Messenger http://messenger.msn.com/download

ICQ http://www.icq.com/download/

Always check with your Local Support Provider before installing new software on your computer.

For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: www.upenn.edu/computing/security/.