Residential Computing at UC Berkeley

BeSecure What does Be Secure do? Network Policies Technical Details and FAQ Download Be Secure!

Network Policies and Minimum Security Requirements

In order to protect the network and to ensure efficient and reliable Internet service for all users, we enforce the following policies.

Weekly bandwidth limit

Capping the amount of digital data that travels to and from your computer over the Internet ensures fast and equitable network access for all residents. ResComp applies a weekly cap of combined uploads and downloads per resident.

Use of legal filesharing software

We encourage you to use legal services to obtain media. Downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal. In the past, some Berkeley students have been sued for thousands of dollars. Don't let that happen to you!

Campus minimum security standards

Every device connected to the campus network needs to meet the security standards to avoid being blocked from the network. Be Secure makes it easy to meet the standards and also keeps your computer safe from hackers and viruses.

Your computer must meet all the requirements below, regardless of the operating system on your computer. If you do not meet all the standards, you may be blocked from the network.

Install anti-virus software that updates with regular virus definitions

The first security requirement is to have antivirus software. Antivirus software detects and eliminates malicious code on your computer. It protects your documents and media by keeping viruses from spreading between your computer and others. The Be Secure software download includes Symantec Antivirus to meet the first requirement.

Set a strong administrator password for your computer

Many computers have blank passwords by default, giving hackers an easy way to compromise machines. Setting a strong administrator account password closes this common security hole. Be secure will assist you in setting up a password upon installation.

Have a personal firewall installed and running at all times

It is a requirement that your computer have firewall software. A personal firewall protects your computer from potentially harmful network traffic. It prevents spammers and hackers from exploiting security holes on your computer. Symantec Client Security included with the Be Secure software functions as a firewall on Windows XP systems.

Enable automatic updates to get latest software patches for your computer

You will also need automatic updates. Enabling automatic updates protects your computer from the newest security vulnerabilities as they are discovered. Be Secure installs Windows XP Service Pack 3 and also enables automatic updates.

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