Antivirus, Malware Protection, and Phishing

Protecting your Devices and Resolving Security issues

• In order to protect Lehigh University data, Lehigh uses two software packages to monitor Lehigh-owned computers for malware and viruses: ThreatDown Anti-Malware (formerly MalwareBytes), and CrowdStrike Falcon.  These applications are centrally managed and continuously updated by the LTS Security team, and for the most part require no user interaction. 

• Phishing, the process of soliciting usernames and passwords in order to gain unauthorized access to systems, is an ever-present issue. Google, Lehigh’s email service provider, can help minimize the effect of email scams when suspicious messages are detected.  

  • To report a scam email: 

    • With the questionable message open in Lehigh Gmail, either...

      • Select the vertical ellipsis (three dots) next to the 'Reply' button and choose 'Report Phishing', or

      • Click on the ‘phishhook’ icon in the righthand column of your inbox.

• For help and general information on identifying scams, as well as a host of other security-related topics, watch LTS security video training series.

• If you are a student, the Student Technology and Repair Services (STARS) team provides in-person, onsite, and walk-up help for students, including fixing problems from virus/malware infections, hardware problems, and configuration issues.

Encryption

• Faculty and Staff computers running Windows are encrypted using Microsoft's BitLocker whole disk encryption technology.  MacOS systems use Apple's FileVault full-disk encryption (FileVault 2).

• Keys are 'escrowed' by LTS, so that the university staff can retrieve data if needed.

• If you see a message on your PC prompting for Recovery Key ID, you'll need a BitLocker recovery key to continue booting your computer.  

  • You can contact the LTS Help Desk (we can look up a key for you), 

  • or you can look up your own at via our Bitlocker self-service page. 

• Note that this encryption has implications for International Travel.

Backups

• Regardless of steps taken to protect your device and data, backups are crucial.  Please read LTS's Overview of Backup Options.

• Lehigh generally expects that work product files are stored on Cloud file servers, which are backed up by the respective vendor, and protected under contract. 

• If you have local files but cannot purchase software, you should at least backup important files using a free tool such as the Apple's Time Machine for macOS, or 'Backup and Restore' in Windows.