Quick Tips for Church Computer Safety

Here are some quick tips we ask all our church staff to abide by in order to keep their own, the churchâs, and other people’s data secure. The applications we use are listed (and we believe they are all great), but there are other great apps to use as well.

  • File Storage – Store everything in Dropbox.  It is our backup software.  We can get your stuff back if your computer crashes. Do not keep stuff on your computer hard drive, desktop, or anywhere other than Dropbox.
  • Passwords – Use a secure password management system. Even a secure digital note is better than a sticky note on your desk.  Our recommended password app is 1Password.  Further, use different passwords for all your accounts, so if one is compromised, they are not all compromised.  Change your passwords often.  Use two-factor authentication when available.
  • Accounts – You should be the only one that knows your passwords and has access to your accounts.  If you have a spouse or kids, they cannot know the password to your work account (the computer, your email, church database, etc.).
  • Home Computers & Devices – If you have home computers with any type of church data on them, you cannot have a shared login account with family members.  You are required to have separate accounts set up on the computer and your account on the computer must be password protected.  It can be tricky, but this really applies to access your iPad, iPhone, etc… as well, if they have church files on them.
  • Autolocking All your devices – computer, phone, tablets, etc. – must be set to auto-lock after 5 minutes max.  Again, this also applies to home computers with church data on them.  Never leave your computer unattended.
  • Virus & Malware Protection – You should have up-to-date virus and malware protection on your computer.  This applies to Mac products too.  The church provides protection for your work computer through BitDefender.  If you do not have protection on your home computer you are responsible for purchasing adequate protection or removing any work files/accounts/programs immediately from the computer.
  • Updates – You should make sure your computer and all devices are up-to-date with all the latest patches and upgrades. This applies to both the operating system and applications. 
  • Use a Firewall – This is a feature in the operating system that makes things safer. You can easily turn this on for both Windows and Mac.
  • Use Reliable Browsers – Chrome, Firefox and Safari.  If you are using a browser other than these three you must receive permission.
  • VPN (Virtual Private Network) – Use a VPN, especially when off the church and your home network. Our recommended VPN is NordVPN.
  • Enable File Extensions – Enable file extensions so you can see the entire filename.  Many viruses come with two extensions such as picture.jpg.ex, so be looking out.
  • Other Simple Things: Do not open files from people you do not know. Ignore emails that say you won a contest. Watch out for online and phone scams (Microsoft or Apple will not ask you to call them, neither will the IRS or your bank). Ignore pop-ups, especially inside web browsers, that state your computer has a problem. When installing software, watch for bundled software that installs several programs. Don’t click on things you are unsure about.
  • Finally, remember you have an ethical and legal responsibility to keep church data, especially people’s personal information, safe.
Posted on
Category: Uncategorized

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

13,539 thoughts on “Quick Tips for Church Computer Safety”

  36. I don’t usually write long posts, but this time I felt like sharing what happened to me about a nice win at a casino site.

    I’ve been playing for a while at nllalabet.com, mostly on weekends and on small stakes. I joined because the signup bonus looked pretty good and the bonus rules seemed reasonable compared to many other online casinos. The registration process was pretty simple: basic details and simple email verification, then I was able to start playing.

    For my opening deposit I kept it small and loaded a small amount into my balance. I headed to the video slots because that’s what I enjoy most. I sorted by popular games and picked a slot with a bonus buy feature, hoping for a big hit.

    At first it was a small rollercoaster: small wins and losses and bonus rounds that paid almost nothing, and I was close to giving up because my balance was shrinking. Then things changed: I landed a crazy free spins round with multipliers all over the screen, the slot kept hitting combinations and the bonus feature skyrocketed my balance to a new high. For me it was a big boost compared to my usual stakes.

    I didn’t keep spinning forever; after a few more small spins I decided to quit while ahead and send a payout request. The withdrawal process was nothing unusual: the casino asked me to confirm my identity with proof of address. I sent everything shortly after the win, and the verification was accepted after a short wait. After that the money was processed to my bank and I got it in a decent timeframe.

    I’m not saying this casino is the best in the world, and of course you can also run bad, but in this case my experience was pretty fair: clear terms, decent support and no drama with the withdrawal. This is not a recommendation to gamble: there is always a risk in gambling, so only deposit with limits and treat it as entertainment.

    Reply

  40. Откройте для себя удобство и стиль, которые предлагают автоматические рулонные шторы в москве, идеально подходящие для любого интерьера.
    Автоматические рулонные шторы становятся все более популярными среди современных интерьеров. Эти шторы предлагают отличное сочетание практичности и дизайна.

    Важным аспектом является простота в эксплуатации автоматических рулонных штор . Кнопка или пульт дистанционного управления делают процесс открытия и закрытия штор невероятно простым .

    Кроме того, многие модели автоматических штор предлагают различные функции . Возможность настройки добавляет функциональности и комфорта .

    Также необходимо учитывать стиль и цвет этих штор . Важно, чтобы они сочетались с другими элементами декора .

    Reply