When a Clackamas Community College computer has been accessed without authorization or infected with malware, fast and thorough action is essential to limit damage and restore trust. Our Computer Compromise service provides end-to-end investigation, containment and recovery for systems that have been compromised by malware, ransomware, unauthorized access or other malicious activity.
Signs that a CCC computer has been compromised include:
- Frequent pop-up ads, especially outside of the web browser.
- Programs open, close, or run on their own without user action.
- The device won't shut down or restart normally.
- New toolbars, extensions or software the user never installed.
- New user accounts appear on the device that were not prompted by the user.
- The computer suddenly runs very slowly, freezes, or crashes far more often than usual.
- Files are suddenly encrypted, renamed or inaccessible or a message appears demanding payment to unlock your files.
To prevent a computer compromise:
- Never leave your computer unlocked and unattended. Always lock your computer (Windows + L key on windows devices) before stepping away.
- Use strong, unique passwords and ensure you enable multi-factor authentication.
- Think before you click - always verify unexpected links, attachments and requests.
- Never enter your CCC password on a site you reached through an unverified link.
- Be cautious on public WI-FI.
- Report suspicious emails using the report button.