Log4j+ How to Protect Yourself at Home
Dear UTRGV Community,
By now, you may have heard about Log4j, a recently discovered technological vulnerability affecting devices and applications worldwide. As more information about this fast-hitting issue surfaces, initial estimates from experts indicate that remediating this issue will take some time.
Why is this a big problem?
The affected application feature is often bundled deep inside the applications and could be on many different types of devices or applications, such as your smart TV, your home internet router, or even inside the programs you run on your computer or smartphone.
What can I do to protect myself?
While there is no single answer to this question, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration recommends taking the following steps at home:
- Identify all of your 'smart' or internet-connected devices. These can include:
- Your home router.
- Inside or outdoor security cameras.
- Smart Televisions or other internet-connected devices.
- Cellphones.
- Home computers or tablets.
- Once devices are identified, look for any updates or patches from the vendor that address this issue and update the devices.
- Update all applications and operating systems on home computers, tablets, and smartphones.
- If you don’t own your home router, contact your Internet Service Provider and ask if they have patched this issue.
- Continue to pay attention to this issue. Systems, services, and applications will continue to be discovered and patches will continue to come out, so you can’t just patch once and forget about this.
For more information, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Administration webpage or STOP THINK CLICK.
Sincerely,
Information Security Office & The Office of the CIO