October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Office of Information Technology provides UA students, faculty and staff with a variety of tools and software to stay cybersafe. Throughout the month, OIT will be sharing cybersecurity tips and best practices.
Cybersecurity 101
First things first, what does it mean to be cyber secure? Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving, complex field for top-notch security professionals, tools and technologies that work to protect sensitive information. Although it sounds complex, there are a few simple things you can do to protect your sensitive information.
Easy to Follow Tips
- Do not share sensitive data with others, especially over email. Consider using OneDrive cloud storage for sharing files and information with others.
- Back up your devices regularly. Again, use OneDrive! With OneDrive, your information is secure in the cloud.
- Do not share passwords. If you need to share a password for a shared work resource, use LastPass.
- Use a password with 12 or more characters. Better yet, let LastPass suggest strong, complex passwords for all of your online accounts.
- Do not open email attachments, or click on links, from sources you do not trust.
- Use multi-factor authentication, like Duo, for all online accounts.
Phishing – a Hacker’s Favorite Weapon
Chances are, you’re familiar with the term phishing. Phishing occurs when scammers or hackers try and pose as an organization you trust in order to trick you into giving them sensitive data like a username, password, social security number or credit card information.
Report Phishing in Outlook
The OIT Security team is able to block 88% of phishing and spam messages from ever reaching your inbox; however, some still find their way to you. If you receive a phishing email, use the Report Phishing button in Outlook.
Using this built-in tool will train your inbox to better recognize junk and phishing emails. If you suspect a message in your inbox to be phishing, in the toolbar click the drop-down menu beside “Junk” and select “Phishing.” If you receive a message in your Junk folder that you suspect to be phishing, click “Report Phishing” in the toolbar.
For more information on cybersecurity best practices, visit oit.ua.edu/security.