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Back to school CyberSecurity tips

Welcome back Bulldogs! As we prepare for the new school year, we want to remind everyone about the importance of cyber security and protecting your online information. With learning and activities online, it is crucial that we take steps to keep our devices, accounts, and data secure safe.

 Here are some tips to help you stay safe online:

  • Create strong passwords and keep them secret. Your passwords should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, for example “W1$hfuDr@gn$1”. You can also use a passphrase, including spaces. For example, “Wishful Dragons!” is an excellent passphrase. Also, never share your passwords with anyone. (Please do not use these example passwords)
  • Be suspicious of emails, text messages, and social media posts that ask for personal information. If you receive an unexpected message that asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number, do not reply. Instead, contact the sender through other means. For example, if you receive an SMS message that appears to come from your bank asking for your PIN, do not respond. Instead, call the bank directly.
  • Watch out for typical beginning-of-the-year scams. Be on the lookout for scams designed to cheat students out of money, such as scholarship scams, fake “tuition payment processors”, textbook rental or book-buying scams, housing scams, tutoring scams, and student employment scams. Also look out for fake filesharing notices from Google Docs, OneDrive, Box, & Dropbox, For more information on back to school scams, please visit https://fraud.org/back_to_school_scams/.
  • Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your devices from malware. Be sure to install software updates as soon as they are available.
  • Use strong security settings on your devices / accounts. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. This will add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
  • Be careful what you click on. Always think twice before clicking on links or opening attachments. Do not click on links or open attachments in emails or text messages from senders you do not know. These links or attachments could contain malware that can infect your devices.
  • Report suspicious activity ITS. If you see anything suspicious online, such as a phishing email or a malicious website, report it to ITS at once (abuse@redlands.edu).

By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from cyber threats. Cyber security is a shared responsibility. Let us all endeavor to protect University of Redlands community this year.