Cyber Security – Keeping yourself safe online

Posted on Friday, October 23rd, 2020

Students working on laptopsWith October being Cyber Security Awareness Month, we want to make sure all students are keeping themselves safe online, no matter where they are studying from. Our ITS experts at the College have put together some tips to make sure your personal information is kept safe and sound on the web! Below, you can find some of our team’s best tips for locking down your info:

1. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR DEVICES

Our digital devices have become highly integrated with our way of life. It is sometimes difficult to remember all the connected devices that we use. During this first week of Cyber Security Awareness Month, let’s take stock of all the digital devices in our life. Then, let’s develop a cyber security action plan to ensure that they are safe from cybercriminals.

You are encouraged to review your knowledge to get a general sense of how secure your current practices are. Visit the link below to get a quick cyber security check-up. It will only take 5-10 minutes to complete.

The assessment consists of 10 questions about your account and device security practices. It provides tips and free tools to help you develop your cyber security action plan. Take a moment to reflect on the results, think about your takeaways, and share your thoughts with your colleagues. Good luck!

Get Cyber Safe Assessment Check-up: https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/resources/research/take-get-cyber-safe-checkup

2. SECURE YOUR INTERNET CONNECTED SMART DEVICES

Many of our newer home and personal digital devices – such as smart doorbells, smart thermostats, smart watches, smart TVs, smart speakers, smart refrigerators, smart light bulbs and much more – are now connected to the internet. This is the “Internet of Things (IoT).” With this connectivity, we can control these devices using our smartphones from any location worldwide. This saves us time, money and provides incredible convenience, enjoyment and safety. We are becoming so dependent on these IoT devices that we now ask ourselves how we ever lived without them.

However, while this technology is truly innovative, it poses an entirely new set of cyber security risks such as unwanted personal surveillance, location tracking, identity theft, home invasion, fraud, property theft and much more. Not long ago, the world experienced its first hacking conducted by a fridge – a digitally connected one that had been compromised and re-purposed by cybercriminals.

How can we use this technology with confidence and still protect ourselves from the criminal element? Here are some simple tips, that when followed, will help secure your IoT devices:

  • Secure your Wi-Fi network by securing your home’s wireless router. Review the router administrative page, which can be accessed through the router’s primary IP address. Often this information is provided on the router or in its manual.
  • Find your router’s security settings and change your router’s default username and password to something easy for you to remember yet complex enough to stop the cybercriminals from hacking.
  • Change the default name or “SSID” of your router by giving it a new name. Use a generic name that is not indicative of your household, such as “Jones Router.”
  • Update your privacy settings on your smart devices and applications by only approving logical requests. Do not allow default permissions or approve requests that attempt to put your privacy and personal information at risk.
  • Turn off and disconnect features and settings that you do not need while the smart devices are not being used – such as Bluetooth, geolocation, cameras and microphones. If these devices are not turned off, cybercriminals can potentially easily access them.
  • Always keep your smart devices updated with the latest security patches by checking for system updates. You can set a recurring calendar reminder on your smartphone.

3. WORKING AND STUDYING SECURELY AT HOME

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted regular business practices, forcing organizations such as the College to transition some of its workforce to work from home, as well as its students studying remotely

Below are some tips to help you work and study at home more securely:

  • Use minimum six-digit PINs for mobile phones and minimum 12 character passwords or passphrases for computers and applications;
  • Protect your devices from inappropriate access, accidental loss and theft;
  • If at all possible, conduct your work in an area of your home that is private so that others do not overhear sensitive conversations, or “shoulder surf”;
  • Use a password enabled screen saver and lock your computer screens when not at your computer;
  • Secure your home wireless network by changing all default router settings, including the username and administrator password. Use a strong password and enable WPA2 encryption;
  • Be very careful to double-check recipient’s email addresses before sending to avoid damaging misdirected email-related data breaches;

Got any ITS questions for the College? Check out our Information Technology Services page for info, resources, and advice!


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