Cyber security fundamentals: protecting yourself at home and at work

18 Mar 2022

As the ongoing conflict continues to escalate in Ukraine, many organisations will be impacted by the heightened threat of cyber security attacks

There are a few fundamental things we can all do to help protect our information and devices, both at home and at work:

Phishing

Phishing and related scams are when cyber attackers attempt to trick or fool you into doing something you should not do. Often these scams are sent as emails, but they can also try to trick you with text messaging, phone calls or on social media. Anytime someone is creating a tremendous sense of urgency and rushing you to take an action, or someone is promoting an offer that is too good to be true, this is most likely an attack.

• Remember - JDLR. If it Just Doesn't Look Right, report it to IT Services by following the process detailed on the Email phishing web page.

Passwords

Strong passwords are the key to protecting your online, digital life. Make sure each of your accounts is protected by a unique, long password. The longer your password the better. Some systems enforce password length and complexity but if not think about using a passphrase or combine three random words. Use a reputable Password Manager to securely store all your passwords. Finally, whenever possible, enable 2-factor authentication on your important accounts. More advice on passwords is available on the IT Services password page. 

Updating

Keep your computers, devices and apps updated and current by enabling automatic updating on all your devices. Cyber attackers are constantly looking for new vulnerabilities in the devices and software you use. Keeping them automatically updated makes sure these known weaknesses are fixed and your devices have the latest security features. Note that University-managed devices are set to update automatically.