Cyber Security Awareness Tips

Phishing Emails

  • If an email looks unusual, suspicious, or claims an unusual immediate need, call the person listed as the sender to verify they sent the email.
  • Hold your mouse over the email address and see if the address that appears matches the real address of the listed sender.
  • NEVER respond to requests for personal or user login information via email. Businesses will never ask for personal information in an email.
  • Do not enter personal information in a pop-up screen.
  • Do not click on any links listed in an e-mail message. If you must view the link, copy and paste the URL into your browser.
  • For your personally owned devices, use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and update them regularly.

Dispose of Information Properly

  • Destroy/shred hard copy confidential documents that contain personal information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and health records.
  • Follow the same retention policy for electronic records and files that you already follow for paper records.
  • Ensure you are using the right tools when destroying and disposing of personal information or media storage from your computer and mobile devices.

Lock it when you leave

  • It takes only a few seconds to secure your computer and help protect it from unauthorized access. Lock down your computer every time you leave your desk. (You can use Windows logo key + L to lock the screen.)
  • Set up a screen-saver that will lock your computer after a pre-set amount of time and require a password to log back in.
  • If your computer is used by more than one person, make sure that each user has an individual account with a unique login and passwords for each user.
  • Choose a strong password. A good password should always include upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and at least one special character. Do not set the option that allows a computer to remember any password.

Used with permission from Northern Michigan University, https://it.nmu.edu/docs/cyber-security-awareness-tips