June 2017: Basic Steps to Online Safety and Security

End users can take many precautions to stay safe and secure online. To increase awareness on campus and help your end users protect their personal information and devices, customize and share the following content.

Get the Word Out

Newsletter or Website Content

Follow these six National Cyber Security Alliance [https://staysafeonline.org/resource/stop-think-connect-basic-steps-online-safety-security/] recommendations to better protect yourself online and make the Internet more secure for everyone:

• Fortify each online account or device. Enable the strongest authentication tools available. This might include biometrics, security keys, or unique one-time codes sent to your mobile device. Usernames and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts such as e-mail, banking, and social media.
• Keep a clean machine. Make sure all software on Internet-connected devices — including PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets — are updated regularly to reduce the risk of malware infection.
• Personal information is like money. Value it. Protect it. Information about you, such as purchase history or location, has value — just like money. Be thoughtful about who receives that information and how it’s collected by apps or websites.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Cybercriminals often use links to try to steal your personal information. Even if you know the source, if something looks suspicious, delete it.
• Share with care. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it, and how it could be perceived now and in the future.
• Own your online presence. Set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It’s okay to limit how and with whom you share information.

Source: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Software Up to Date poster

Figure 1. Use this image to support your message.

Social Posts

Note: These are Twitter-ready, meeting the 140-character length restriction.

• Help keep the Internet safe & secure! Learn how to protect yourself & your devices w/ these tips: [http://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/] #CyberAware
• Staying safer and more secure #online starts with @STOPTHNKCONNECT. Find basic tips here: https://www.stopthinkconnect.org/tips-advice #CyberAware
• Keep a clean machine! Having the latest #security software & operating system is the best defense against #cyber threats. #CyberAware
• Own your #online presence! Actively manage your #privacy & #security settings to control who sees the things you post online. #CyberAware
• Personal information is like money. Value it. #Protect it. More #privacy tips here: http://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/privacy-tips/ #CyberAware #PrivacyAware
• Protect your online accounts w/more than #passwords. Enable multifactor authentication & #LockDownURlogin [https://www.lockdownyourlogin.org/]

E-Mail Signature

Ask staff members to add a tip to their e-mail signature block and a link to your institution's information security page.

Embed or Share Videos

Basic online security steps (0:54 sec)

Strong authentication helps keep your login safe (1:00 min)

Information Security PSA (0:30 sec)

Resources

Share these resources with end users or use them to inform your awareness strategy.

• Use the free STOP. THINK. CONNECT. "Software Up to Date" poster (see figure 1).
• Share the brief educational videos above.
• Read the National Cyber Security Alliance's tips for staying safe online [https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/].
• Visit STOP. THINK. CONNECT. for more online safety tips and advice.
• Find out why it's important to lock down your login [https://www.lockdownyourlogin.org] using multifactor authentication.

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Brought to you by the Awareness and Training Working Group of the EDUCAUSE Higher Education Information Security Council (HEISC).