This October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is “See Yourself in Cyber.” It highlights how individuals, from everyday technology users to cybersecurity professionals, are the first line of defense to thwarting cybercrime. The steps to improving your online cybersecurity are no secret, and you’ve heard them many times. 

It never gets old, sharing these reminders:

1.     Watch out for Phishing!

Over 80% of cybersecurity incidents stem from a phishing attempt. Keep an eye out for typos, poor grammar, and other suspicious characteristics in an email, and don’t click any links from unknown sources. If someone is offering you something too good to be true and unsolicited, it likely is a phish! Remember to report phishing emails so IT teams and service providers can be on alert and prevent others from becoming victims.

2.     Don’t reuse passwords!

Using a separate, unique, complex password for each account immediately boosts your cybersecurity.

3.     Enable 2FA!

Using two-factor authentication (2FA) is tremendously effective against account compromises. Review the security settings on your most-used accounts and enable 2FA if offered. If you manage an application or environment for your department that does NOT enforce 2FA, contact the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900.

4.     Activate automatic updates!

Updates are essential not only for maintenance but also for patching vulnerabilities cybercriminals can exploit. Enable automatic updates whenever possible.

Keeping sensitive personal data secure is challenging for educational institutions of all sizes. We’re not alone. ‘How’ we apply technology and the products we use may differ from another institution, but the threats and the goals are similar. The common factor is YOU.