Now that we’re back on campus, it’s time to get back in the swing of using the wide range of facilities and services offered on campus. Technology resources, such as our Richel Lab, are incredibly helpful when in classes or when you’re in a pinch, and we want to make sure you get the best use out of them.
Here are some easy tips to ensure your information is safe:
Keep your passwords locked down.
This starts with creating a password or a passphrase that is unique and difficult to guess. Good examples could be a line from your favorite song with numbers and special characters in it. It will be easy to remember and more challenging for someone to discover. One thing you want to avoid is using the same password for multiple accounts. If someone figures it out then they can gain access to your entire life. Therefore, invest in a secure password manager to keep a safe record of each account’s distinctive password.
When leaving a device, always go through each individual website and log out.
While this can be time consuming when you’re trying to race to your next class, it can save you from a potential threat. Leaving your account logged on can give anyone access to go in and do things you don’t want. For example, if you leave your Amazon account logged in, that person could potentially make their own purchase on your dime.
Remember me not on a public computer.
While the "remember me" feature may be handy on your personal devices, it can be very dangerous on a public one. You are opening your accounts up to whoever may be using it next and they might not have your best interests at heart. So, always leave the “remember me” box unchecked.
Update apps and devices with the newest versions.
While the university’s computers automatically do this, your personal ones do not. Therefore, you should be on the look-out for new updates. This will allow you to have the most recent versions of security features available from the developers. Many times their updates are the result of a security issue; therefore, make sure you complete the updates as soon as they become available to you.
Take a second to go through you’re applications on all of your devices.
Each app has different levels of access to your information; therefore, it’s important to know which ones can access what. If you no longer use an app, deleted it. It will open up more room for useful apps, but it will also take any unnecessary access from potentially problematic apps. What might have been safe when you downloaded it could be outdated software with security issues. Therefore, play it safe and get rid of the old apps.
Learn more by visiting hornet.emporia.edu and clicking on the "Information Security" tile. Have a great fall semester!
