Cyber Safety Tips

1. Avoid Phishing scams

• Take a pause – don’t open an email when it first arrives – malicious messages are sometimes cleaned up after delivery
• Emails that create a sense of urgency or seem too good to be true most likely are suspect
• Watch out for job or money laundering scams
• Don't click links in unexpected email or text messages
• Don’t download or open attachments you were not expecting
• Only enter your U of I credentials at uidaho.edu or microsoftonline.com
• Report suspicious emails to your Vandal email with the “Report Phish” button

2. Protect your devices and your data

• Utilize lock screens with passwords or PIN codes
• Install security updates as they become available, typically at least once a month
• Close your web browser routinely – at least once a week, so it can auto-update
• Back your data up and store the backups to a cloud service, like OneDrive
• Avoid using un-trusted Wi-Fi to access sensitive information 

3. Practice good password hygiene

• Use strong, unique passwords for every account and enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible
• Never approve unexpected Duo notifications and change your password if you receive one
• Never use your U of I password on any other account, and never share your password
• Ensure the answers to your security questions are not publicly available
• Consider using a password manager to safely store and remember passwords

4. Be careful what you share on Social Media

• Information about you is often used to answer security questions for your accounts
• Don't share anything, even with friends, you wouldn't want to be public or be seen by a future employer
• If you share travel photos, share them after you have returned, so attackers don't know when you're away
• Be careful with pictures of ID or credit cards that could give data or account access to others
• Protect your social media accounts with MFA, and don't share your passwords