ALERT: Message to faculty & staff: 4 IT security tips to help you protect your information

Thursday, October 8, 2015

This message was sent to faculty and staff on October 8, 2015.

Hello U-M Ann Arbor faculty and staff,

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and in recognition we are sharing these cyber security tips with you. Cyber criminals use compromised university accounts to send spam email, commit identity theft, redirect paycheck direct deposits, and more. Follow these tips to protect your information. It's good for you and the U.

  1. Beware of phishing attempts and email scams
    Cyber criminals send frequent fraudulent emails—called phishing emails—to individuals at U-M attempting to steal passwords and more. Be suspicious of any email asking for your password or personal information.
    * What to Watch for: Phishing Examples
    * Protect Yourself & the University from Spear Phishing (4-minute video)
  2. Keep apps up-to-date
    New software vulnerabilities are all too frequent. One of the most important things you can do to protect your devices and information is to keep your apps and other software up-to-date. Use automatic updating where you can for your own devices to save yourself time. (Note: MiWorkspace machines are updated for you.) Also set a password, passcode, or PIN for your devices and choose secure settings.
    * Instructions for Securing Your Devices and Data
  3. Store sensitive data appropriately
    Store sensitive university data in systems designed to protect it and comply with regulations such as HIPAA and FERPA. The interactive Sensitive Data Guide to IT Services makes it easy for you to find secure and compliant services for the types of sensitive data you work with.
  4. Report IT security incidents
    If you suspect unauthorized access, loss, or exposure of university data, report it. Similarly, if a device you use to work with sensitive university data is lost or stolen, report it.
    * Report an IT Security Incident

There is still time to register for U-M's annual cyber security symposium—Security at University of Michigan IT (SUMIT)—which will be held on the Ann Arbor campus on Thursday, October 22. Learn more about National Cyber Security Awareness Month Activities at U-M on Safe Computing.

Sincerely,
Don
Donald J. Welch, Ph.D.,
Chief Information Security Officer
University of Michigan