Message to students: Students: 4 IT security tips for you

This message was sent to students on October 8, 2015.

Hello U-M Ann Arbor students,

With daily news stories about data breaches, hackers, and loss of privacy, we all want to do more to protect ourselves and keep our personal information private. Here are some tips to help you do that and an invitation to learn more during October, which is Cyber Security Awareness Month.

4 IT Security Tips

  1. Beware of phishing attempts and email scams
    Cyber criminals send frequent fraudulent emails—called phishing emails—looking to steal passwords, social security numbers, and other personal information. Be suspicious of emails that ask for this sort of information or that link to a website that asks for personal information.
    * What to Watch for: Phishing Examples
    * Protect Yourself & the University from Spear Phishing (4-minute video)
  2. Keep your 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. Make sure automatic updating is turned on to save yourself time. Also, make sure to set a password, passcode, or PIN for your devices and choose secure settings.
    * Instructions for Securing Your Devices and Data
  3. Keep your UMICH password fresh
    We recommend that you change your UMICH password twice a year to help protect your U-M computing account from compromise. An easy way to remember this is to change your password when you change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time. This year, Daylight Saving Time ends on November 1.
    * Password Security Checklist
    * Choosing and Changing a Secure UMICH Password
  4. Share only what you really want to on social media
    Pay attention to privacy settings for the social media you use so you don't accidentally share more than you want to. Many social media apps change their privacy options over time, so check and adjust your privacy settings regularly.
    * Privacy and Social Media

It's Cyber Security Awareness Month!

  • Come hear from national security experts. 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. It’s free!
  • Test your IT security smarts. Watch for an email later in October inviting you to test your IT security knowledge with our online Security 101 exam. Participants are entered into a drawing for prizes (in the past this has included iPad Minis, Apple TVs, and more).
  • Special events and resources. For more, see Cyber Security Awareness Month 2015 on Safe Computing.

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