How can you participate? Awareness month is the perfect time to review your current cyber practices.
You can start by attending a Syracuse Univeristy Information Technology Services workshop on October 29, 11:30 a.m. in room 304 of the Schine Student Center.
Below are activities and simple tips for staying safe online.
- NEVER leave your laptop unattended, for ANY amount of time!
- Don’t share your passwords with others.
- Utilize secure passwords, which include capital letters and punctuation marks randomly placed within the password.
- Back up all of the important files on your computer, whether personal or professional.
- Make the process of backing up your files a regular routine for the security of your machine.
- Do not open any links in emails from people you do not know.
- Check that your computer has current antivirus software running.
- You can obtain free antivirus protection for your computer at:
Avira free antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials - Use different passwords for different accounts. Do not let one compromised account open the door to your other accounts!
- Review Syracuse University’s Information Security policy and follow it.
- Learn about phishing attacks and be prepared the next time you receive an email asking for private, personal or sensitive information such as your bank account number, credit card number, password or social security number.
- Regularly check your privacy settings on social networking sites.
- Avoid revealing too much information in your posts on social media, especially about your whereabouts in the physical world. (If you post that you’re on vacation and your address is public, you have made your residence vulnerable.)
- Read the Cyber Security Tips Newsletters, available on the DHSES OCS website.
- Spread awareness materials through your staff, business and consumer channels.
* If your device is stolen, IMMEDIATELY contact the Department of Public Safety at 315-443-2224.
NOTE: When larcenies occur on campus, it’s usually because an item of value has been left unattended.
To minimize your risk of becoming a victim, the Department of Public Safety offers a few guidelines for keeping your possessions (especially portable electronic devices) safe:
- Never leave your belongings unattended. It might seem safe to leave your laptop or iPhone at the library while you make a quick trip to the bathroom, but it only takes a few seconds for someone to steal your property.
- Put your name or some other kind of identifying mark on your textbooks.
- When at your residence hall or apartment, always keep the doors and windows locked. The same rule applies here: even if you’re just going down the hall to talk to a friend, it only takes a minute for someone to enter your room and take your stuff.
- Be aware of your surroundings. If you see something that doesn’t look right, or someone who is not acting right, trust your instincts and report them. If you’re on-campus, call DPS at (315) 443-2224. If you’re off-campus, call the Syracuse Police Department.
If you have any questions, call our Crime Prevention Unit at (315) 443-3873.