Cybercrime prevention tips
Welcome to week 3 of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM)! This week seeks to highlight how to recognize and combat cybercrime. Online crime has become a growing issue in our always-connected world, but there are steps we can take to help prevent ourselves from becoming victims of cybercrime.
1. Review account statements regularly
Reviewing bank, credit, and debit statements can alert you of any suspicious activity. Look over these statements often and report any transactions you did not authorize.
2. Use long and unique passwords
Think about the number of accounts you have that require passwords. Make sure each of these accounts have different passwords so that if one is compromised the other accounts are not vulnerable. There are several password managers, such as LastPass, that can store passwords to make it easier to create long and unique passwords for each account. Elon University faculty, staff, and students can obtain a free LastPass account linked to a personal email address by going to lastpass.com/elon. A valid Elon email address is required.
3. Keep computers and devices up to date
Make sure apps and software are up-to-date. The newest versions often include fixes to known security risks.
4. Protect personal information
When asked to give personal information online, make sure you trust the organization asking for it. Also, look in the web address bar to verify the website uses a secure connection using https. If there is a privacy policy, read it before disclosing your information so you will understand how your information will be used and if it will be shared with third parties.
Taking these preventative steps can decrease your chances of becoming a victim of cybercrime. If you feel you are a victim of cybercrime, identity theft, or online scam, report this to your local police.
Want more information security tips? Follow Elon Technology on Facebook and Twitter. Read more Security and Safe Computing tips on the Elon Technology blog.
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