4 things every student needs to know

Each year, students at McGill fall victim to cybercrime - here's how you can help protect yourself.

4 things to know about cybersecurity

In our increasingly online world rife with phishing attacks, online scams and data breaches, it is more important than ever to ensure that you keep your devices and personal information secure. Here are several tips and resources for staying safe online: 

 

  1. Use strong passwords and Two-factor authentication (2FA)
    One of the most common methods used by hackers to break into computers is by guessing passwords. Creating passwords that are hard to guess can help foil potential attackers and keep your information safe. Learn more about creating safe passwords
    Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an additional layer of security to your account. It can help protect you against an attack even if a hacker gets your password. It is strongly recommended to use 2FA in combination with strong passwords. More about 2FA
  2. Protect yourself against phishing attacks
    Phishing occurs when a hacker attempts to acquire your sensitive information by pretending to be a legitimate/trusted organization or institution. Phishing attacks are most commonly initiated through email, where the message tries to get you to click on a fraudulent link or open an attachment. Learn to recognize phishing attacks and prevent becoming a victim
  3. Keep your devices up to date
    Whenever you use the Internet, your personal information, computer and devices are vulnerable to a variety of cyber threats, such as malware and hacking attempts. Keeping your system up to date can help protect against these risks. How updates secure your device
  4. Use McGill's cloud services to store your data 
    Data stored in the cloud can be subject to risks - use a McGill-authorized system in order to help minimize these dangers. Cloud services at McGill

 

 

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