2019: A Year of Information Secured

UVA's Information Security team would like to thank you for helping to keep the University safe from harm in 2019. Review the important security tips below to learn how you can continue to improve UVA's - and your own - defenses against cyber attacks. 

Our top tips from Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Week 1: Own IT

The easiest way to ensure your and your fellow Wahoos’ information is secure is to stay on top of updates. Owning the latest security software, web browser version, and operating system can go a long way in securing data.

WiFi security is step 2; if you are accessing UVA’s data off-grounds (anytime you have to use your Netbadge password), use UVA's VPN  to protect your data. Search its.virginia.edu for “UVA VPN” for installation instructions. 

Finally, once you collect information/data from others, it's your responsibility to protect it.  If you want advice on best practices –contact us at [email protected]

 

Week 2: Secure IT

Downloading LastPass will eliminate the struggle of forgetting your password and being tempted to re-use the same password. It enables you to create unique, strong passwords for all of your accounts. Securing your data starts with a good lock on your online door, so download LastPass as soon as possible and start updating your passwords.  For more information about LastPass at UVA, click here to go to the ITS webpage.

Test how secure passwords you might use are at this link: https://lastpass.com/howsecure.php

 

Week 3: Defend IT

All of UVA’s sports teams play exceptional defense.  Like our teams, we need to work together - to increase UVA’s  defensive prowess in cybersecurity.  Explore our Information Security guidance webpage and the “Stay Safe Online” website at: https://staysafeonline.org/blog/knowledge-power-battle-control-data/ to learn how you can help UVA defense extend to cybersecurity.

 

Week 4: Protect IT

The Information Security department defines Highly Sensitive Data as “personal information that can lead to identity theft or any health information that reveals an individual’s health condition and/or medical history.” These data are extremely important to protect, because they represent the identity of the persons to whom the data belongs.

If you are working with highly sensitive data for your job at the University, you are responsible for keeping that data safe from hackers with malicious intent. That's why to access HSD at UVA you must use the High Security Virtual Private Network (HS/VPN).

UVA’s HS/VPN is designed to add an impermeable layer of security over any WiFi access.  The UVA VPN is easy to download onto your device; simply follow the instructions at this link: https://virginia.service-now.com/its?id=itsweb_kb_article&sys_id=471fc12...

 

See how you can shop safely online throughout the holiday season. 

1. Do your research: Read reviews, get information from friends, and inspect the site’s visual legitimacy before making any purchases on a website you haven’t used before.

2. Pay safely: Credit cards are the safest way to buy because you can prevent credit from being issued to pay for a purchase you didn’t actually make.

3. Value personal information: Only fill out required fields at checkout, and be wary of answering questions on a checkout page that don’t seem necessary for the purchase.

4. Be on guard in your email: Make sure to inspect links for deals and promotions in your email the same way you would when looking for a phishing scam. A deal that is too good to be true might just be an attempt to hack your computer, so think and observe before you click any links. When in doubt, throw it out – send suspicious emails to the trash bin.

5. Location protection: Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your smartphone when you’re not using them so that stores can’t track your location at all times.

 

And finally...

Download LastPass to securely keep track of the passwords you use, and make sure to create strong, unpredictable passwords when making new accounts. Each account should have its own password.