No Tricks, Just Treats: Top Cybersecurity Takeaways
Quick Summary
- Only approve Duo multifactor authentication push notifications you initiated and opt for passwordless options whenever available to keep your accounts secure.
- Lookout for suspicious emails, texts, and fake login pages by checking for errors, verifying that URLs like are legitimate, and avoiding deals or job offers that seem too good to be true.
- Promptly report any unauthorized Duo pushes or suspicious activity to the Information Security Office (ISO) to help protect both your personal information and the broader campus community.
As October and Cybersecurity Awareness Month winds down, it's important to remember to make digital safety a daily mindset. Whether you are tidying up your digital space or enhancing your cyber safety with Duo, every move you make can help protect your information and the UC Davis community.
Cyber threats don’t take breaks, and neither should your security. Take a moment to review these top security tips and make them a healthy habit throughout the academic year.
Your Cybersecurity Checklist
Do not approve Duo pushes that you did not initiate– this is one of the leading causes of stolen information on campus. If you receive a push you did not initiate, change your password immediately.
Pause and be aware of suspicious communications (emails, text messages, phone calls, Duo pushes) especially if they come with suspicious attachments, misspellings, or grammatical errors. For example, deals or job offers that seem too good to be true are often scams designed to steal your personal information or money.
Check your login screens and ensure the URL is legitimate. Look out for misspellings or extra characters. For example, before you enter your password into what looks like a CAS login, make sure 'cas.ucdavis.edu' appears in your web browser's address bar.
Choose passwordless options for Duo multifactor authentication when available and use multi-factor authentication whenever possible to protect your accounts.
Report suspicious activity to [email protected].
This checklist will help you build stronger digital habits and protect your information. Prevention is a large part of keeping your information safe, and that can be done by practicing digital hygiene. Vigilance is the key to being cyber safe. It is important to be able to recognize threats to your information.
Stay sharp and stay safe to keep your digital life clean and secure.