43% of educational institutions shared that their students had fallen victim to cyber-attacks. As a student, you need to ensure your assignments, exam materials, and personal information are secure.
How can students strengthen their cybersecurity with minimal effort?
Keep reading to learn the top cybersecurity tips to keep your cloud-based educational resources and private data secure online. This guide will give you the best advice to secure your accounts and devices from a cybersecurity standpoint.
Manage Your Passwords Wisely
Managing your passwords wisely goes a long way toward keeping your data secure. Human error is one of the leading causes of cybersecurity breaches, and using weak passwords can leave you vulnerable.
When you host information on the cloud, you must ensure that this cloud-based resource cannot be accessed by a third party – which is why your passwords are so important.
You can easily guess weak passwords such as your name or date of birth. You should also avoid reusing passwords. If you use the same password across all your accounts and a password is breached, all accounts will be vulnerable.
So, you need to set unique and strong passwords to ensure your online accounts aren’t vulnerable to a security breach.
One of the best ways to manage your passwords more wisely is to implement password management software. Password management software is a tool that allows you to store your passwords in a digital vault for easier retrieval.
It manages your password health, ensuring all your passwords are strong and unique. The tool also lets you know when one of your passwords is compromised so that you can take action and prevent a security breach.
Changing Your Passwords Frequently
Changing your passwords regularly ensures that any compromised passwords don’t remain vulnerable for long. If you have a password management tool, the tool will advise you when you need to change your passwords.
However, without a password management tool, you won’t know when your passwords are compromised – so changing them is in your best interest. Many sites send you regular reminders to change passwords, which benefits your password health. However, if you do not receive such reminders, setting reminders to change your passwords regularly is beneficial.
Use MFA Where Possible
Multi-factor authentication eliminates the possibility of an unauthorized user gaining access to your account with a stolen password.
You commonly see MFA for commercial building security. Rather than using a single password to enter accounts with critical information, you can use MFA and add biometrics to verify your identities – such as fingerprint ID, mobile verification codes, email verification codes, or facial recognition.
Ensuring it’s you trying to enter your account, not someone else will go a long way in protecting your accounts from security breaches.
Keep Your Devices And Software Up-To-Date
Keeping your software up-to-date is an essential element in your cybersecurity health. When software providers perform software updates, they often eliminate vulnerabilities in previous software versions. If you do not install these updates, a cybercriminal could exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your data.
By installing software updates as soon as they appear, you can minimize your exposure to cybersecurity threats and eliminate any gaps in your software.
Beware Of Phishing And Online Scams
Phishing attacks are a significant cause of cybersecurity breaches, and knowing how to spot them can help improve your online safety. If you fall victim to a phishing scam, you should reach out to IT staff in your institution to help rectify the issue and speak to your account manager to prevent financial loss or identity theft.
Phishing attacks are deceptive emails, text messages, and communications that persuade you to hand over your personal information. Some of the best things to keep in mind to protect yourself from phishing scams include:
- Non-public domains – if you receive an email from your bank, ensure that the email is from your bank’s private email domain. If the email is from a public domain like Gmail, it’s likely a phishing scam.
- Misspelled words – if you’re receiving official communications from your provider, there will not be significant spelling errors. Often, phishing scams contain numerous spelling errors that make them easier to spot.
- Suspicious links – if the communication is littered with suspicious links that take you to untrustworthy sites, this is a big red flag, and the communication is likely a phishing attempt.
- Urgent language and unusual language – phishing scams attempt to make you feel a sense of urgency and act immediately. You might receive a message stating that you face a hefty fine or that your account has been breached. Your bank, insurance lender, or phone company will not use terminology like ‘act now’ or instill a sense of panic.
When you spot one of these messages, it’s a good idea to report the email or register it as a scam number online. This way, you can protect yourself from future breaches, and you will take action to prevent breaches from happening to others.
Summary
Your private information should stay private, which is why you must take cybersecurity seriously. Consider the tips, and begin taking steps to increase your online security. Improving your password health, updating your software, and spotting phishing scams can lower your risk.