How to Protect Yourself?

Security is one of those things that we all hear about and think it is a good thing, but then we tend to let someone else worry about it. Although FAU has taken many steps to make its data and network secure, you need to be aware that what you do online can put you, or at least your computer, at risk. A little bit of forethought on your part can go a very long way in ensuring your security is not compromised.

Note: FAU will never send you an email asking you to verify personal information with your password or Social Security Number. Nor will they ask you to reset your account via e-mail link.

General Security Guidelines

What you should do?

  • Keep your antivirus and operating system up to date.
  • Contact us if you receive a phishing e-mail. If you are not sure if an e-mail is legitimate, forward it to us and we will assist.
  • Set a strong password (uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and/or special characters make a password stronger).
  • Always do your best to protect your identity and all Personal Identifiable Information (PII).
  • Use anti-virus software to protect your computer from viruses and other harmful programs (known as malware).
  • Use pop-up blockers in your Web browser to help protect yourself from spyware (be sure to allow pop-ups from FAU Web pages since MyFAU and Canvas use them).
  • Safe spyware software that you may want to use at no charge are: Malwarebytes Ad-Aware

What you should NOT do?

  • Never give out personal information (Social Security number, birthday, driver's license number, any account number or password, etc.) to anyone who asks for it online, especially via e-mail. It is very easy for people to send an e-mail that appears to be from FAU OIT staff, a bank or other institution as a means of obtaining sensitive information. This kind of activity is called phishing.
  • Do not click on links or any attachments in any suspicious e-mail.
  • Never put your personal information, even your birthday, on any online site, such as Facebook or Twitter.
  • Never make your password the word "password" or any other easily guessed words. These are the first keywords that a hacker will attempt to use.
  • Never give your passwords to anyone or allow someone to log in to your account. You could be held accountable if someone else's malicious activity is linked to you.
  • Never write your password and leave it in a place where someone will find it (such as taped to the bottom of your keyboard, computer, or monitor).

Phishing E-mails

Phishing is the act of disguising as a trustworthy entity (such as an administrative figure from a school, financial institution, etc.) to gather information that could be used to compromise one's identity, school credentials, and/or banking information. One of the most common phishing processes is through e-mail.

You may receive e-mails from FAU and other credible institutions on a daily basis, but you should always question every e-mail's legitimacy before clicking on any links or attachments. It is best practice to delete an unsolicited e-mail if you are unsure of its validity.

Phishing e-mail

If the e-mail is especially concerning and you need to know if it is an attempted phishing attempt, you can forward the e-mail in question to security@31baglady.com and we will assist you in making this decision. In the event that you accidentally click on any links or attachments in a phishing e-mail, it is best to, at the very least, change your FAU password (as well as any other sensitive accounts that use this same password).

Mobile Device Safety

Did you know that Internet usage on mobile devices has surpassed the usage on desktops? It's true, and now it is more important than ever to take precautions against threats on our mobile phones and tablets. Here are a few things you can do to better protect yourself while using your portable devices:

  • Set up a passcode/password on the device (touch authentication and/or two-factor should be set up as an added layer of security)
  • Make sure you keep up with software updates within your settings and keep up with application updates within your app store.
  • Not all apps in the Apple App Store/Google Play Store are safe. Check reviews and do your research to verify the legitimacy of an application.
  • Delete applications that you no longer use. Old applications could provide a backdoor to your device.
  • Do not access sensitive information such as banking details and emails on public WiFi hotspots.
  • Disable WiFi, Bluetooth, and location services when not in use.

Other Resources