Recently, cyber threats have become both more regular and more complex, with criminals using tools and techniques that are only getting more and more sophisticated. Over the past couple of years, there’s been a lot of information provided to people making the switch to working from home when it comes to keeping themselves safe and secure online. And if you are currently getting a degree online, then the advice should also apply to you.
With a growing level of threat from cybercrime, not only in the workplace and on campuses but also at home, it’s important to know what you can do to protect yourself and keep your personal level of risk low. Getting an online degree can be an appealing idea, but it can also open you up to security threats. It’s important that online students know what to do to keep their personal data safe when studying online.
Email Safety
Over ninety percent of malware attacks are carried out through email. Phishing and scam emails have not only become more common, but also more sophisticated over the years, making it more important than ever for students to be cautious when opening and replying to emails. Email is likely to be one of the main forms of communication that you are going to use when you are studying a DBA programme at Aston University, so there are a few things that you need to do to keep yourself safe.
- Check the sender’s email address; does it look different to usual or is it an address that you don’t recognise, even though you recognise the name signed in the email?
- Hover your mouse over any links in an email to see the URL that it points to; if you don’t recognise it or something doesn’t look right, don’t click on the link.
If you get an email with a link that is asking you to sign into an account and you have not specifically requested that email or are not expecting it, then proceed with caution. It is usually better to head to the signup page in your browser instead and sign in that way. If in doubt about any emails you receive, contact the alleged sender of the email to verify that it is indeed from them.
Think Twice Before You Click
A massive percentage of data breaches start with just one click. Clicking on a link that seems innocent at the time could end up being the start of a malicious virus downloading on your computer, or it could even take you to websites that are set up to impersonate trusted organisations that will trick you into passing on your personal information or passwords. It’s important to be cautious whenever you click on a link, especially if the link has been shared through an email or text message.
Use Up to Date Antivirus Software
By now, most of us know that it is important to use a good antivirus software program on all devices that we use on a regular basis. As an online student, it’s a good idea to invest in a good program for your main laptop or computer at least. You can often get a student discount on many of the top brands. A good program that is kept up to date will perform regular scans of your computer to find any potential vulnerabilities that might have gone unnoticed otherwise. Make sure that it is kept up to date; the best way to do this is to simply turn automatic updates on so that they are installed as soon as they are available. Along with keeping your antivirus software up to date, keeping your operating system and any other software programs and apps that you use up to date will also help to strengthen your security.
Use Strong Passwords
Using a strong, unique password is crucial when you’re signing up for your student account with your university. Practice this no matter what you are signing up for online including online shopping accounts and social media. It is a good idea to use a password manager app so that you can keep your passwords securely stored for when you need them rather than using easily guessable passwords for your accounts.
Using the ‘suggested password’ option is a good idea since these passwords are designed to be pretty much impossible for even sophisticated software to crack. However, be careful when saving passwords in the browser to use for later, as there are some issues with this – if you were to lose your device, anybody who gets access to it will be able to access all your accounts easily with auto-fill. Never save your password on shared devices. For extra protection and peace of mind, always lock your device with a strong password or passcode too.
All your passwords should follow these guidelines:
- Be different for each account that you use
- Be a word or combination of words that are not easy to guess
- Include a combination of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters
- Have at least 8-12 characters; many websites will have a minimum password length requirement when you sign up
Share Information With Caution
The internet and modern technological advances have led to a lot of opportunities for networking with people all over the world and sharing things with others instantly on social media. Networking, sharing, and getting to know the other people on your course is often a large part of getting an online degree, as you don’t have the same opportunities as you would to meet and get to know people as you would in the classroom. However, be careful what information you share about yourself online as you don’t know who is looking. Be selective when it comes to who you add or allow to follow you on social media, for example, to avoid the risk of sharing private information with people that you do not know.
As the option to study online becomes more popular and widely available, knowing how you can improve your safety and security as an online student has never been more important.