It will soon be that time of the year when the holidays would be getting over and the new academic year starting again. If you are a parent, you can already feel your kids’ excitement and, thus, plan your best to make their college experience as knowledgeable as possible.
A crucial factor contributing to your child’s convenience would be electronic devices. Whether it is for taking notes, writing assignments, doing research, or communicating with their peer group, digital technology would shape their learning process in some way or another.
However, exposure to the cyber world would also come with several threats, which would invite more troubles if students aren’t aware of them early. With that being said, only learning and practicing solid cybersecurity habits would be helpful to combat such scenarios.
This article will discuss some of the best ways college and university students can keep their identity and information safe online to the greatest extent possible. But, before we dive into that, let us first know the common cybersecurity myths that you might be under impression:
- The IT department is there to handle the cybersecurity – Yes, they are, but it is your responsibility too. Experts can treat the malware or virus attacks and prevent the network from crashing if you take care of your device.
- Unplugging from the internet could be an alternative – Absolutely no! You can take a break from Wi-Fi and disconnect your devices from the network, but you cannot update them if it goes on for too long. Thus, making you more vulnerable to cyber threats.
- There is nothing worth stealing – You may think so, but it is not valid. Hackers can use your credentials and login details for applying for credit cards or opening bank accounts. If not that, they can sell your data and earn money.
Now, read on to understand how to protect yourself from becoming a victim to the dark cyber world –
- Think Before Clicking on Links
Having a chance to click doesn’t mean you should. Doing it without knowing where does it leads to can cause you significant loss. It is exactly how malicious links are constructed – to take away your precious data. So, always inspect the links and open them only if they are from trusted senders or websites.
- Use Strong Passwords
Do not use your name, date of birth, phone numbers, or similar characters that hackers easily breach. Opt for strong passwords that include random series of letters, numbers, and symbols. Try to use different passwords for each account and also a password manager to remember all.
- Set Privacy Settings on Social Media
Social media platforms are indeed very engaging and fun. But put you in a highly vulnerable position. Anyone can peep into your profile and plan evil acts. So, you must share sensibly and review your privacy settings to protect your identity.
- Stick to Secure Websites
Students have a lot to research when doing their assignments and projects. But, how does one know that site surfing is safe and secure? Well, every secured website has “https” in the URL and not “http”. With “https” in the address bar, you can rest assured that there is a robust security protocol, and no one can eavesdrop.
- Install and Update A/V Software
Phishing and malware attacks are the greatest cyber threats, and you won’t even know when you fall for them. So, beware and always have anti-virus protection in your system to prevent cyber attacks. In the worst scenarios, it helps detect and remove the bugs that have sneaked through. However, do give it the timely updates it needs.