Best practices and reminders for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Bailey Troutman, CCIT Communications
October 7, 2024

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and is the perfect time to remember best practices and healthy habits to protect yourself and others online. As cybercriminals continue to become more savvy, the Office of Information Security at Clemson University encourages the campus community to remember the following tips and tricks:

• Stay alert against phishing scams via email. Commonly reported scams include job/internship emails, financial aid opportunities, and student loan payoffs. Always verify the sender’s email address before replying to or clicking on any of the email links. These emails often come from people outside the University, contain a sense of urgency, or pose as someone from a fake department that does not exist on campus. Always forward these emails to phishing@clemson.edu. 
• Do not replicate passwords. It is recommended that each account has a different, unique password of up to 16 characters. Never share passwords; use a secure password manager to help you keep track. 
• Update your software. When software companies issue updates for their products, make sure you allow the installation. These updates help correct vulnerabilities or increase safety and are essential. 
• Use VPN when browsing off campus. Use Clemson’s virtual private network (VPN) to establish a secure connection, as many public networks are not secure and anyone could potentially access what you are working on. 
• Enable 2-factor authentication (2FA or MFA). Most Clemson resources are secured with DUO mobile for 2FA. There may be options to enable 2FA on non-Clemson accounts as well and this is encouraged as it provides another layer of security to your personal information. 

As always, be extremely careful where you input your login credentials and ensure you verify senders on emails you read via laptop or smartphone. Check out the Cybersecurity Alerts page to learn more about scams directly impacting Clemson University.