Malicious hackers use sophisticated automation tools to find and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The Office of Information Technology and your local IT group work tirelessly to protect university data. But these cyber heroes cannot do it alone; they need you to become a cyber hero, too.
If you do not safeguard your own personal data, you can become the chink in the armor that leads to a data breach disclosing others’ personal information as well, including:
- Student or financial aid information
- Employee information
- Payroll
- Payment cards
- Health insurance
One thing you should know is this: All cybercriminals are motivated by financial greed. If they can access your personal data, they can do damage to you and the university.
Raise your shield
Use the following campus resources to raise your shield and maintain your defenses:
- Protect the Pack: Be a Cyber Hero
Register for our upcoming Cybersecurity Awareness Month events, which will help you don a strong armor of defense. And check out the impressive prizes you can win! - Passwords or passphrases
Lock your devices and use a unique passphrase for every account you access. Don’t forget to lock your car, house or other locations where you might physically store important information. - Mobile Security at NC State
Complete these mobile security procedures to secure your devices and data. - Phishing
Check out this 2-minute video to learn how to protect yourself against phishing attacks. Before sharing your personally identifiable information (e.g., address, Social Security number, passport number), be certain you are connected to a legitimate service provider you can trust to protect this information. - Ransomware
Don’t let this happen to you. Becoming the victim of ransomware can happen if you get phished or your password management is not strong. Typically, being a ransomware victim means you’ll find yourself unable to access your data and the hacker will hold it hostage until you send a substantial sum of money. The WannaCry ransomware is a perfect example of how a new threat can pop up from out of nowhere and cause a lot of damage. To learn more about ransomware and how to safeguard against it, see: - Data Security Training
If you haven’t already, complete your annual Data Security Training in 20 minutes or less. You will learn about cybersecurity awareness topics critical to the university, including phishing, two-factor authentication and mobile device security. You also will learn how to comply with relevant NC State Policies, Regulations, and Rules. - 2FA at NC State
All employees are required to enroll in the university’s two-factor authentication (2FA) solutions — Duo and Google 2-Step Verification. To keep the Pack secure, OIT encourages all students to enroll in 2FA as well. To learn more about other companies and services that support 2FA, visit Two Factor Auth (2FA). - NC State Help Desk
If you have an IT security-related question, visit help.ncsu.edu or call 919.515.4357 (HELP).