October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Faculty of Medicine’s Information Security team share five habits you should adopt to help keep you and your information secure online.
1. Think before you click
Scammers often pose as trusted contacts from within an organization, like HR or leadership. If something feels off, don’t click. Report by forwarding suspicious messages as an attachment to security@ubc.ca.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts by requiring a second step, like a code sent to your phone or a prompt from an authentication app. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent unauthorized access.
You may be familiar with MFA at UBC, where it is used in addition to your UBC campus-wide login (CWL). You can also add this layer of security outside UBC by enabling MFA on personal devices and accounts.
3. Keep your devices updated
Software and operating system updates often include important security fixes. Enable automatic updates on your computer, phone and apps to ensure your protection is always up-to-date.
4. Take precautions when using public Wi-Fi
When possible, avoid using public Wi-Fi networks, like those in a cafe or airport. If you find you need to use public Wi-Fi, you can protect your data by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your connection. This is important when accessing sensitive files or accounts.
5. Protect research and institutional data
University data is valuable and should be handled with care. To help keep it secure, use UBC-approved platforms when storing or sharing files, and avoid personal tools like Google Drive for university work.
It’s also important to keep your personal and work email accounts separate. Using your UBC email for university business helps protect sensitive information and maintain security.
Learn more
If you’re looking for support with cybersecurity in the Faculty of Medicine, the Information Security team is here to help. Visit the Information Security page for more tips and resources and to learn how the team can support you through a range of training and consultation services.
Cybersecurity events
Join Privacy Matters @ UBC for a month of events this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, including the Privacy Matters Symposium on Wednesday, October 29.
