CyberScotland Week is here (24th February – 2nd March), and it’s the perfect time to boost your cyber awareness and learn how to stay safe online. This year’s theme, “Can’t hack it!?”, focuses on simple actions you can take every day to protect yourself and your data.
Why Cyber Awareness?
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and as a University of Stirling student or staff member, you are a prime target for phishing attacks, identity theft, and other online scams. Taking small steps to protect your digital life can make a big difference.
Our Top Tips:
Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create complex passwords for each account and consider using a password manager to keep them safe. When it comes to passwords, Length is Strength.
Enable Two-Factor/Multifactor Authentication (2FA/MFA): This secondary layer of authentication helps secure your accounts in the event that your password is stolen or guessed.
Watch Out for Phishing Emails: Be cautious of suspicious emails or messages asking for personal information – even if they look official. Double check the sender address, hover over links before clicking, and Report any emails you think might be phishing.
Keep Software Updated: Software updates often contain patches for critical security vulnerabilities. Ensure your devices and applications are always up to date to protect against the latest threats.
Secure Your Devices: Don’t leave your devices unattended, always lock them when not in use, and avoid connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks if possible.
Complete Your Cyber Awareness Training:
The University of Stirling provides free access to cyber security awareness training. It’s designed to help you recognise and respond to common cyber threats. Visit https://universityofstirling.metacompliance.com/ or use the MyCompliance app on the left hand side navigation bar in Microsoft Teams (Click ‘…’ to see all apps if it isn’t automatically showing).
Check out CyberScotland Week Events:
Get involved and learn more about cybersecurity by attending CyberScotland Week events. From workshops and webinars to live lessons, there’s something for everyone. Visit https://www.cyberscotland.com/cyberscotlandweek/ to see what’s on, and visit our own Cyber Security Hub for advice and guidance to help keep the university network and data secure: https://stir.sharepoint.com/sites/CyberSecurity