Do you own a Windows 7 laptop?Support for Windows 7 was ended on January 14th so the there will be no further updates released by Microsoft. This means that the device will no longer receive security patches and updates, leaving it vulnerable to viruses / attack. The National Cyber Security Centre has warned against continuing […]
Category: StirCyberSec
Hoax email attack on University of Southampton
On the 19th of January, students of Southampton University were subjected to a hoax email. The email was spoofed to make it look like it came from the Vice Chancellor and announced exams were cancelled due to the University closing. The statements made in the email were completely false with the intention to cause disruption […]
The end of European Cybersecurity Month.
We are now in November and European Cybersecurity Month is now over, but we hope that cybersecurity is something that is in your mind every day and not just during this campaign. We hope that you have learned something useful or that you have had a wee reminder of things that you need to think […]
Getting rid of any devices
If you decide to sell or give your laptop, smartphone, tablet or device to someone else (or to just put out in the electrical waste), you should first perform a factory reset. This will return the device to its original settings, and should also remove all your personal data from the device. Check your manufacturer’s […]
Online shopping
If you are shopping online you should think about the following; Choose where you shop carefully Don’t give away too much information Keep your devices up to date Use strong passwords Turn on two-factor authentication Use a password manager Take care with links in emails and texts Find out more about safely shopping online here.
Smart devices: Using them safely in your home.
Smart devices are the everyday items that connect to the internet. This can include both ‘hi-tech’ items (think smart speakers, fitness trackers and security cameras), and also standard household items (such as fridges, lightbulbs and doorbells). Unlike conventional household items, you can’t just switch on a smart device and forget it, you’ll need to check […]
Information Security Alert: new phishing threat detected
This morning we have received several reports of a phishing email purporting to be from our Chancellor Jack McConnell. Thanks to those who reported the issue, we were able to act quickly and block the offending email, removing it from a further 413 mailboxes. See below how this was identified as a phishing email. Beware […]
Secure your tablet or Smartphone with a screen lock.
Screen locks offer your devices an important extra layer of security. Each time you want to unlock your device or switch it on, you’ll be asked to enter a PIN, password, pattern, fingerprint or use facial recognition technology. This means that if someone gets hold of your device they can’t access your data without entering […]
Install the latest software and app updates
Cybercriminals use weaknesses in software and apps to attack your devices and steal your identity. You should make sure that you update your computer, smartphone or tablet when prompted to do so. Software and app updates are designed to fix weaknesses and installing them as soon as possible will keep your devices secure. The few […]
What is an antivirus product? Do I need one?
An antivirus product is a program designed to detect and remove viruses and other kinds of malicious software from your computer or laptops. Malicious software – known as malware – is code that can harm your computers and laptops, and the data on them. Your devices can become infected by inadvertently downloading malware that’s in […]