1. Don’t be tricked into giving away confidential information
- Don’t respond to emails or phone calls requesting confidential company information
- Always keep in mind that bad guys are successful because they are convincing.
- Recent news stories out of Canada
1. Don’t be tricked into giving away confidential information
- Don’t respond to emails or phone calls requesting confidential company information
- Always keep in mind that bad guys are successful because they are convincing.
- Recent news stories out of Canada reported scammers were tricking people into giving away information with fake tech support calls claiming to help.
2. Don’t use an unprotected computer
- When you access sensitive information from a non-secure computer you put the information you’re viewing at risk.
- Malicious software exists that allows people to easily snoop on what you’re doing online when accessing unprotected sites.
- If you’re unsure if the computer you’re using is safe, don’t use it to access corporate or sensitive data.
3. Don’t leave sensitive info lying around the office
- Don’t leave printouts containing private information on your desk. It’s easy for a visitor to glance at your desk and see sensitive documents.
- Keep your desk tidy and documents locked away or shredded when no longer needed.
- It makes the office look more organized, and reduces the risk of information leaks.
4. Lock your computer and mobile phone when not in use
- Always lock your computer and mobile phone when you’re not using them. You work on important things, and we want to make sure they stay safe and secure.
- Locking these devices keeps both your personal information and the company’s data and contacts safe from prying eyes.
5. Stay alert and report suspicious activity
- Sometimes suspicious activity isn’t as obvious as we think.
- A recent news story reported that a supermarket manager, who was randomly befriended by a mysterious woman on Facebook, ended up on a “date” with two men who overpowered him and robbed his store.
- Be cautious of people you don't know asking for things, especially online.
- Always report any suspicious activity to IT. If something goes wrong, the faster we know about it, the faster we can deal with it.
6. Password-protect sensitive files and devices
- Always password-protect sensitive files on your computer, USB flash drive, smartphone, laptop, etc.
- Losing a device can happen to anyone. But by protecting your device with strong passwords, you make it difficult for someone to break in and steal data.
7. Always use hard-to-guess passwords
- Many people use obvious passwords like “password,” “cat,” or obvious character sequences on the qwerty keyboard like “asdfg.”
- Create complex passwords by including different letter cases, numbers, and even punctuation.
- Try to use different passwords for different websites and computers. So if one gets hacked, your other accounts aren’t compromised.
8. Be cautious of suspicious emails and links
- Hackers try to steal email lists from companies, which happened recently to Toshiba. Company email addresses are valuable to attackers, allowing them to create fake emails from "real people.“
- Always delete suspicious emails from people you don't know. And never click on the links.
- Opening these emails or clicking on links in them can compromise your computer without you ever knowing it.
9. Don’t plug in personal devices without the OK from IT
- Don’t plug in personal devices such as USBs, MP3 players and smartphones without permission from IT.
- Even a brand new iPod or USB flash drive could be infected with a nasty virus.
- These devices can be compromised with code waiting to launch as soon as you plug them into a computer.
- Talk to IT about your devices and let them make the call.
10. Don’t install unauthorized programs on your work computer
- Malicious applications often pose as legitimate programs like games, tools or even antivirus software.
- They aim to fool you into infecting your computer or network.
- If you like an application and think it will be useful, contact us and we’ll look into it for you