Archive for December 2015

Protect Yourself Against Cyber Threats - Social Networks

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Continuing our blog series targeted at protecting yourself against cyber threats, today's blog topic covers Social Networks

 Today's guest blog contributor is Eric Varela. Eric is a student here at CSU Channel Islands majoring in Information Technology with a minor in Security Systems Engineering.

 Think before you post:  Limit the amount of personal information you post publicly. Do not post information that would make you vulnerable, such as your address or information about your schedule or routine.  If your friend posts information about you, make sure the information is something that you are comfortable sharing with strangers.

Once posted, always posted:  Protect your reputation on social networks.  What you post online stays online.  Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn't want your parents or future employers to see.  (Tip: Recent research found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online).

Get smart and use privacy settings:  Take advantage of privacy and security settings.  The more information you post, the easier it may be for a hacker or someone else to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit crimes such as stalking.  Use site settings to limit the information you share with the general public.

Be honest if you're uncomfortable:  If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is inappropriate, let them know.  Likewise, stay open-minded if a friend approaches you because something you've posted makes him or her uncomfortable. (Tip: People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them; respect those differences).

Know when to take action:  If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator. (Tip: It may also be appropriate to report it to school officials who may have separate policies for dealing with activity involving students).

Derived from NICCS and StaySafe Online

Protect Yourself Against Cyber Threats - Setting up Proper Controls

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We are starting a new series of blogs targeted at protecting yourself against cyber threats.  This series will run over the next few months and cover varying subject matter related to cyber threat protection.

Today's guest blog contributor is Eric Varela. Eric is a student here at CSU Channel Islands majoring in Information Technology with a minor in Security Systems Engineering.

Connect securely wherever you are: Only connect to the Internet over secure, password-protected networks. Free public WI-FI, from popular patronage sites such as Starbucks, McDonalds, Subway, etc. - provide convenience over security. If you must use public WI-FI, use it for browsing purposes only and not for private transactions such as banking or emails.

Think before you click: Do not click on links or pop-ups, open attachments, or respond to emails from strangers. Even if an email message has a sender address of someone you know, be sure the email attachments or links were requested from the source. It is possible for sender addresses to be spoofed or taken over. When it doubt, throw it out. A link or attachment could contain malware, and a single click is all it takes to get infected.

Respond only to trusted messages: Do not respond to online requests for personal information such as your date of birth or your credit card numbers; most organizations-banks, universities, companies, etc.-do not ask for your personal information over the internet. (Tip: CSUCI will never ask for your password or login information via email.)

Use passwords properly: Select strong passwords, with a minimum of eight characters and a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols, and change them frequently. Password protect all devices that connect to the internet and user accounts.

You should also remember to:
  • Not share your password with others.
  • Make your password is unique to your life and not something that is easily guessed.
  • Have a different password for each online account.
  • Write down your password and store it in a safe place away from your computer.
  • Change your password several times a year. (Tip: At the beginning and end of each semester.) 


Stay aware: Routinely monitor bank and credit card accounts for unauthorized charges and unauthorized accounts that have been opened under your name. Annually, you are entitled to a free credit report by the three big credit reporting agencies by federal law. Take advantage of these free reports and stay current on your credit score and history.