Your checklist to stay cybersecure this term!

McMaster’s IT Security team is reminding our community to stay cybersafe this term. Simple habits can add a layer of protection to your online data and accounts.  

Here are six things you can do for a cybersafe semester: 

1. Check out McMaster University’s Phish Bowl

Explore McMaster University’s Phish Bowl shows examples of recent phishing attempts reported at McMaster University. Check out the page to see what email phishing attempts look like and how they try to trick you.  

2. Report suspicious communications and phishing attempts

As online work and studies increase, so do cybersecurity threats like email phishing. If you receive a suspicious email don’t take the bait! REPORT it to McMaster’s IT Security team at is-spam@mcmaster.ca, and then DELETE the email. 

3. Practice good password behavior

Secure your accounts by using strong passwords and a password manager to help keep them safe. Learn more about good password guidelines.

The universal adoption of MFA across campus is critical for improving McMaster’s IT security. There are several options that you can choose from for your second factor. Learn more about it here. 

And remember, never share your MacID and password with anyone! 

4. Use antivirus software

Defend against online threats by installing antivirus software for safer internet browsing. Select an anti-virus product that runs regular scans of all of your files and make sure it stays up to date. Learn more about anti-virus software. 

5. Enable automatic updates on your devices for the best protection and the most convenience.

Opt for automatic updates on your devices to ensure the best protection and convenience. Keeping your software and operating systems up to date is crucial for security. 

6. Stay secure on social media

Review your social media accounts privacy settings and make sure you are not over sharing information online. Familiarize yourself with what data third party applications are accessing and how they are using it.  

Prioritizing these cybersecurity measures will contribute significantly to your safety and security online throughout the term. Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility!  

More information: 

To stay up to date on cybersecurity practices at McMaster, subscribe to the McMaster Byte Size newsletter.  

For any issues, questions or concerns, please start a chat with the UTS Service desk team. The chat bot is available 24/7 and you can have a live chat with our team during the service hours here.