Members of the IT@Cornell community are often the ones friends and relatives turn to for guidance with their computers, phones, and tablets. This week, NCSAM content was focused on materials that can help.

Some points from this week:

Cyber attackers often try to pretend to be someone they’re not to fool people into sharing their password, infecting their computer, or sharing sensitive information. If your family gets contacted electronically by someone, and it doesn’t seem like how they usually act, STOP! Try contacting that person or business directly by calling, visiting, or some other means.  

Share with care. Before you share online, think about how you'd feel if that information were to end up somewhere you didn’t intend. When going to new websites, take a hard look to help you decide whether they are definitely what they claim to be.

Use strong passwords or passphrases. Passphrases are complex, hard to guess, and easy to remember. To learn more, read this comic. Also, remember the LastPass password manager is free to all current students, faculty, and staff!

Update your devices and apps. Manufacturers and software developers patch security holes in their products, but they only work if you apply them! Keep an eye out for notifications from your computer or mobile device telling you that you have updates waiting to install.

Check into an IT security checkup. Google and Facebook both offer security checkups to help make sure everything's as it should be. There are also things to check that are specific to Cornell. See what's available for an IT security checkup.