Information Security

October is Cybersecurity Month.
Students: Follow these Twelve Security Tips!

  1. Be alert | Use common sense and think twice before clicking links, opening attachments or responding to emails. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  2. Throw it out if in doubt | Be wary of emails that require "immediate action" or ask for personal information. Delete any messages that look suspicious.
  3. Protect your passwords | Create different passwords for different sites and use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols to make them hard to guess.  Never share your passwords with anyone, including close friends.
  4. Use a password manager | Password managers keep your details secure by encrypting your logins so your passwords can only be accessed when you enter the master password. 
  5. Keep apps and software up-to-date | Set up automatic updates for your computer and mobile devices and regularly restart them to complete the update process.
  6. Limit activities on public Wi-Fi | Never use public Wi-Fi to access or enter sensitive information, such as online banking, and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to lock down your connection. MCCCD is a proud partner of Eduroam, which provides free, secure international Wi-Fi access for students in research, higher education, and further education. Internet connectivity is available across campus and when visiting other participating institutions.
  7. Avoid phishing/spam | Be careful who you share your email with. Review privacy policies and modify privacy default settings when possible. Never use unsubscribe, as it verifies the email is active. Consider using a different email address for non-essential enrollment.
  8. Avoid oversharing on social media | Sharing too much information, such as indicating when you're on vacation or away from home, can make you an easy target for #burglary. Also, adjust privacy settings on your accounts and only friend people you know.
  9. Be a savvy online shopper | Always use a secure or private Wi-Fi network to shop online. Look for the lock symbol next to the web address before entering payment information and use a credit card or secure payment site like PayPal—not a debit card—to complete transactions.
  10. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) | If a site or app offers you the ability to set up multi-factor authentication when signing in, do it. This extra layer of security will require you to verify your identity twice before you can access sensitive information.
  11. Back up files and data regularly | Set up automatic backups of your device and store the backup to a cloud service or external hard drive.
  12. Be a good online citizen | What you do online has the potential to affect everyone—at home, at school and around the world—so always be courteous and practice good online etiquette.

 

Multi-Factor Authentication/DUO

MCCCD uses Cisco Duo for multi-factor authentication (MFA) for both students and employees.  Duo MFA is required for most password-protected applications, such as Canvas, the Google Suite, and the Student Information System (SIS).  For more information and guidance on Duo, please visit the Maricopa Community Colleges Duo Support page.

 

Sophos Home Commercial Edition

Did you know that as part of the MCCCD, Phoenix College students are eligible for Sophos Home Commercial Edition on up to 10 personally-owned devices for free? Sophos Home Commercial Edition is sophisticated antivirus protection software. The product includes the same award-winning features found in the commercial version used by top Fortune 500 companies.

You can find more information on the MCCCD Antivirus Protection page.