΢��Ȧ

• Ensure that your mobile device’s operating system and software is updated to the latest version which includes the latest mobile security features.
• Use a strong passcode (sometimes called the password lock feature) to protect the data on your mobile device.
• Review the privacy policies for apps that you download (i.e., what data does the app access?).
• Turn on encryption so that you can automatically wipe your device if it is lost or stolen.
• Do not use sites that require passwords, account numbers, or credit card numbers when you using a public WiFi hotspot (e.g., your local coffee shop).
• When banking and shopping using your mobile device, make sure that the sites you visit have a web address with https://. While this does not ensure complete safety, sites that have a web address with http:// are NOT at all secure.

Since scam tactics are increasingly sophisticated and rapidly changing, always be skeptical of an email containing these warning flags:

• The message is unsolicited and asks you to update, confirm or reveal personal identity information (e.g., full SSN, account numbers, network ID, passwords, protected health information).
• The message communicates a sense of urgency.
• The message has an unusual From: address or an unusual Reply-To: address instead of a “@ric.edu” address or other recognizable address.
• The (malicious) web site URL doesn’t match the name of the institution that it allegedly represents.
• The web site doesn’t have an “s” after “http//:” indicating it is not a secure site requesting secure information.
• The link in the pop-up doesn’t match the printed text.
• There are grammatical errors.

•  All ΢��Ȧ owned machines have anti-virus software installed on them.
• Make sure that your personally-owned machines have anti-virus software installed.
• Links to some free anti-virus software:
• Keep your operating system (e.g., Windows 10 or Mac OSX) updated with critical patches.
• Keep your Adobe and Java software updated.
• For ΢��Ȧ owned computers, only install software from a reputable company, or use ΢��Ȧ licensed software.
• For your personally-own computers, only install software from a reputable company.
• Avoid disreputable websites (especially those sent to you in suspicious email messages described above).
• Always lock your computer when you are away from it, or it is not in use.

Passwords are used for various purposes at ΢��Ȧ. You use a password to gain access to My΢��Ȧ, email, Blackboard, SharePoint sites, and etc. Because these sites (and others that you may visit) contain private and confidential information, it is important to keep your passwords safe.

When creating a password, make sure that it is not a word in any language and that is long and strong, with a minimum of ten characters and a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. ΢��Ȧ recommends passwords containing 10-14 characters and at least one of each of the following: upper case, lower case, number, and a special character.

You should also remember to:

• Keep your password secret, and do not share your password with others.
• Avoid using the same password for each of your online accounts (e.g., do not use the same password for your ΢��Ȧ accounts that you use for an online shopping account).
• Select a password that you can easily remember but that others cannot easily guess (If you must write down your password, store it in a safe place away from your computer, not on your monitor!).
• Change your password several times a year.