ITS Suggests Ways to Keep Data, Computers Safe

Information Technology Services offered these helpful security tips:

To identify phishing and SPAM:

The following are easy and quick phish/SPAM identifiers: poor grammar, run-on sentences, missing or incorrect punctuation, missing signatures, and succinct emails with attachments or links from unknown senders. ITS will never ask you for your credentials (ID and password) nor ask you to verify your credentials by entering them on a webpage.

ITS will tell you how to change your password in your portal. For examples of phishing attempts, see Security > Security Notices in your WesPortal.

ITS will be releasing tutorial videos in your portal during the semester that cover many facets of cyber security. These videos will be followed by helpful quizzes. You may re-watch these videos at any time and as frequently as you like. Look in the Security bucket for the link when it gets published. In addition, there are numerous free options for antivirus software like Sophos, Avast, malwarebytes, to name a few.

Additionally, Wesleyan offers the anti-virus software ESET at no charge to faculty, staff and students. It is available for both Mac/OSX and Windows in the Security > Virus protection section of your WesPortal.

To report malware, phishing email, email security@wesleyan.edu. Sending the original email as an attachment can be helpful as the header information shows how the email arrived at Wesleyan and where it might have originated.

For device recovery in case of loss or theft: Prey software is located at preyproject.com, which enables users to track and find phones, laptops, or tablets – free for up to three devices. It is available for Linux, Android, OSX, iOS, and Windows.

Don’t share your Wesleyan credentials with others. Your Wesleyan account provides access to resources including applications, data, printing, library subscriptions, and more. You don’t want to see your work missing!

Once you login to your portal you can see more security-related information. ITS has policies, information about public computing labs, staff and more.

ITS has a checklist to help keep your computer and data more secure. For more information, email security@wesleyan.edu.

In addition, in an effort to improve access and streamline communication, ITS is moving service.wesleyan.edu into WesPortal. Along with a link to submit a request for a variety of WesITS services, ITS also will have a search box to find answers to common questions. Later, ITS will add a section highlighting recent WesITS blog posts where important updates and security information is posted.