Author Archives: Matt Ranville, Information Assurance
Complex scams are very real and playing out at academic institutions across the country, including U-M. There are key aspects to all of these scams that you should understand in order to protect yourselves and your data from malicious actors.
Protect your tax return and personal information with tips from Safe Computing.
Protect yourself from tricks and scams when shopping online: Use secure and up-to-date software, devices, and networks.
Back up data to protect U-M and yourself.
Do your part to secure U-M resources by reporting suspected phishing email to ReportPhish@umich.edu .
Hack with Friends becomes major improvement in just 5 weeks!
Recognize phone scams and hang up on fraud!
Worried a system was compromised? Understanding what to look for and when to call for help can give you peace of mind and protect university and personal data.
Use these tips to protect sensitive data when using free WiFi.
Secure and encrypt your devices to protect U-M and your personal data.
If you are changing jobs, retiring, or leaving U-M, move any files needed for university business somewhere that your colleagues can access and set appropriate permissions. This includes files on your computer; files in Google at U-M, Dropbox at U-M, and other online storage; and MCommunity groups. Use shared storage space when you can It is best to… Read More »
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend office hours with ITS Information Assurance experts. Come ask your IT security and privacy questions!
Groups used for U-M business, such as email and providing access to resources, require proper management to prevent interruption of important work-related activities.
Following these guidelines to secure personal devices that you use for working with U-M data protects you and the university.
Stay up to date on IT security and privacy stories with Safe Computing’s In the Media section.
It’s important to remember to restart your web browser so that updates can be applied, and your browsing can be as secure as possible.
Do your part to support online civility and practice and promote good digital citizenship.
Svetla Sytch, assistant director of privacy and IT policy, described some of ITS Information Assurance’s privacy engagement efforts in a January 28 EDUCAUSE Review blog post: Data Privacy Day 2021 Outreach: Six Words about Privacy. In the blog post, Sytch explained that Six Words About Privacy at U-M came about through conversations with the chief information security officers… Read More »
If you are adding or upgrading to new tech devices, you might have old ones that you, or U-M unit, are ready to dispose of. Old disks, flash drives, smartphones, and computers can all contain personal data, and in some cases, U-M data if you used those devices for work. Keep that data from falling into the wrong… Read More »
Internet of things (IoT) devices can be great gifts, but those smart home speakers, thermostats, and cool wearables like watches and fitness trackers come with some security and privacy risks. To protect yourself and your personal data, follow these tips: Privacy Mute your smart speaker when not using it. Disable features you don’t use. Choose privacy settings for… Read More »