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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Common Sense in Cyber Security


Many people become intimidated when they hear anything about computers or cyber security. There are a number of non-intimidating things you can do to protect yourself in general.

-          Don’t use basic passwords like password or password1.

-          Don’t use names of pets, spouses or sports teams as passwords.

-          Lock your workstation whenever you leave your desk.

-          When paying for items online, use a payment company like PayPal or your credit card instead of a debit card. You get more protections with PayPal and the credit card company than you will with most banks.

-          Never give out your password to anyone or if you absolutely have to for some reason, change your password as soon as the other person no longer needs the credentials.

-          Be aware of who is sending you emails. If it’s from someone you don’t know, don’t open any attachments or links. If it is from someone you do know but the email seems odd or different from ones you typically get from that person, verify the person actually sent you the email first before you open any links or attachments.

Side tip: Passwords can be a pain to memorize but some people make the most of it by making it something inspirational. They have passwords like You@reGre@t! or 1LoveL1fe! so every time they type it in they tell themselves they are great or they love life. You might think it sounds a little cheesy, but it works for a lot of people.

Jeff Willard
Communications and Network Services
10/21/2015