The campus may be quiet, but cybercriminals are wide awake.<\/p>\n
Whether you’re heading home, traveling, or catching up on sleep and streaming, cybersecurity should still be on your holiday checklist<\/strong>. Scammers and hackers love the holiday season \u2014 because people let their guard down, shop more online, and spend extra time on social media.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to stay cyber safe while you relax:<\/p>\n Update<\/strong> your phone, tablet, and laptop before you go \u2014 updates fix known security holes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use a passcode or biometric lock<\/strong> (Face ID, fingerprint) on all devices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Don\u2019t leave devices unattended<\/strong> in airports, hotels, or common areas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Only shop from trusted, official websites<\/strong> \u2014 if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Don\u2019t click on promo codes or giveaways sent via random texts, DMs, or emails.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use credit cards<\/strong> or trusted services like PayPal \u2014 avoid direct bank transfers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ignore fake delivery texts or emails<\/strong> asking you to \u201cverify\u201d shipping info.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Be suspicious of urgent messages<\/strong> asking for gift cards, passwords, or logins.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Don\u2019t click links in unexpected emails or texts \u2014 go directly to the site instead.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Never share Duo or 2FA codes<\/strong> \u2014 legit companies or schools will never ask for them.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Don’t post your travel plans. Anyone can be watching.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Avoid sharing boarding passes, hotel info, or real-time location in your stories.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Set social media to private<\/strong> or restrict who can view holiday posts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Start fresh by updating old passwords \u2014 especially if you reuse them.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Enable 2FA<\/strong> (two-factor authentication) on all key accounts (email, banking, social media).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Delete unused apps that may have outdated or vulnerable permissions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Cyber threats don\u2019t take a vacation \u2014 but your stress level can.<\/strong> “Tis the season to log off, but don\u2019t let your guard down\u2014hackers don\u2019t take holidays!”<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014 Emily Harris Happy Holidays from Information Security\u2014may your season be merry, bright, and completely malware-free.<\/p>\n The Phish Files | Holiday Scams Tip Sheet<\/a><\/p>\n FBI | How We Can Help You – Holiday Scams<\/a><\/p>\n FCC | Don’t Let Scammers Steal Your Holiday Joy<\/a><\/p>\n GiaSpace | What Happens When Your Cybersecurity Takes a Holiday Break?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nTraveling? Secure Your Devices<\/h2>\n
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\nOnline Shopping? Watch for Scams<\/h2>\n
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\nGetting Messages from \u201cSupport,\u201d \u201cAmazon,\u201d or \u201cYour Bank\u201d?<\/h2>\n
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\nThink Before You Post<\/h2>\n
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\nRing in the New Year Without a Security Hangover<\/h2>\n
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With a few easy steps, you can enjoy a safer, smoother break and return to campus without surprises.<\/p>\n
\nChief Information Security Officer<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWant to Learn More?<\/h2>\n