Don’t Share Confidential Information
- Don’t provide sensitive company or customer information in unsolicited emails or phone calls.
- It’s important to remember that the bad guys can be very convincing and what they do tricks a lot of users. Being on the lookout for anything suspicious will help protect confidential information.
- Emailing usernames and passwords is never a good idea.
- Be especially cautious of suspicious emails that look like they are from PayPal or a bank.
Use Strong Passwords
- Don’t reuse the same password for multiple accounts.
- Passwords should contain capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Passwords should not contain personally identifiable information like social security numbers or dates of birth.
Avoid Accessing Sensitive Information on Unprotected Computers
- Hotel business centers and Internet cafes typically aren’t regulated or secure. Accessing sensitive information on public devices could allow others to access it as well.
- Malicious software could allow others to snoop on what you are doing, and gather usernames, passwords, and credit card information.
- Ask your IT department about establishing a VPN to allow safe access while traveling.
Avoid Leaving Sensitive Information Lying Around
- Don’t keep passwords on sticky notes.
- Shred documents that contain confidential information.
- Don’t leave mobile devices, laptops, or desktops unlocked when you aren’t at them.
- Use Windows key + L to quickly lock your computer when stepping away.
- Small devices like phones, portable hard drives, and flash drives are easy to lose or steal. Be wary of this while traveling.
Report Anything Suspicious to IT
- If we know about it, we can fix it quickly before it becomes a bigger problem.
- If you’ve lost your smartphone or another device, report it immediately.