Ten things you can do to protect yourself online:

1. Learn to recognize phishing attacks. 
2. Use strong passwords and different passwords for different accounts. 
3. Choose security questions for resetting passwords that are not guessable based on public information or social media. 
4. Protect your email account. You do not only need to protect personal information; your email is the back door into all your other accounts through password resets. 
5. Set a passcode on your phone. Your phone likely contains sensitive data, including your contacts’ information and access to your email and social media accounts. 
6. Be selective with what you share on social media, and talk to your friends about what they share. 
7. Back up your data. Hard drives fail and computers and phones get lost and stolen. You are unlikely to avoid this completely. 
8. Use two-factor authentication where available, especially on email and banking sites.
9. Practice safe computing. Make sure that your operating system and software (including anti-virus) are set to auto-update, and do not leave your computer logged in where others can easily access your computer.
10. Detect fraud. Regularly monitor your financial accounts and credit reports. 

Always Follow These Security Steps to Protect Loyola and Yourself!

1. Never share your Loyola username and password with ANYONE.
2. Always look for the quad when logging into Inside Loyola and Houndmail. Verify that the URL for Office 365 or Inside Loyola begins with https://login.microsoftonline.com.
3. Only install anti-virus and anti-malware programs from known and trusted sources. 
4. Avoid phishing scams - be suspicious of official-looking emails or phone calls that ask for login information, credit card information, and personal or financial data.
5. Make your passwords easy for yourself to remember but difficult for others to figure out. Never use the same password on multiple websites.
6. Think before you click. Links in email, social media posts, and online ads are often how cybercriminals try to steal your personal information or infect your computer. Even if you know the source, if something looks suspicious, delete the email!
7. Never leave your computer unattended and always use a password-protected screen saver.  
8. Protect your personal information. Your Social Security number, credit card numbers, and bank account numbers can be used to steal your money or open new accounts in your name. 
9. Keep your software up to date. Turn on automatic updates for your OS, web browsers, and browser plug-ins. Always download software updates from the vendor’s website.
10. Always know your network. Identity thieves prey on public and unprotected Wi-Fi networks. Do not sign into websites with sensitive information when connected to a public network, such as at an airport.

If you have any questions or concerns contact the Help Center at 410-617-5555 or via the web at https://ots.loyola.edu.