Our devices do a lot to keep themselves secure these days, but the choices we make for our own convenience in using them can often undermine our security. Learn how to easily keep your devices configured so that only you can access to them.
Secure your devices with strong passwords or PINs
Be sure to secure your devices themselves. You may feel it’s more convenient to leave the passcode disabled on your smartphone, for example, but biometric features like fingerprint or facial ID’s keep your devices secure without any hassle. These days, smartphones in particular can be a gateway to our entire identities, so keeping them secure is more important than ever.
Log off, lock, or shut down your devices before leaving them unattended
Press the Windows + L keys to lock your Windows computer, or Control + Command + Q on macOS.
Set your computer and portable devices to automatically lock when they're not being used.
Shut down your office computer at the end of each workday to ensure cyber security as well as to save energy and prevent failures from power disruptions. Additionally, occasionally restarting (about once a week is a good habit) helps to make sure software and security updates are properly installed.
Secure laptop computers and mobile devices at all times: Lock them up or carry them with you
In your office or residence hall, at coffee shops, meetings, conferences, etc. - remember: phones and laptops get stolen all the time. When you don’t have your device with you, make sure it is locked away securely.
Make sure your computer is protected with anti-virus and all the latest security updates
When prompted to run a software update, please don't postpone it.
The antivirus already included in both Windows and macOS are more than capable of keeping your device secure in the background. However, be sure to manually run an anti-virus scan if you ever suspect a problem.
Use encryption to protect your information
Encryption is a way to enhance the security of a message or file by scrambling the contents so that it can be read only by someone who has the appropriate encryption key to unscramble it.
You can choose to encrypt your entire hard disk or a storage device like a hard drive, USB storage devices may be purchased with built in encryption. The best way to ensure that files on your laptop are not accessible if it is lost or stolen is to use disk encryption. Some common free tools for encryption are VeraCrypt (Windows, Mac, Linux), FileVault (Mac), 7-Zip (Windows), and GNU Privacy Guard (Windows, Mac, Linux). All Stonehill laptops have their system drives already encrypted; with either Bitlocker or Veracypt for Windows, and with FileVault for Mac.
File encryption is recommended for securely transmitting information as an email attachment. MS Office documents can be encrypted with a password that is then shared with the receiver in a separate message or method. Use this option with caution as email is inherently unsecure.
Don't install or download unknown or unsolicited programs to your devices
These can harbor computer viruses or open a "back door" giving others access to your computer without your knowledge. Don’t just install something because you saw a pop-up. You should only install things that you know, trust, and are comfortable with. When in doubt, contact the IT Service Desk for help.
Evaluate your security settings
Most software, including browsers and email clients, offer a variety of features that you can tailor to meet your needs.
Modifying certain features to increase convenience or functionality may leave you more vulnerable to being attacked.
It is important to examine and understand the settings, particularly the security settings, on your devices and select options that meet your needs without putting you at increased risk.
Backup data you are not willing to lose - and store the copies securely
When it comes to important data, avoid "putting all your eggs in one basket". Drive failures, ransomware, and even accidental deletions can and do happen, and backing your data up in multiple places can protect you in these situations. The general rule of thumb is: if it’s important to you – back it up!
Keeping your data in a cloud storage solution reduces the risk of data loss. For Stonehill employees, this is enabled by default through OneDrive PC Folder Backup. If you’re a Stonehill student, you have access to a 1 terabyte OneDrive included in your Stonehill account. Keeping your files in your OneDrive will ensure they are secure, backed up automatically, and accessible from anywhere on any device.
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