TTU offers tips to practice safe computing during the holida
Source: Texas Tech University
Since the holiday season is a prime time for Internet criminals, the TTU Office of the CIO encourages you to be mindful as you do your online holiday shopping:
Look for the lock icon on the browser’s status bar and make sure that “https” appears in the address before completing your purchase; This indicates that the connection is secure and your credit card information is encrypted. If you don’t see a lock icon or https://, then your connection is not secure and your information could be at risk;
Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card. With credit card transactions, you have a period of time before money is transferred to the seller, but debit transactions are immediately withdrawn from your account. You may also consider paying via a one-time use credit card or a gift card;
Shop through reputable online stores. Even for reputable online stores, where possible, manually type in the URL instead of clicking links on emails. Be cautious of sellers in online marketplaces like Etsy, eBay and Craigslist. Since many sellers are individuals, there is always the possibility of online fraud or not getting the gift you purchased;
Save emails regarding your online transactions, especially online receipts and any electronic correspondence you have with the retailer or seller; and
Review your credit card and bank statements as you receive them (and more frequently online) and immediately report unauthorized charges.
We encourage you to visit our newly updated Cybersecurity Awareness site for the community at www.cybersecurity.ttu.edu. On the website, you will also find a rich collection of cyber safety practices and information, such as avoiding identity theft, mobile device data protection, social networking tips, and other topics of interest to digital citizens. We have also added a blog to the cybersecurity website that will offer tips on timely topics throughout the year.
You can find additional information at these national resources:
Stop Think Connect
http://stopthinkconnect.org
OnGuard Online
https://www.onguardonline.gov
Stay Safe Online
http://staysafeonline.org
Microsoft Safety & Security Center
https://www.microsoft.com/security/default.aspx
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education
http://csrc.nist.gove/nice
For assistance, contact your local IT expert or an area IT security provider. Some area IT security providers are listed at www.cybersecurity.ttu.edu under “Additional Resources."
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