Information Technology Services

Attackers have learned that the easiest way to get what they want is to target you, rather than your computer or other devices. If they want your password, work data or control of your computer, they’ll attempt to trick you into giving it to them, often by creating a sense of urgency. Know the signs of a social engineering or phishing attack and be cautious of any messages that:

• Create a sense of urgency through fear or intimidation, or pressure you to bypass security policies or procedures.
• Appear to come from a friend or colleague but ask you to do something out of character.

Report malicious emails by marking them as phishing in Gmail or forward to phishing@brandeis.edu

 Make sure that your home wireless (Wi-Fi) home network is properly secured. 

• 1. Set a recognizable name for your wireless network, but make sure it's not something that gives away your location or identity. Passers by should not be able to easily determine where the wireless network is coming from based on the name.
  2. Ensure a password is required to access your wireless network. If you need to set a password, consult with your internet service provider if you are renting equipment from them. If you own your own networking equipment, consult the manual for your equipment to learn how to change the default settings. 
  3. Change the default password for your networking equipment's administrative interfaces. If you're renting your equipment, check for information on logging into the administrative interface on your modem/router and set a new password. Contact your Internet Service Provider if you need assistance. The administrator interface is what allows you to configure the settings for your wireless network and should be changed and protected. As always, use a unique password for both the administrative account and for your wireless network. 

Make sure that you're using strong passwords or passphrases for all accounts. We recommend using LastPass to manage and generate passwords for you. For details on password management, please see our password guide.

Install updates whenever you're prompted to do so from software you recognize. Sometimes malicious programs can look legitimate, so feel free double check with the Technology Help Desk if you're in doubt about a particular update. 

Software updates generally fix security vulnerabilities and should be installed. Let's not make it easier for adversaries to get into your systems through software issues that can be resolved with an update. 

It's really easy to accidentally install malware or visit malicious sites. For that reason, make sure family and friends understand they cannot use your work devices, as they can accidentally erase or modify information, or, perhaps even worse, accidentally infect the device.

Using a personal device to work remotely? Create separate accounts for family members to use and make sure no sensitive information is stored on the device itself. Cloud storage like Box is a good way to store and access sensitive information for work use. 

Use a virtual private network (VPN) while working from home or using public Wi-Fi networks, especially when using a banking app or conducting other important personal or professional business. VPNs create a secure, encrypted connection (like a tunnel) between your device and the network. You can also use incognito or private web browsing windows to limit the information collected in your browsing history, cookies, or online forms.