Protecting yourself and your information online can be just as important as protecting yourself ‘in real life’. We recommend taking the following broad guidelines as a starting point for thinking about how to stay safe from identity theft, financial loss, false information, scammers, stalkers, hackers, and the sad, bored individuals who just want to offend you.
Maintain vigilance and sensible caution in the digital realm. Be suspicious of unexpected email or chat messages, tantalizing job offers, or web links. When in doubt: STOP. VALIDATE. DELETE.
More information about phishing
Don’t over-advertise yourself. Bad actors and hackers are just as interested in you as marketers. Consider the audience that will be able to access what you post or send and ask yourself if everyone in that audience needs to know. Make sure the metadata of the videos, pictures, and other files you upload doesn’t give away more information than you want.
Be careful who you meet and trust. When using virtual meetings (e.g., Zoom, Webex) or social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, GroupMe, Instagram) take control of who can participate or interact with you by using private or invite-only virtual meetings, chat groups, and social media profiles. Don’t leave yourself and your communities open to bad actors looking to disrupt and offend.
Follow these links for security recommendations for these tools:
Be mindful and wary of misinformation (unintentional spread of false information) and disinformation (intentional spread of false information). Validate sources and reasoning. Don’t continue the spread as fact of that which can’t be supported.
501 E. High Street
Oxford, OH 45056
1601 University Blvd.
Hamilton, OH 45011
4200 N. University Blvd.
Middletown, OH 45042
7847 VOA Park Dr.
(Corner of VOA Park Dr. and Cox Rd.)
West Chester, OH 45069
Chateau de Differdange
1, Impasse du Chateau, L-4524 Differdange
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
217-222 MacMillan Hall
501 E. Spring St.
Oxford, OH 45056, USA