Simple steps everyone can take during Cybersecurity Awareness Month
To kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month, University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (UK ITS) will release vital information, tips and host UK_CYBERCON 2025 — sponsored by Blackwood, CDW, Converge, Splunk, trace3 & Windstream.
The public and all UK students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the free one-day event. Please RSVP by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uk-cybercon-tickets-1458724226429?aff=oddtdtcreator.
With the ease of managing everything from medical records to your banking information online, it's increasingly essential to practice good cybersecurity habits.
This October marks the 22nd anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, first designated by Congress in 2004. Today the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends that everyone take a few simple steps to ensure that cybersecurity is top of mind all year long.
- Use a password manager and strong passwords. This simple step can protect your personal and financial information by keeping track of one password and storing the rest. https://its.uky.edu/news/how-using-password-manager-saves-time-and-keeps-your-personal-data-secure
- When prompted enable multi-factor authentication for all your online accounts. This extra step reduces your chances of being hacked: https://its.uky.edu/news/why-you-should-be-using-multifactor-authentication-all-your-online-accounts. UK students, faculty and staff should use Duo Mobile for MFA:
https://its.uky.edu/news/why-you-should-use-duo-mobile-secure-your-uk-linkblue-account-your-smartphone. - Report phishing attempts. When you receive a suspicious email attempting to gain access to your personal information, report it to your email provider, IT department or wherever you receive the attempt. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions: https://its.uky.edu/news/how-report-phishing-email.
- Regularly update your software. Be sure to restart and shutdown your computer regularly as this prompts software updates, which address security issues and help your devices run more efficiently.
Sign up for UK ITS news, alerts and tech tips by visiting: https://its.uky.edu/engage/uk-its-communications. You can also follow UK ITS on social media: https://linktr.ee/its_uky and listen to our new podcast TechKnow: https://its.uky.edu/techknow.