October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a good opportunity to remember that protecting UVM’s information and technology isn’t just an IT responsibility. Every member of our community plays a part.
Cybersecurity can sometimes seem complicated, but many of the most effective protections are simple habits:
- Be cautious with unexpected messages. Phishing remains one of the most common ways attackers gain access. If an email, text, or Duo request seems unusual, slow down and verify it before responding.
- Use strong, unique passwords. Reusing passwords allows a compromise on one site to become a compromise somewhere else. A password manager can make unique passwords much easier to manage.
- Pay attention to MFA (Multi-factor Authentication) requests. Never approve a Duo notification you didn’t initiate. An unexpected MFA request may mean someone already has your password.
- Keep devices updated. Software updates frequently contain important security fixes. Installing them promptly helps close vulnerabilities before attackers can take advantage of them.
- Report something that doesn’t look right. You don’t need to determine whether something is actually malicious before reporting it. We would much rather investigate something harmless than learn about a real incident too late.
Most importantly, cybersecurity isn’t about expecting everyone to become a security expert. It’s about building a community where people recognize when something seems wrong, know what to do next, and feel comfortable asking for help. Please reach out to the Tech Team if you need assistance. They are available at tech.team@uvm.edu or (802) 656-2604.
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take a moment to think about the information and systems you use every day and the small things you can do to help protect them.