With a little care you can spare yourself from annoyance and wasted time. In the following there are some advice regarding information security that you can lean on when working at SDU.
It is important that you maintain an antivirus program with updated virus signatures and that you update your software when a new update is available. An antivirus-program prevent virus from infecting your PC. Hence an up-to-date antivirus-program and updated software will ensure both yours and the university's security.
An e-mail is not always what it seems to be. E-mails can contain files or links that you should not open. A healthy skepticism is the best defense. If you are in doubt whether a mail is authentic try calling the sender or asking a fellow student if the person also received it. False e-mails can be reported using the 'Report Phishing' - button in Outlook
A password is the most important protection against abuse of your data and your person - Choose it with care and never share it with others. SDU demands that your password complies with following:
- At least 14 characters long.
- A combination of at least three of the following categories: capital letters, small letters, numbers, special characters
- Cannot contain parts of the users first name, surname or username. Example: 'Risti' cannot be used if you're named Christian.
- Cannot consist of "keyboard wanderings" as 12345678, qwerty etc.
- Cannot be identical with the 25 most recently used passwords.
- The password used for SDU-accounts cannot be used for third party products - for example internet shops.
SDU continuously checks, using special software and databases, whether passwords are compromised or weak. If the user's password can be cracked within 48 hours, the user will be requested to change the password. Passwords are always checked, when passwords are changed, and as necessary when SDU receives information about leaked passwords from external sources and portals.
This method means that SDU does not require periodic password changes (e.g. every six months). Users are therefore only asked to change password if they are assessed to have an insecure/weak password.
Always remember to use a password on your phone and other mobile devices. A phone can contain lots of information of personal and professional character - The first guard against unauthorized access is a password (code, fingerprint, face recognition etc. )
Remember to lock your PC and your door when you leave your work station - even if you are only away for a short period. You can make your PC lock itself when you have not touched your mouse or keyboard for a certain time. Servicedesk can provide help, if necessary.
A good tip is to use the Windows + L short cut - In this way you can quickly lock your screen when leaving.
USB keys are easy to use and easy to lose. Therefore you should be mindful to remember your USB keys, and take them with you when you leave a room.
Never leave papers with personal information unguarded. Also make sure to recieve your papers as soon as having printed them. When disposing of papers make sure you shred them so that data remains confidential.
Please remember that a locked door means that it is not everyone who should access SDU. Make sure that those you let in have a legitimate errand - it is OK to ask.
Do not discuss topics in public where unrelated people can listen in. In the video the situation takes place in a shopping center, but the message also applies to the halls of campus, in the train and in other public places. It is unappropriate that people unassociated with for example a master thesis can recieve information about confidential interviews or other data in relation to the project.