These core information security principles will help protect yourself, protect your peers, and protect our University. Follow the links in each section title for more detailed tips and step-by-step guidance.
Passwords should be long, unique and memorable. Create a different password for every account so that if one is compromised, the others stay secure. Leverage a password manager to securely store and keep track of all your passwords in a single app. Keep work and personal credentials in separate vaults to avoid accidental sharing.
Multi-factor authentication goes by many names: MFA, two-factor authentication, 2FA, two-step verification. No matter what you call it, this security measure requires anyone logging into an account to use two or more factors to prove their identity, like a password and a push notification. Using MFA provides an extra layer of security to block unwanted access if your password is compromised.
Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated in their attempts to deceive you using social engineering techniques like phishing (email), smishing (text/SMS), and phone calls (vishing). Be skeptical of unsolicited requests using urgent language, offering something too good to be true, or requesting unusual payment methods. If you receive a suspicious email to your Villanova account, report it using the Report Phishing button.
Don't sleep on software updates! These updates fix general software problems, add new features, and provide security patches against the latest threats. Turn on automatic updates whenever available; if that's not an option, set yourself a calendar reminder to check for updates every quarter. Only download updates from original sources.
Have you ever lost a smartphone with all your photos or accidentally deleted an important file from your computer at work? Backing up your files on a regular basis makes sure you can restore a file if the original is lost or damaged. The best approach is to use both cloud backup and physical backup methods together, and to keep work-related data and personal data backed up in separate locations.
Locking the screen on your device is a simple yet impactful habit to protect your device against unwelcome access, even when left unattended. We recommend leveraging the auto-lock feature on your computer and mobile devices, as well as using shortcuts to easily lock your screen before walking away. Each time you want to unlock your device, you will be asked to enter a PIN, password or fingerprint, adding an extra layer of security.