This message was sent to all University of Washington (UW) students, faculty and staff and UW Medicine employees.
Husky Community,
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), a time to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and share resources to help keep you and our entire UW organization digitally secure. This year, the Office of Information Security (OIS) and UW Medicine Security are focusing our efforts on four themes: Data Classification, Artificial Intelligence, Ransomware Resilience, and Cyber Hygiene.
Throughout October, we are providing online presentations, in-person events, and informational materials to enhance awareness and promote conversation about these topics. Security and privacy tips, informational materials, and a schedule of events can be found at the NCSAM IT Connect page.
We all play a role in protecting personal and institutional data and promoting a culture of cybersecurity at the University of Washington. We consider everyone who utilizes our systems to be a member of our information security organization. This October and throughout the academic year, OIS wants you to keep the following cybersecurity tips in mind:
- Recognize Phishing Scams: Be suspicious of emails with unsolicited job opportunities, offers of financial aid, or requests to purchase gift cards. Don’t click on links or download attachments from unverified sources. Never provide personal information, like passwords or credit card numbers, over email or via texting services like Telegram or WhatsApp.
- Unique Passwords and Multifactor Authentication: Never use your NetID password for another account and be sure to use multifactor authentication for personal accounts like your bank or social media.
- Use eduroam Wi-Fi: Use eduroam, a free, encrypted Wi-Fi network, when you’re on campus. For instructions on how to set up eduroam on your device, check out the eduroam page on IT Connect.
- Connect to Husky OnNet at Home: Husky OnNet is a virtual private network (VPN) that helps secure your home Wi-Fi network when you are remotely accessing resources on the UW network. Visit the Husky OnNet page to learn how to install and set up the software.
- Protect Institutional Data: Learn what types of data you are responsible for, take the necessary steps to secure that data – including encrypting laptops and devices – and ensure it is backed up properly. Learn more about data types and privacy responsibilities by visiting the IT Connect privacy guide.
- Know the Laws: State law prohibits the use of UW computing resources, tools, or services for commercial or political purposes. Follow copyright laws for software, images, music, or other intellectual property, such as books and videos. Review the Appropriate Use page on IT Connect for more information.
This October and beyond, our teams are committed to partnering with you to protect personal data and secure UW’s institutional information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact help@uw.edu.
Thank you for helping to keep UW cyber safe,
Isaac Straley
UW Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Security
Augie D’Agostino
UW Medicine Chief Information Security Officer
Information Technology Services