By Arthur Moses Opio
October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time dedicated to reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding our digital assets and ensuring a secure online environment for our organisation. Cyber threats continue to evolve, and it's crucial for all of us to remain vigilant and informed.
Here are some key things to look forward to this month:
1. Install Bitdefender Antivirus:
To our Makerere staff, we have already equipped the College System administrators at the college with the requisite knowledge and tools to ensure you get the Antivirus installed on your computer. End point security is of utmost importance to us as it is vital to ensuring we have a secure environment.
If you don’t know who your college systems administrator is, please let us know we will direct you or direct them to you.
2. Employee Awareness Campaigns:
Look out for engaging awareness campaigns and resources that will be shared via email, posters, Twitter (@DICTSMakerere) and various WhatsApp Forums we are on. These materials will provide practical tips and insights to help you stay safe online, both at work and at home.
3. Reporting Security Concerns:
If you come across any suspicious activity or receive a suspicious email, report it immediately to our ICT personnel at the colleges. You can let the college systems administrators know or share with us directly. Timely reporting is critical in preventing cyber incidents.
We have continued to get reports from various staff on incidents and we have handled them immediately. We also continue to do monitoring of all our systems and network traffic to ensure we are safe.
4. Review and Update Security Protocols:
Take this opportunity to review and update your security protocols. Ensure that your passwords are strong and unique, and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Stay updated with the latest software and security patches.
5. Share Your Knowledge:
Share cybersecurity tips and best practices with your colleagues. We encourage everyone to contribute to building a culture of cybersecurity within our Makerere University.
Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and each one of us plays a crucial role in protecting our organisation's data and reputation. By staying informed and adopting best practices, we can collectively mitigate risks and stay one step ahead of cyber threats.
Attached are quotes and screenshots of the Cyber Security Awareness we are raising.
1. Avoid Simple Passwords Like 12345 or password123
Posted on X(Twitter) on 3rd Oct, 2023 "https://twitter.com/DICTSMakerere/status/1709101448133222761"
https://dicts.mak.ac.ug/articles/avoid-simple-passwords-12345-or-password123
2. Fake links and scams have far-reaching consequences.
Posted on X(Twitter) on 4th Oct, 2023 "https://twitter.com/DICTSMakerere/status/1709449050120974593"
"They can also serve as gateways for spreading malware, compromising network security, and stealing sensitive data.
https://dicts.mak.ac.ug/articles/beware-fake-mak-scholarship-message-protect-yourself-online-scam
3. Don't Change Your Password On A Compromised Machine
Posted on X(Twitter) on 5th Oct, 2023 "https://twitter.com/DICTSMakerere/status/1709820512392679534"
"It is advisable to change your password from a clean computer/smart device to avoid exposing yourself to an already compromised machine." https://dicts.mak.ac.ug/articles/never-change-your-passwords-using-compromised-system
Suspicious Emails
Once you get a suspicious email like in the Screenshot below "Scam Email About Verification", always share with us the email header, it has parameters that we can use for investigation, we are able to block the IP addresses and the malicious email addresses.
VIDEO Link On How To Retrieve The Email Headers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyR6LMBetts
Thank you for your commitment to cybersecurity. Let's make this Cybersecurity Awareness Month a productive and cyber-safe month for Makerere University!
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our DICTS.
Stay cyber-smart and stay secure!
You are better off safe than sorry.