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Higher Ed organizations are prime targets for cyber-attacks. In the simplest of ways, mostly through innocuous and invasive emails, they infiltrate our networks.

The most current form of these attacks are coming through ‘ransomware.’ Ransomware attacks a computer by literally ‘locking’ the data and holding it ransom until payment is made. PCs, Apple and Linux computers are all susceptible to these attacks.

Tips to AVOID Ransomware

·  Don’t click a link in an email, on a webpage or chat message. Unsolicited email messages with links or attachments should be carefully reviewed for authenticity. Be sure you can trust the page or the sender.

·  Use protection. Dalhousie provides anti malware software that can be very effective against known attacks.

·  Back up your data. Save important information in multiple locations. Use your desktop, external drive, and OneDrive.

·  Keep your computer up to date. Ensure that the latest security patches are applied to your computer.

·  Spread the word. Share information about best practices or known security issues with colleagues and friends. The more aware and engaged people are in protecting their information the greater the opportunity to reduce the impact when an incident occurs!

For more information and details please visit the Information Security area on the ITS web site