This Cyber Security Awareness Month, intern Alessandra tells us how to stay safe online
It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month, so we’ve asked Cyber Security Awareness Intern, Alessandra Colmenares, to tell us about the month and share some tips for being more aware about cyber security.
How did Alessandra get involved in cyber security?
‘My journey into cyber security started a few years ago when my mum was almost scammed. That experience really opened my eyes to how vulnerable we can be online, and it sparked my passion for wanting to protect people’s personal information. From there, I knew this was the field for me!’
What is Cyber Security Awareness Month?
‘Cyber Security Awareness Month is all about raising awareness and helping people understand how to stay safe online. This year’s theme is ‘Secure Our World’, and it’s focused on practical, everyday actions we can all take to protect our digital lives—like enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), using strong passwords, keeping software updated, and spotting phishing attempts.’
What you need to be aware of
‘As students, we handle so much of our personal and academic information online—whether it’s logging into DeakinSync, social media, or online banking. Being aware of cyber security helps protect us from cyber threats like hacking or identity theft. It’s about keeping our accounts and personal data safe, so we don’t fall victim to these kinds of risks.’
Install your software and device updates
‘I know updates can be annoying, but they’re crucial to staying safe! Software updates usually contain fixes for security issues. By keeping your devices up to date, you’re protecting yourself from known cyber-attacks that exploit vulnerabilities. It’s a quick and easy way to stay secure.’
Enable multi-factor authentication
‘Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) is really simple! Just go into your account settings and look for the MFA option. From there, you can link your account to an app, email, or get a code via text. MFA is really important because it adds an extra layer of security—so even if someone guesses your password, they still can’t get in without that second verification.’
- All Deakin student accounts must have MFA applied to them using the DUO Mobile app within 30 days of activation.
- You should also turn on MFA for any other online or social media accounts you have, where available. You can find out more about MFA, as well as instructions for how to set up MFA for various services on the Australian Signals Directorate’s Protect yourself: Multi-factor Authentication webpage.
Use strong and unique passwords
‘Creating a strong password is key. Make sure it’s long and includes a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, avoid using the same password across different accounts. If one password gets hacked, you don’t want all your other accounts to be at risk too! Using unique passwords for each account helps keep everything secure.’
Keep an eye out for and report phishing attempts
‘Phishing emails can often be spotted by looking out for requests for personal information, strange email addresses, or bad grammar. If you get an email like that, use the ‘Report Phishing’ button in Outlook to flag it. And, of course, don’t click on any links or download any attachments if it seems suspicious.’
Anything else?
‘In addition to using MFA, strong passwords, and keeping your software updated, it’s really important to be careful about what you share online and to be cautious when connecting to public wi-fi. If you’re on public wi-fi, using a VPN can help keep your data safe.
Stay alert and trust your gut. If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is! It’s always better to be cautious when it comes to your online safety.’
Want more information?
‘If you want to learn more, check out Deakin’s Cyber Security Blog and the Online Safety and Security webpage on Student life and services. There are lots of great tips and advice on how to stay secure online.’
You can also check out some other cyber security resources below.
- Visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage for more tips and advice for staying safe online.
- Got a question or IT issue? Contact Deakin’s IT Help.
- The Australian Cyber Security Centre also has lots of helpful information about how to protect yourself online and what to do if you’re hacked.
- If you’ve clicked a suspicious link and sent money, shared your banking details or are worried that your banking details may have been breached, contact your financial institution immediately.
And please remember: don’t be embarrassed to report any suspicious activity – your experience may help prevent someone else from being scammed and stop cyber criminals in their tracks.