Stay Safe Online with These Practical Tips

by Charles Morrow-Jones, Director of Cybersecurity, Office of the CIO

Posted: October 10, 2006

One in a Series of Articles for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Are you looking forward to celebrating Babbling Day? Some people are, and it’s just one of the many events that make October an exciting and festive month. If that’s not for you, there’s still time to take note of October as National Applejack Month, National Pretzel Month, National Dessert Month, and National Cookie Month. With this many celebrations going on, why is it important that we observe October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

For one thing, Ohio State's Office of the Chief Information Officer is staging a campaign this autumn to Stay Safe Online, and National Cyber Security Awareness Month lands neatly in the midst of it. Of course, it is important to observe safe computing practices all the time, and Ohio State's Safe Computing web site is dedicated to just those concerns. But until you make it to web site, here are a few suggestions that should keep you from looking for international Screaming in Frustration Day:

• Keep your computer up to date. Just as you follow the basic rules of car maintenance, take the time to maintain a secure computer. This means keeping your computer's operating system and protective programs, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware, up to date. Also learn about and use your computer’s firewall. If you need assistance with any of these topics, see the Safe Computing web site or check with the 8help staff by calling 8-HELP or visiting the web site at 8help.osu.edu.


• Be smart about what you put online. Albert Einstein reportedly said "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." As with the printing press and other methods of human communication, computers can deliver our inadvisable or inaccurate musings far and wide, and not only that, record them for what seems like eternity. Don’t think so? Google Dan Quayle to see how 20-year-old remarks have become etched in electronic history. At a more personal level, think about what you have online on Facebook.com or on a personal blog. Then think about how it will read in five years when you’re looking for a better job, or in 30 years when you’re in the running to be OSU's next athletic director or president.


• Carefully guard all of your personal information. Most of us already know that it is important to protect our names, social security numbers, and credit card and bank account numbers, but we should be protective of more of our personal data: phone numbers, birthdays, addresses. All of these can have value to the identity thief. Many are part of the public record but can be suppressed with a bit of effort. To keep your personal information from proliferating, don’t give out any information about yourself without double-checking that it is really necessary, and never provide personal information to an unknown/untrusted recipient.


• Be aware of what personal information is already out there, and eliminate what you can. For example, Google your home phone number using the format (xxx)yyy-zzzz. Don't be surprised to see your name and address appear, as well as a map that guides the viewer to your house! (Note: to remove your phone number—permanently— from the Google Phonebook, use Google's online form.)


• Be alert to scams. The majority of bad guys rely on trickery to achieve their goal, which is usually to make money. They use e-mail, phishing scams, phones, and the web to offer "too good to be true" prices on merchandise, get rich quick schemes, and other ways to acquire your money. To be sure that you don't fall victim, be suspicious of any e-mail, web site, instant message or phone call that requests any kind of personal or financial information.

In summary, the best way to observe Cyber Security Awareness month by is by becoming appropriately paranoid. Stay alert, question every urgent message that involves your personal information, be proactive in keeping your computer safeguards up to date and working, and check out safecomputing.osu.edu.