Cyber security is an issue for every American who owns, or uses, a computer or mobile device. While many of us are aware that this is the case, most of us go about our daily lives giving very little thought to the security threats we face in the cyber world. This is even truer for the on-the-go college student.
College students often follow a hectic schedule, rarely paying attention to the very real threat emanating from their handheld devices and laptop computers. Here are the top four cyber security issues facing college students today.
1. Social Media
It’s the rare college student who doesn’t have a Facebook account or a Twitter handle. Why are these popular habits so friendly to phishers? Because people, especially young people, aren’t shy about sharing private information publicly on these social networking sites. If you have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, it is imperative that you have your privacy settings set appropriately.
2. Malware
College students spend more time on the web than any other group in the nation; college faculty comes in at a very close second. Cyber criminals are aware of this fact and install malicious software on sites most likely to be visited by a college student or employee. When visiting any website, it is important that the visitor is familiar with the page or has malware blocking software installed.
3. P2P Software
Peer-to-peer software was originally designed to enable people to share files and media with each other over the internet. As of late, spyware has become imbedded in many of these programs. Once spyware is installed on your computer, malicious individuals have access to your credit card numbers, financial details, passwords and even your social security number.
4. Fake Sites
Domain name hijacking is becoming a very real problem in the internet community. You may think you’re on your university’s homepage when you are really on a fraudulent site, set up only to gain access to your information. The most common way of setting up these counterfeit sites is by altering the domain name of the site. For instance, if your university’s website is www.myu.com, an individual may set up a site with the address www.myu.org. Because so few people pay attention to the domain name, it’s very easy to do. Always be sure that you are visiting the page that you intend to visit!
Cyber security is a very real concern among the college set; so, what can you do?
- Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
- Run this software at least once a week.
- Empty your internet cache every time you turn your computer off.
- Be aware of the sites that you are visiting. If you think there may be any threat at all, exit the page immediately.
- Never input personal information when you are unsure of a site; particularly any financial information or your social security number.
By playing it smart, you can avoid many of the dangers lurking in the World Wide Web. Always know the sites that you are visiting, keep account privacy settings updated and never share personal information if you are unsure as to the authenticity of the site. With a bit of common sense, you can avoid many of the pitfalls of the internet.
Jeremy Clark is an accountant and content contributor comparing accelerated online mba programs for those who want to study from home.