Cybersecurity awareness: stay smart, stay safe, stay secure

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As we wrap up the month, it's a great time to review how you can protect yourself online. 

Fanshawe Campus Security Services encourages you to take the following steps to safeguard your personal information and stay alert to online threats. 

Phishing scams: don’t take the bait 

Phishing is a malicious attempt to trick you into giving up personal information through emails, texts, phone calls, social media or QR codes. These scams often appear to come from legitimate organizations. 

Watch for these red flags: 

• Poor grammar or spelling mistakes
• Messages from unknown senders with suspicious links or attachments
• Requests for personal or financial information (e.g. passwords, banking details, SIN)
• Urgent or threatening language (“Your account will be blocked”)
• Unusual payment requests (e.g. bitcoin, prepaid credit cards) 

Stay safe: 

• Never click links or open attachments from unknown sources
• Never share personal or banking information with unsolicited contacts
• Report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre 

Secure your social media accounts 

Your social media is a window into your life. Keep it locked down. 

Tips to protect your accounts: 

• Use strong, unique passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Set your accounts to private
• Be cautious of suspicious profiles (e.g. no posts, no mutual followers, odd follower counts) 

Think before you share 

Oversharing online can put your safety at risk. To protect your digital footprint, avoid posting: 

• Personal details like your phone number, address, school or workplace
• Real-time location data — disable location sharing when possible 

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Cybersecurity and privacy go hand-in-hand 

Privacy is a key part of cybersecurity. Learn how to prevent accidental leaks from your devices, apps and accounts. 

Cyber criminals are using increasingly sophisticated tactics — including AI-powered scams and social engineering — to target individuals. Human error is often the entry point for attacks, so staying informed is your best defense. 

If you suspect fraud or a cyber threat 

• Monitor your financial and social media accounts regularly
• Contact your bank immediately if you notice suspicious activity
• Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal info or directing you to unfamiliar websites
• Reach out to our IT Service Desk via desktop live help or visit connected.fanshawec.ca/contact 

Your vigilance helps keep our campus community safe. 

Stay smart. Stay safe. Stay secure. 

Campus Security Services and IT Services