Week 4: As cybersecurity awareness month finishes, we have one last request…

October, the  21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month, is in the rearview now, but we have one more request for you.

Hopefully you’ve read and acted on our first two requests:

• Week 1: Remove the claremont-etc network from your devices.
• Week 2: Update your software and watch for phishing attempts.
• Week 3: Week 3: October is (still) National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and we (still) want you to act | IT News

For our last request, we have a couple of options, but we’d love if you did both.

Option 1. Improve your HMC credentials password

What?

Last week, you installed a password manager (right?).  Now consider using it to change your HMC credentials password to something stronger. 

Why?

Since your HMC credentials gain you access to so many valuable things, you should make sure it has a very strong password.

How?

Instructions: How do I reset my HMC credentials password?

Option 2. Strengthen your HMC credentials security questions.

What?

If you ever get locked out of your account, you can call the Help Desk and they will ask you the “security team” questions that you created, perhaps a very long time ago.  

Why?

Twice in the last month, strangers called the Help Desk attempting to gain access to people’s accounts. One attempt succeeded (briefly) because the challenge questions were easily guessable.

How?

You can update your “response challenges” (aka security questions) in the same place as you updated your password. Instructions.

Drop by the Help Desk in Sprague to get help with any of the practical suggestions we provide or review what you have in place to protect your own data as well as the college’s data.  

Thanks in advance for taking action on this last request of cybersecurity awareness month!