Electronic devices have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. We rely on them to access sensitive online data and store valuable personal and work-related information.  

A recent study indicates that only one in five Canadians feels confident in handling a cyber-attack.* This is where taking proactive measures to secure and maintain your devices comes in handy.  

IT Services offers some tips to ensure your mobile device and computer are secure.  

Mobile Device Cybersecurity Tips:  

• Set a security PIN (Personal Identification Number) to unlock your phone.
• Configure your mobile device to auto-lock when idle.
• Always download apps and games from trusted sources such as App Store, iTunes, or Google Play.
• Allow automatic updates for your operating system and apps.
• Use University's GlobalProtect VPN when accessing public or free Wi-Fi (required for University-owned devices).
• For mobile devices used to access University systems and resources, ensure your device is registered through Device Administration.  

For more information on mobile device security, visit the Mobile Device Security webpage.  

Computer Care Cybersecurity Tips:  

• Close work applications and browsers at the end of the day.
• Ensure your University-owned device is registered in device administration. Visit my myaccount.microsoft.com and look under the Devices section to confirm device administration.
• Shut down and restart your computer on a weekly basis.
• Enable automatic updates for your operating system, applications, antivirus, and firewall software.
• Install Microsoft Office from portal.office.com for regular updates.
• Use Company Portal or the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store to install other apps.
• Enable update checks for your applications, including your web browsers.  

For more information on computer care, visit the Computer Care webpage.  

While Cybersecurity Awareness Month concluded in October, IT Services continues to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues relevant to campus and encourages the UWindsor community to find helpful resources at: uwindsor.ca/cybersecurity

*Source: Get Cyber Safe Awareness Tracking Survey, EKOS Research Associates, Inc., 2020