Archives - Security Best Practice


Use caution with links and when entering website addresses

Be careful when clicking directly on links in emails, even if the sender appears to be someone you know. Attempt to independently verify website addresses (e.g., contact your organization’s helpdesk, search the internet for the sender organization’s website or the topic mentioned in the email). Pay attention to the website addresses you click on, as […]

Once posted online, always posted

Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn’t want your parents or future employers to see. Recent research found that 70 percent of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.

Delete unknown cookies that have built up in Firefox

It’s a good idea to periodically review and remove cookies, especially those that you’ve acquired from unknown sources. To do this on Firefox, click the hamburger menu and select Options. From there, click the Manage Data button. You can search for cookies from specific websites or review all of them and delete what you want. […]

Check if a website malfunction is local to your machine or experienced by everybody

Have you ever come across a website that appears to be down (maybe because of a cyberattack), but you aren’t certain if your machine is the problem? Copy the URL, then go to downforeveryoneorjustme.com, paste the URL into the search bar, and submit it. They’ll tell you the answer, one way or the other.  

Keep all of your electronic device software current

Manufacturers issue updates as they discover vulnerabilities in their products. Automatic updates make this easier for many devices—including computers, phones, tablets, and other smart devices—but you may need to manually update other devices. Only apply updates from manufacturer websites and built-in application stores—third-party sites and applications are unreliable and can result in an infected device. […]

Position your two monitors carefully for ergonomics and security

If you use two monitors, optimize their positioning. If you use each monitor about the same amount, arrange both directly in front of you, with a slight curve. If you use one more than the other, place it in front of you, and curve the other toward your dominant eye. Also, always position monitors discreetly […]