Be Smart About Sharing on Social Networks
Social media has become a hotbed for crime for all demographic groups. This is because cyber threats rely on human interaction, not just technical exploits. Attackers use sophisticated AI powered social engineering to trick people into clicking unsafe URLS, opening malicious attachments, entering their credentials, sending sensitive data, transferring funds and more. Attackers will use social media to achieve several goals including:
- Gaining access to a users’ credentials
- Installing malware on user’s devices
- Stealing money from users
In order to safely engage on social networks you can follow the tips below:
Be cautious of where you enter your username or password: Unless you have navigated to the website directly and verified the URL in your browser, think twice before entering your username and password. At UHN most malicious websites are already identified and blocked by security systems automatically but please verify links before clicking when using personal devices.
Be cautious of any odd emails or requests: Always treat odd requests and emails with extreme suspicion, even if they appear to come from someone you know. If you receive a request for money or credentials, always contact the person through another channel to verify.
Never download software or files from links on social networks: Malicious links and ads are everywhere online, and they frequently find homes on social media. Confirm before you click.
Don’t overshare information: Be careful about publicly sharing personal information on social media networks that could be leveraged to try and launch a targeted attack. Tip, share vacation pics AFTER returning not DURING your vacation (as everyone will know you are not home).
Select Strong Passphrases: It is encouraged to select passphrases rather than passwords and use a password manager application to store them.
Reminder: It Starts with You! Be sure to participate in the quizzes and phishing simulations that will be taking place throughout the month. Not only will these activities serve as a healthy refresher for cyber security awareness – there are also many fabulous prizes to be won!
If you have any questions, please contact UHN Digital Security at DigitalSecurity@uhn.ca.