Almost every college student owns a personal computer system, tablet, or smartphone or has access to internet resources to connect with classmates and teachers, transcribe reports, and documents.
Despite being a tech-savvy age, some students are not up-to-date on data security and cybersecurity steps.
Personal smartphones used in college, without effective network protection, can cause a breach or identity theft according to this site. It’s good to know the Google protection and privacy resources that can help maintain the details confidential and protected.
Unfortunately, many students don’t care about future consequences while sharing a racy photo or text. They must be very cautious when exchanging online information.
Why do college students need to take online security steps?
College student activities appear to lead students to unusual security challenges.
From the different items of private details needed for assignments or class reporting to the huge computer viruses on academic institutions to the accessible living conditions where other students may enter and go across public areas to obtain entrance to your dorm room.
The mobile is more important than laptops, and it’s packed with your addresses, notes, passwords, and other private information.
If you unintentionally remain logging in to a public device, forget your laptop open, or drop your mobile, you’ve not just made yourself exposed to stealing your school papers or the loss of your session paper, but you’ve probably also allowed criminal entry to your private details.
And this compromised data or personal information is easy to use to manipulate your name, ruin your payment history, accumulate unauthorized defaults, and even adversely affect your financial assistance or grants.
Online security and privacy tips
1. Lock your device
If you are using internet banking applications, social media platforms, or order credit card products from a personal laptop or desktop, you can use the lock screen settings. Adjust the settings of your desktop or mobiles to automatically log out, shut down, or hibernate if not being used in specific minutes.
You need to create a password to disable the lock screen to unlock the business applications – different codes, swipe code, face recognition, to fingerprints software are available based on the system.
2. Stop sharing your personal details
We are a little bit little too optimistic – and thus, no matter how insignificant it appears to be to allow your friend to use your log details now, it might continue to haunt you.
Do not exchange your student Identification numbers, passwords, credit card details, or payment details with someone else.
And take a moment to rethink your social networking messages or emails that show your location or contain images of your credit and debit cards. Yeah, well, the photo at lunch with your mates might be an opening for an unknown individual.
3. Keep changing passwords regularly
When an online criminal knows the user credentials on one account, they may also attempt to hack into other systems.
Attackers might do long term damage if you’re using the same login details anywhere. Use separate account authentication updates and plan a big password update every several months.
Do not share the login credential with others, even though they appear to be well-intentioned.
Employees and web store agents would never request the login credentials, and they could be suspects disguised as authoritative figures.
4. Stop downloading free media
Most of the virus and malware are transferred to your computer through free media. Streaming hosts and Torrents lead you to these attacks.
You will not know about that virus in your device, and it will be automatically saving every type on your computer.
These types could be login credentials and credit card details. These keyloggers will be saving and transferring these details online. Online attackers can get your personal information and misuse it to harm you. Only use the authorized websites for downloading torrents.
Do not visit privacy websites and illegal content, so there would be fewer chances of downloading malicious software.
5. Update your device
You need to update the software as soon as new updates are available. Although this might be a bit boring, this is one of the most important security measures. Software updates are given on all software applications and specific computer programs.
Not only can these upgrades bring several changes to the device, like new functionality, elimination of outdated features, upgraded drivers, security patches, and, most notably, security gap fixes.
When the irritating dialogue box comes up reminding you there are new changes out, you should update the software instead of putting the notification off.
6. Be aware of phishing scams
Phishing is described as “deceptive email messages intended to trick users into uploading unsafe files, following malicious links, or uncovering confidential financial or private information.”
The makers of phishing attacks are getting more efficient, and thei\zr emails are more difficult to spot. Professional type visuals, optimistic topic sentences, and amazing deals are among the strategies they are using to get you to just let your standards slip and believe a post that seems genuine.
If a link is opened, the malware acts like stealing user information and/or attack your computer. The main tip is to think more carefully before you access a message or select any of the references if you feel anything “wrong.”
7. Use a VPN
A VPN is an extra layer of encryption among you and the broader internet.
So it’s always important to enhance your security and anonymity. Yet it’s a much better strategy when you’re in college using the internet.
A college is an ideal location for anyone trying to steal information.
There seem to be many users linked to public Wi-Fi who don’t take steps to protect themselves against data pirates. It’s a reasonable guess there will be someone out on your college searching for easy prey.
And like a desktop key, a reliable Virtual Private Network service provider like ExpressVPN (check for the student discounts) tells the world that you’re not easy prey.
Conclusion
A strong dose of common sense would certainly enable you to remain informed of cybersecurity risks. Use a VPN, lock your device, and update your passwords frequently.
Run device scans periodically and keep the antivirus applications updated. Don’t open suspicious websites or post too much of your personal info.
You also have to check the app that identifies your missing phone so you’re more able to recover it. Usually, unfortunate situations occur; the best you could do is plan for the losses and take measures for protecting the financial situation.
Kim Marks 
Nicola Holder