This October, the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) would like to remind staff and students at the University of Pretoria (UP) about the risks related to privacy breaches, phishing scams and more, and offer pointers on how to stay safe online. 

An information page is available at www.up.ac.za/itsecurity. Here you will find articles on various topics related to cybersecurity as well as useful resources for staff, students and parents. Follow the hashtag #securitycheckUP on social media for updates.

What you need to know

• Password security is the first step. Be sure to use strong passwords that consist of letters, special characters as well as numbers, and never share your passwords with anyone. Incorporate multi-factor authentication wherever possible. You’re unlikely to give your banking PIN to someone; similarly, it is not a good idea to give your password to anyone. For more information, consult the following articles: ‘You are a target!’, ‘Passwords – your key to cybersecurity’ and ‘Two-factor authentication’. 
• All devices (including Apple products) are vulnerable. Consult our article ‘Phishing attacks that impersonate Apple’ to learn how to protect your Apple devices.
• Personal privacy is another important factor to consider. This applies to your own information as well as that of others. It’s vital to be informed of the correct way to share information online and what information to keep private. Consult the following resources to learn more: ‘I know who you are’, ‘Protect your privacy’, ‘Know when you secure’ and ‘Social engineering’.
• Cyber attacks and phishing scams are ever-increasing challenges and it’s important to be alert when interacting online. Learn how to spot a scam and be careful of sharing information via email and social media. Visit our ‘Scam warnings’ page to review whether a specific interaction has been flagged as a scam.  

Where to get help and information

ITS continuously updates the information on the cybersecurity awareness page, so visit it frequently for new articles and information about useful sites.

Staff members are welcome to contact the IT Helpdesk for assistance, advice and information. Email us at [email protected] or call us on (012) 420-3051.

Both staff and students may use the Portal at https://upsmax.up.ac.za to log a support call or to view our knowledge database.

Students can visit any of the official UP Computer Facilities for assistance and advice. Registered students can get assistance with their personal devices such as laptops or other mobile devices. Visit the information page to find the closest facility.  

There’s also a Useful Sites page which provides additional information as well as a quiz that will increase your awareness and show you how to spot suspicious information.