Working remotely: how to stay safe online

01 April 2020 | Story Cindy Mathys and Carla Bernardo. Photo Pexels. Read time 5 min.
You are the best form of defence against cyberattacks.
You are the best form of defence against cyberattacks.

Social distancing is the order of the day, causing millions of people around the world to work from home to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Working remotely means that you need to be extra vigilant when it comes to cyberattacks because cybercriminals are pulling out all the stops to try and trick you into clicking on and sharing information that could do more harm than good.

This handy guide from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) will equip you to spot any potential cyberattacks and ensure that the university network and your data remain protected.

YOU are our number one form of defence

ICTS has put numerous security measures in place to ensure that you have what’s needed to prevent cybercriminals from gaining unauthorised access to the UCT network.

During this time, you are going to receive many emails from UCT, colleagues, contacts and organisations whose mailers you have subscribed to. It’s imperative to always assess each email to ensure that it’s legitimate before acting. If you’re unsure, contact the sender directly to verify the email and the request. Cybercriminals like to add an element of urgency to their requests to get you to act without thinking.

When you receive ‘urgent’ emails, always check the following first:

  • correct email address
  • spelling and grammar
  • message tone.

If these all look correct but you’re still unsure, contact the sender directly to confirm their request. Rather err on the side of caution.

Cybercriminals love to send attachments that contain malware or bugs that can infect your computer. This may then provide them access to the UCT network and spread viruses to your colleagues. If you’re not expecting an attachment, or if the link has a completely different URL when you hover over it, contact the sender to verify its legitimacy.

Avoid those too-good-to-be-true lottery winner notifications or messages informing you that you’ve won a free trip, particularly if you haven’t entered any related competitions. Don’t click on the link. Don’t open the attachment. Delete the email and move on.

Go big at home to protect your network

One of the key tools you will need to work from home is wireless access – whether it is through fibre, ADSL, LTE or a mobile wireless router. Whatever the solution, use ICTS’s recommended steps below to ensure it is secure.

  • Administrator password: You can change your router’s network settings, but you require an administrator password to do so. A default one always comes with the device and a cybercriminal will know what this is. Secure your home network by changing this password to prevent any unauthorised access. Never share your password with anyone – if you do, you could end up being locked out of your own home Wi-Fi.
  • Sharing your Wi-Fi password: As soon as people find out you have wireless access, they’ll want to know the password. Try to share your password only with those you trust and who you know won’t share it with others. Always keep track of who has access to your Wi-Fi and ensure that those devices are regularly updated.

Complex passwords rules

Passwords are the keys to vast amounts of information. This information is important to cybercriminals as it can be used to steal your data, identity and hard-earned money. By keeping your password secure, you can prevent this from happening to you.

Make your password secure by considering the following tips:

  • Never share your password with anyone.
  • Keep your password safe like you would your bank PIN.
  • Create a password in another language.
  • Ensure your password contains a combination of letters and numbers.
  • Opt for a phrase that you can easily remember instead of a word.
  • Never reuse the same password.
  • Choose a password manager to help you manage all your passwords.
  • Select two- or multi-factor authentication when setting up accounts that require a password.

Updates are key

Computer or mobile devices often require updates and, in most cases, people choose to either ignore or postpone. These vital updates ensure that your device, operating system and software are protected against possible cyberattacks and often contain fixes to bugs in previous editions.

Don’t postpone. Update your software regularly to ensure that your data and device are safe.

Resources


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UCT’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.

In July 2022, the University of Cape Town (UCT) revised its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses in 2022.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.

 

Campus communications

 
2022

Adjusting to our new environment 16:50, 23 June 2022
VC Open Lecture and other updates 17:04, 13 April 2022
Feedback from UCT Council meeting of 12 March 2022 09:45, 18 March 2022
UCT Council
March 2022 graduation celebration 16:45, 8 March 2022
Report on the meeting of UCT Council of 21 February 2022 19:30, 21 February 2022
UCT Council
COVID-19 management 2022 11:55, 14 February 2022
Return to campus arrangements 2022 11:15, 4 February 2022

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.

 

“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.


Thank You UCT Community

Frequently asked questions

 

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.



If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

 

“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

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