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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Coronavirus Disease 2019 updates

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March and implement a national lockdown from 26 March.

UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated regularly with the latest COVID-19 information.

Campus updates

 
  •  Information
  •  Normal
  •  Caution
  •  Alert

Daily updates


Friday, 5 February 14:20, 5 February 2021
Monday, 4 January 16:50, 4 January 2021
Friday, 18 December 11:30, 18 December 2020
Thursday, 19 November 09:30, 19 November 2020
Friday, 13 November 12:40, 13 November 2020
Friday, 16 October 10:05, 16 October 2020
Wednesday, 14 October 12:50, 14 October 2020
Tuesday, 22 September 14:10, 22 September 2020
Friday, 11 September 10:05, 11 September 2020
Monday, 31 August 12:20, 31 August 2020
Wednesday, 12 August 10:20, 12 August 2020
Friday, 7 August 11:24, 7 August 2020
Thursday, 6 August 18:26, 6 August 2020
Monday, 27 July 14:00, 27 July 2020
Wednesday, 15 July 09:30, 15 July 2020
Monday, 13 July 14:25, 13 July 2020
Monday, 6 July 16:20, 6 July 2020
Thursday, 25 June 10:15, 25 June 2020
Tuesday, 23 June 12:30, 23 June 2020
Thursday, 18 June 17:35, 18 June 2020
Wednesday, 17 June 10:45, 17 June 2020
Tuesday, 2 June 12:20, 2 June 2020
Friday, 29 May 09:25, 29 May 2020
Monday, 25 May 14:00, 25 May 2020
Thursday, 21 May 12:00, 21 May 2020
Wednesday, 6 May 10:00, 6 May 2020
Tuesday, 5 May 17:05, 5 May 2020
Thursday, 30 April 17:10, 30 April 2020
Tuesday, 28 April 10:30, 28 April 2020
Friday, 24 April 09:35, 24 April 2020
Thursday, 23 April 17:00, 23 April 2020
Wednesday, 22 April 14:25, 22 April 2020
Monday, 20 April 17:45, 20 April 2020
Friday, 17 April 12:30, 17 April 2020
Thursday, 16 April 09:45, 16 April 2020
Tuesday, 14 April 11:30, 14 April 2020
Thursday, 9 April 09:00, 9 April 2020
Wednesday, 8 April 15:40, 8 April 2020
Wednesday, 1 April 15:50, 1 April 2020
Friday, 27 March 11:40, 27 March 2020
Thursday, 26 March 18:30, 26 March 2020
Tuesday, 24 March 15:40, 24 March 2020
Monday, 23 March 15:40, 23 March 2020
Friday, 20 March 16:00, 20 March 2020
Thursday, 19 March 09:15, 19 March 2020
Wednesday, 18 March 16:00, 18 March 2020
Tuesday, 17 March 12:50, 17 March 2020
Monday, 16 March 17:15, 16 March 2020

Campus communications


New SRC and other updates 16:44, 4 November 2020
Virtual graduation ceremonies 13:30, 21 October 2020
Online staff assembly and other updates 15:09, 30 September 2020
Fee adjustments and other updates 15:21, 16 September 2020
Call for proposals: TLC2020 10:15, 26 August 2020
SAULM survey and other updates 15:30, 5 August 2020
COVID-19 cases and other updates 15:26, 5 August 2020
New UCT Council and other updates 15:12, 15 July 2020
Upcoming UCT virtual events 09:30, 15 July 2020
Pre-paid data for UCT students 14:25, 22 April 2020
Update for postgraduate students 12:55, 20 April 2020
UCT Human Resources and COVID-19 16:05, 19 March 2020
UCT confirms second COVID-19 case 09:15, 19 March 2020
Update on UCT COVID-19 response 13:50, 11 March 2020
Update on COVID-19 17:37, 6 March 2020

Resources

Video messages from the Department of Medicine

Getting credible, evidence-based, accessible information and recommendations relating to COVID-19

The Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, are producing educational video material for use on digital platforms and in multiple languages. The information contained in these videos is authenticated and endorsed by the team of experts based in the Department of Medicine. Many of the recommendations are based on current best evidence and are aligned to provincial, national and international guidelines. For more information on UCT’s Department of Medicine, please visit the website.


To watch more videos like these, visit the Department of Medicine’s YouTube channel.

Useful information from UCT

External resources


News and opinions


Statements and media releases


Media releases



Read more  

Statements from Government



 
 

In an email to the UCT community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng said:
“COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, is a rapidly changing epidemic. [...] Information [...] will be updated as and when new information becomes available.”

 

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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