Area schools are preparing for the return of students, whether that is in-person or on-line. Now more than ever, educators are using Internet-based programs as educational tools.
Sound cybersecurity practices are vital in order to use the Internet safely, resulting in positive educational experiences. Below are five simple tips that help users safely surf the Internet.
- Verify on-line educational resources.
o If you are trying to fill the educational gap, there are a multitude of educational resources available. However, to ensure the sites are safe and reliable, obtain trusted and recommended on-line resources from your child’s educator.
o Be diligent. Only visit sites recommended by your school district, an educational professional or from a platform you know and trust. - Create strong account security.
o Create passwords that are not easy to guess. A strong password should include one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, a special character, a number and be at least 12-15 characters long.
o Further embrace security and enable multi-factor authentication when available. - Implement endpoint protection.
o Keep your computer or tablet safe through regular software updates or patches.
o If not already on your device, install anti-virus or anti-malware software. Periodically check to ensure the software is running properly on your device. - Practice video conferencing security.
o Use a platform provided by your educator. If one is not provided, select a trusted and verified platform. Follow their recommended safety guidelines such as creating passwords to join groups. - Keep your data secure.
o Logout of the computer when you have completed your assignment or are leaving your workspace.
o Logout of accounts, such as Gmail, Google Docs, Prodigy, i-Ready, etc., once you have completed the task.