Cyber Security - Protecting Our Information

Overview

Cyber Security

Cyber security is how staff, students and Queen's University Belfast working together reduce the risk of cyber-attack. Cyber security's core function is to protect the devices we all use (laptops, computers, tablets and smartphones), and the services we access, from malicious attacks. It's also about preventing unauthorised access to the vast amounts of information we work with on a daily basis.

For latest information on cyber security Get Safe Online (External Website)

Protecting Your Devices

Travelling with your device
General Advice
- Secure your computers and mobile devices.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN).
- Travel only with the data you really need.
- Be wary of using public or shared computers.
- Make use of secure remote access to do work (e.g. use Outlook Web Access for email)
Travel to high-risk countries

If you’re travelling to higher-risk countries, then you may need to be prepared for a different experience e.g. we are aware of people visiting China experiencing a range of security issues such as restricted access to popular services (including Gmail, Wikipedia and social media sites); government monitoring of communication services; untrustworthy wifi connections; restricted use of VPN; and devices left in hotel rooms being accessed without authorisation.

You should always check the UK foreign office advice before travelling and take the following basic precautions:
- Don’t take your own laptop, take a new build “loan” laptop with no encryption.
- Don’t store any data that isn’t publicly available.
- Don’t take mobile devices like iPhone, iPads and USB storage devices.
- Where possible use a VPN to help secure your network connections.
- Don’t check emails or remotely access any other services that store University data
Encryption
Data encryption software is used to protect sensitive or confidential data where data will be used in a mobile environment. For details see the Encryption Guide

General Security Advice

Always check where an email came from, don't assume that the sender is always who you think it is.
Always think twice before clicking a link
Report security incidents or scam emails asking for your credentials to the IT Service Desk immediately.
Never leave your phone, tablet, or laptop unattended.‌‌

Advice on Phishing and Ransomware

This 4-page PDF defines and gives advice to help you respond to phishing attempts

For information on Ransomware please see Protecting Against Ransomware Attacks

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Information Services is implementing Microsoft Defender for Office 365 which will add some additional features to protect users from malware, phishing and spam emails.

^{Last Updated: November 2020}

Cyber Security - Protecting Our Information

Cyber Security

Protecting Your Devices

Protecting your smartphone

General Advice

Travel to high-risk countries

General Security Advice

Advice on Phishing and Ransomware

Microsoft Defender for Office 365