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32 easy tips against hacking

Every month, the University of Oslo (UiO) is exposed to millions of attacks from hackers, botnet and others who have bad intentions with our IT services. This is how you can help us from preventing the attackers from taking advantage of our services.

The most important advice

  1. Be wary of links in an e-mail. Are they going to the correct place?
  2. Use different passwords on different websites and social media.
  3. Turn on automatic updates on both your computer and the software you are using.
  4. Be aware of where you store your documents.
  5. Know your computer and do not install more software than necessary.

When you are at home

  1. Do no let others use your work computer.
  2. Turn on automatic updates.
  3. Take backups of pictures and everything else that is important to you.
  4. Know your computer – know what you have installed.
  5. Use Kiosk, View or Remote Desktop. Do not use the local disk for storage.
  6. Do not insert USB sticks that you do not know the origin of.
  7. Remember what you are storing in the cloud and where the documents will be synchronized.

When you are travelling

  1. Be careful with unknown WiFi. Us Kiosk, View or Remote Desktop.
  2. Encrypt your laptop if you are storing documents on the disk.
  3. Consider using a different laptop for your journey.
  4. Encrypt USB disks in case you lose them or they are stolen.

When at work

  1. Know the IT regulations at UiO.
  2. Be aware of changes in your computer's behaviour.
  3. Use UiO's home disk and public disks rather than other cloud services.
  4. When you need an IT service – choose the right one. Ask local IT or USIT.

When reading e-mails

  1. Be sceptical when clicking links. Are they pointing to the right place?
  2. Check the reply address – is your reply being sent where you think it is?
  3. Do not trust the sender. E-mails can be easily faked.
  4. Have a concious relationshop with what kind of documents you are sending to e-mail addresses that are not UiO addresses.
  5. Do not send sensitive information via e-mail.
  6. Never send your username or password in an e-mail. UiO will never ask you to do that.

When on social media

  1. Use different passwords for different services.
  2. Protect the e-mail account you use for social media. Use two-factor authentication where possible.
  3. Be aware what you are sharing in public and what you are sharing with friends.
  4. Be aware when friends are suddenly writing strange things or sharing strange links. This may be a virus or a scam.

When using your phone

  1. Do not install more apps than you need.
  2. Avoid apps that are not from Google's Playstore or Apple's Appstore.
  3. Be extra careful with e-mail links – it is harder to check the validity when on your phone. 
  4. Lock your screen.
  5. Make sure that your phone and apps always are updated.
  6. Do not store work related documents on your phone. Empty the download folder regularly.
  7. Enable tools for remote deletion, in case of theft.