Resources

Supporting OU community members is our top priority

In this section you’ll find helpful information about getting settled at OU, cell phone purchasing information, recommended equipment and more! Feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions or need additional assistance.

Cybersecurity Best Practices

  1. Be aware of emails, text messages, and instant messages that require immediate action or ask for personal information. If an email job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Oglethorpe University is not responsible for issues arising from faculty, staff, or students providing personal information to fraudulent correspondence.
  2. Do not open email attachments or click on links from untrusted sources.
  3. Report suspicious emails sent to your Oglethorpe account to the IT Services Help Desk. Then delete the message.
  1. Create different passwords for different sites and use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols to make them hard to guess.
  2. Never share your passwords or personal information with anyone.
  3. Oglethorpe University’s password policy states that your password must be:
    • A minimum of 15-24 characters in length
    • Upper- and lower-case letters
    • One number and a special character (!, #,$,%)
    • Dictionary words are not permitted
  1. Set up automatic updates for your computer and mobile devices. Regularly restart them to complete the update process.
  2. Keep your web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.) current.

Ensure you have anti-virus protection installed on all devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, etc.). Please set it to update automatically and run virus scans once a week.

  1. Never leave your devices unattended in public locations.
  2. We recommend using a cable lock when working in public areas.
  3. Always lock your device when you step away.

Set up automatic backups of your devices and store the backup to a cloud service such as OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud.

  1. Be mindful of the information you share online, such as school names, email addresses, home addresses, and telephone numbers.
  2. Only use your personal devices when entering passwords or credit card information.
  3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi to access or enter sensitive information, such as banking information. Use the OgleNet network when on campus, and consider using a VPN to protect your Wi-Fi connection when traveling.

Always enroll accounts in two-factor authentication (2FA) when prompted. 2FA is an extra layer of security that requires verifying your identity before accessing sensitive information.

  1. Avoid visiting unknown websites or downloading software from untrusted sources.
  2. Be conscious of what devices you plug into your computer, as malicious software can spread through flash drives and external hard drives.

What you do online has the potential to affect everyone, whether you are at home or school. Practice good online manners and always report suspicious activities.