Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that affects all Americans, and everyone plays a part in keeping the Internet safe.

Please take these simple actions to help keep you, your identity, and your information safer online:

• Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on your sensitive accounts. This requires you to use an additional piece of information to verify your identity (such as a PIN sent to your mobile device) to provide an added layer of security.
• Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
• Maintain an open dialogue with your family, friends, and community about Internet safety.
• Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
• Be cautious about what you receive or read online—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You can get more detailed explanations of each topic above at: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Week1TipCard-%20508%20compliant.pdf

In addition, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College went a step further and joined the Stop. Think. Connect. Academic Alliance which is a nationwide network of nonprofit colleges and universities committed to promoting safer online practices and encouraging user awareness to avoid harmful cyber-attacks.  You can also join the campaign! You can signup and get more information at:  https://www.dhs.gov/friends-campaign-program