Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

Saying goodbye to the 2024-2025 academic year is bittersweet. But whether you leave your computing device at work, leave it at home, or take it with you on a trip, make sure to protect your device from scams and compromises. 

• Install and run anti-virus software that is provided by Penn at no cost. Sophos Home is the University-supported anti-virus software for personal devices running Windows and Mac operating systems. 
• Back up your data on a regular basis. Remove unnecessary or no-longer-needed data from your devices. Make sure to be a good steward of Penn data.
• Encrypt your device to ensure against unauthorized access while traveling. See the link below for information on how to encrypt your device. 
• Duo Mobile can work without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. To manually generate a code, open the Duo application, tap on the “University of Pennsylvania” account and enter the code that appears in the two-step verification screen.
• Read email and text messages carefully before you respond. If you feel it is suspicious, report it to your IT support staff, whether you are at home or traveling. As good practice, avoid clicking on email links and attachments that prompt you to take immediate action. Hover over the link to verify its authenticity. Neither the University nor financial and government institutions will ask you for your credentials and sensitive information in an email. 
• Check the U.S. Department of State travel advisory for destinations you should avoid visiting. 

Have a relaxing holiday!

Sophos Home: https://www2.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/antivirus-desktops-and-laptops

Data risk classification: https://www2.isc.upenn.edu/security/data-classification

Two-step verification before you travel: https://isc.upenn.edu/pennkey/two-step-verification-you-travel

More on encryption: https://www2.isc.upenn.edu/security/encryption

U.S. Department of State travel advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/ 

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For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts%23One-Step-Ahead.