Over time, faculty have been using more and more technology in their teaching. As we continue to live through the COVID pandemic, this has never been more evident. Here are some tips on how to be secure while teaching!

Share Your Screen Cautiously 

When you share your screen, make sure you are only sharing what you want your students to see. Shut down your email and personal accounts, sign out of chat apps, and review what tabs and bookmarks are visible. If you are sharing your Blackboard account, show it in “student preview” so you don’t accidentally show the grade center or other sensitive information. 

Protect Your Devices

You don’t want anyone to get a hold on the information on your laptop, phone, or mobile device, so be sure to always lock your screens in case you misplace a device. 

Protect Your Logins

Speaking of passwords, be sure to use secure passwords for your SBU logins! Passphrases (very long passwords in the form of a sentence) work best – they are more challenging to hack into. Multi-factor authentication is also beneficial. You can request a Duo account from DoIT here if you don’t have one already, and make sure to set up the Duo application on your smartphone or tablet, which is the easiest to use when logging in. Also, remember to set up a second device if you have one, such as a tablet or desk phone using the self-service portal. Never show your screen while logging into an account. This may give an indication as to what your password may be, and some logins show the actual character before changing it to an unidentified character. 

Click Cautiously

Be careful when clicking on links or opening attachments if you don’t know where they originated from. Tell students and colleagues you will only address emails sent to your SBU email address and sent from their SBU email address, so you don’t have to wonder who that suspicious email is from.

Model Safe Tech 

Knowing how to use technology well is not always the same as using it safely. Those who  grew up with technology being a part of their lives from a young age may not always give security the attention it deserves due to their increased comfort level. Others may overshare personal details about themselves without concern for the privacy or cybersecurity risks they may inadvertently expose themselves to. Model safety when using technology in your classroom and caution students when posting personal information online. 

For more information on how to stay safe online, check out DoIT’s Survival Guide for Safe Computing!