 Cybersecurity

Learn what to do if you clicked a phishing link, entered your credentials on a suspicious page, or sent money or personal information in response to a scam — including immediate steps to secure your account, protect your finances, and report the incident.

If you believe someone has unauthorized access to your NCU account, every minute counts. Learn the immediate steps to stop the damage, secure your account, and report the incident to IT.

A well-intended message may not get read or taken seriously if recipients think an email is a phishing scam.

Learn why backing up your data matters, where NCU recommends storing your files, and how to make sure your work is protected against hardware failure, accidental deletion, ransomware, and device loss.

Learn what malware is, how to recognize the warning signs on your device, how to avoid infections in the first place, and what to do if you suspect your computer has been compromised.

Macros are small bits of programming used to automate tasks that can also be used for spreading viruses and malware. Anti-virus programs cannot always catch all malicious macros. Opening an infected document can infect your machine, so it's important to take precautions.

Physical security is one of the most overlooked — and most effective — layers of IT security. Learn how to protect your workspace, devices, and university data from threats that don't require a single line of code.

Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system and/or data by encrypting it.

Learn out to remove hidden metadata from your files helps prevent the accidental sharing of sensitive info like your username, your physical location, or the history of changes made to a document.

Your phone or tablet likely has access to your NCU email, files, and accounts — making it just as important to secure as a laptop. Learn the essential steps to protect your mobile device and the university data on it.

Your NCU-issued computer is a gateway to university systems, student data, and sensitive institutional information. Learn the essential habits and settings that keep it — and everything on it — secure.

Your university password or passphrase is the key that provides access to your North Central services, such as email, financial systems, and various websites. Learning how to strengthen your university password or passphrase will help keep your private information safer. This article shares tips and best practices to help you stay secure.

You can also apply these dos and don'ts to your other online services, such as non-NCU email, credit card and bank accounts, e-commerce, and social networki

What is an IT security incident? What type of impact can a security incident have on the university? How do I report an incident?

Learn how to stay secure when connecting to wireless networks — including what makes a network unsafe, how to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, and when to use NCU's VPN.