Emergency Management

Cyber Security

Cyberspace and its infrastructure are vulnerable to a wide range of risks from both physical and cyber threats and hazards. Sophisticated cyber actors and nation-states exploit vulnerabilities to steal information and money as well as develop capabilities to disrupt, destroy, or threaten the delivery of essential services. Many crimes that required a physical capability to perpetrate are now able to be carried out through cyberspace. This includes exploitation, conspiracies, bank and financial fraud, intellectual property violations, and other crimes that can have substantial harm. Improving cybersecurity is key for infrastructure resilience.

What can you do?

• Ensure software is up to date for your systems
• Create strong passwords of eight or more characters with a combination of upper/lowercase, numbers, and special characters
• Run routine scans for virus
• If you find a problem, disconnect from the internet and conduct a full system restore
• Disconnect when not in use. Remove computer, gaming device, or tablet from the internet.
• If at work, or on CWU technology, call the IT department immediately
• If at a public place, inform the librarian, teacher, or manager immediately

Identity Theft

• Protect passwords for computers and cellphones
• Do not share passwords, or personal information online such as full name, birthday
• Ensure proper privacy settings on social networking sites
• Do not write down passwords

Fraud and Phishing

These attacks may be used through email in an attempt to get a user to reveal personal or confidential information that the scammer can use. This may take the form of a website designed to look authentic or a personalized email.

• Turn off the option to automatically download attachments
• Saving and scanning any attachments before opening them
• Before providing information, call and verify the source that they are indeed the ones who sent the email
• Without clicking, use your mouse to hover over an attached website link to see the full address

Cyber Bullying

Cyberbullying and poor ethics are threats that anyone can face from strangers and their peers. Posts online about another person can spread virally, resulting in serious, unwarranted damage to an individual's reputation or personal well-being.

What to do:

• If being bullied, tell a trusted individual.
• Report online - you may be able to get them banned by using features built into the site or app.
• Contact the police. In cases where unconsentual photos are taken and can't be removed on the site, it may be time to file a police report.

Cyber Predators

Cyber predators search online for other people to use, control, or harm them in some way. These predators tend to target teens and young adults, of any gender regularly regardless if the individual is over 18 years old. Social networking sites have enhanced a predator to target individuals, especially if they share personal information on their profile.

Protect yourself by:

• Being aware, you never know who is behind the screen, so be protective of yourself and your personal information
• If you are being targeted or harassed online, notify a trusted individual and/or the proper authorities