Safeguard Your Social Security
Protecting your SSN data is crucial. In our video, loosely based on a popular 70's buddy cop TV show 'Starsky and Hutch', Swoop and Coop work to ensure that an employee doesn't share their SSN information with a hacker without proper protecting it. Swoop and Coop also want to share these important tips for safeguarding your SSN when transmitting it digitally and reduce the risk of your SSN being compromised:
- Use Secure Upload Sites: Coordinate with the recipient to use a secure upload site (https: or ftps:) to ensure your data is transmitted safely.
- Encrypt Documents: Encrypt Microsoft Office or Adobe documents with passwords before sending them. Then, share the password directly via phone for secure viewing.
For detailed guidance on encryption in Microsoft Word and Adobe, you can refer to the following links:
When sending password-protected Adobe or Microsoft Word documents via email, it is crucial to use a separate form of communication to share the password. This practice ensures that the document remains secure even if the email is intercepted. For example, you can share the password through a phone call, a text message, Microsoft Teams, or a secure messaging app. Remember, never include the password in the same email as the protected document.
Disguises
Earlier in our training, we learned that only official emails originate from an @lssc.edu or @student.lssc.edu address and do not include a warning banner. Hackers will try to send emails from accounts that sound like official college emails with reasonably sounding employee titles to deceive you.
In our video: Coop receives an urgent email and wants to take immediate action. Swoop helps protect our employee, and together they stress the following points:
- Disguised Emails: Emails that seem official, such as TheCollegePresident@gmail.com, are actually disguised phishing emails.
- Untraceable Funds: Hackers often request types of funds that are not traceable, making it harder to recover lost money (gift cards).
- Verifying Legitimate Emails: Learn how to identify and verify real LSSC emails for our employees to ensure you're communicating with the right people.