Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great reminder that protecting your personal information, academic records, and Georgia Highlands College accounts starts with simple cybersecurity habits. While GHC provides security tools and protections to help keep student accounts safe, your awareness and actions remain one of the strongest defenses against cyber threats.
CISA’s Core 4 are four simple cybersecurity practices that help individuals protect themselves and their organizations from today’s most common cyber threats.
The Core 4 Cybersecurity Practices
Avoid and Report Phishing Scams
Phishing attacks are designed to trick you into revealing passwords, personal information, or financial details. Be cautious of unexpected emails, text messages, links, attachments, and login requests. If you receive a suspicious email in your GHC account, report it using the KnowBe4 Phish Alert Button.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords help protect your accounts from unauthorized access. GHC requires password complexity requirements designed to make passwords harder to guess, crack, or reuse. Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts.
Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and a Password Manager
GHC requires MFA through Duo Mobile, adding an extra layer of protection to your account. Even if your password is compromised, MFA helps prevent unauthorized access. A password manager can also help you create and securely store strong, unique passwords.
Keep Software Updated
Security updates help protect your devices from newly discovered vulnerabilities and threats. Be sure to keep your personal computers, smartphones, tablets, browsers, and apps up to date by installing updates whenever they become available.
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT responsibility. By staying alert for phishing attempts, protecting your password, using Duo Mobile, and keeping your devices updated, you help protect both yourself and the GHC community.