This knowledge base article has several reminders around cyber safety best practices for online security. These are practices that you should adopt with your SPS technology and they are recommended for your use of personal technology.
- Email Warnings – SPS issues two warnings that appear at the top of some emails as follows.
If you see a red email banner, the email is coming from a non-SPS email address even if there is a familiar name listed under Sender.
If you see a red email heading it means that the email contains words like “gift card” that indicate an attempt at fraud.
WARNING: This email contains words or phrases that indicate it may be phishing or otherwise unsafe. Do not open attachments or click links in this email unless you confirm that this is a legitimate email intended for you.
- Phishing Emails – If you receive an email asking you to do things like click a link and change your password or enter other information, you should always be suspicious. These will sometimes be made to look legitimate, including things like the SPS logo or other familiar content. When in doubt, do not open the links, do not open attachments, and don’t respond to the sender, simply delete the email. If someone is legitimately trying to reach out, they can reach out in other ways.
- Impersonating Emails – Outside entities have been creating email accounts using the name of SPS staff members and then sending emails asking for favors (like buying a gift card on their behalf). For example, a fake email might be created with the name of a Principal and then emails sent to all members of their staff. If you receive an email with the name of someone you know, but it is not from their SPS email address, delete it. If they really need your help they would call or use their SPS address.
- Restarting your Computer – You should restart your computer at least once a week to ensure your computer has the latest security updates. “Restart” is an option in the menu when you shutdown your computer and restarting is not the same thing as shutting down the computer and turning it back on.
- Shutting down your Computer – When you are not using your computer, you should shut it down (if you simply close the cover of your laptop it may go to sleep, but remains connected to the internet).
- Personal files on your SPS Computer – We recommend against keeping documents with your personal information on your SPS computer. If you need to use your SPS computer to send documents somewhere, we simply recommend deleting them when you have sent them or no longer need them on your computer.
Thank you for your attention to these cyber safety recommendations and reminders!