Technology Policies and Guidelines

• Ensure that your mobile device’s operating system and software is updated to the latest version which includes the latest mobile security features.
• Use a strong passcode (sometimes called the password lock feature) to protect the data on your mobile device.
• Review the privacy policies for apps that you download (i.e., what data does the app access?).
• Turn on encryption so that you can automatically wipe your device if it is lost or stolen.
• Do not use sites that require passwords, account numbers, or credit card numbers when you using a public WiFi hotspot (e.g., your local coffee shop).
• When banking and shopping using your mobile device, make sure that the sites you visit have a web address with https://. While this does not ensure complete safety, sites that have a web address with http:// are NOT at all secure.

Since scam tactics are increasingly sophisticated and rapidly changing, always be skeptical of an email containing these warning flags:

• The message is unsolicited and asks you to update, confirm or reveal personal identity information (e.g., full SSN, account numbers, network ID, passwords, protected health information).
• The message communicates a sense of urgency.
• The message has an unusual From: address or an unusual Reply-To: address instead of a “@ric.edu” address or other recognizable address.
• The (malicious) web site URL doesn’t match the name of the institution that it allegedly represents.
• The web site doesn’t have an “s” after “http//:” indicating it is not a secure site requesting secure information.
• The link in the pop-up doesn’t match the printed text.
• There are grammatical errors.

•  All Rhode Island College owned machines have anti-virus software installed on them.
• Make sure that your personally-owned machines have anti-virus software installed.
• Links to some free anti-virus software:
  • AVG Antivirus
  • Microsoft Security Essentials
• Keep your operating system (e.g., Windows 10 or Mac OSX) updated with critical patches.
• Keep your Adobe and Java software updated.
• For RIC owned computers, only install software from a reputable company, or use Rhode Island College licensed software.
• For your personally-own computers, only install software from a reputable company.
• Avoid disreputable websites (especially those sent to you in suspicious email messages described above).
• Always lock your computer when you are away from it, or it is not in use.

Passwords are used for various purposes at Rhode Island College. You use a password to gain access to MyRIC, email, Blackboard, SharePoint sites, and etc. Because these sites (and others that you may visit) contain private and confidential information, it is important to keep your passwords safe.

When creating a password, make sure that it is not a word in any language and that is long and strong, with a minimum of ten characters and a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Rhode Island College recommends passwords containing 10-14 characters and at least one of each of the following: upper case, lower case, number, and a special character.

You should also remember to:

• Keep your password secret, and do not share your password with others.
• Avoid using the same password for each of your online accounts (e.g., do not use the same password for your RIC accounts that you use for an online shopping account).
• Select a password that you can easily remember but that others cannot easily guess (If you must write down your password, store it in a safe place away from your computer, not on your monitor!).
• Change your password several times a year.