It's easy to stay safe online
A message from ODU's Chief Information Security Officer
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe and protected when using technology whenever and however you connect. ODU and Information Technology Services (ITS) are proud to support this online safety and education initiative.
So in the spirit of Cybersecurity Awareness, we want to encourage every member of the ODU community to take control of their online lives by practicing a few simple cybersecurity behaviors that can make a huge difference:
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Your MIDAS account is already protected with Duo two-factor authentication, but consider taking advantage of this added layer of security on all online accounts that offer it.
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Passwords are the first line of defense in keeping your accounts safe and secure, so make sure they are long, unique and complex. Worried about remembering them all? There are some great that will do the remembering for you!
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The best way to make sure your software and apps stay up-to-date is to enable automatic updates. And always make sure you're getting updates directly from the company that created the software.
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Once you know how to recognize some common phishing tactics, it's easy to avoid taking the bait. We urge you to go one step further, though, and report phishing emails to itshelp@odu.edu, then delete the message.
We want to help you, your family, friends, and our community stay safe all year long, too. We encourage you to After signing up, you'll receive a toolkit of free resources, including simple steps you can take to #BeCyberSmart.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA). For more information about ways to keep you and your family safe online, visit and