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Cybersecurity: Security at Home

For Staff · Tech Tips · Cybersecurity

The Same Habits, Everywhere You Go

The habits that protect the district protect your family too. Most of us carry a phone that holds our email, banking, and photos, and scammers target phones with malicious apps, text messages, and QR codes just as hard as they target inboxes. This page is the short version for home.

Part of Cybersecurity Awareness for Staff.

Think Before You Click Six Habits for Home On Your Phone Handouts

Think Before You Click

“Think before you click” is a simple but powerful cybersecurity principle. It reminds us to slow down, pay attention, and carefully consider what we’re about to do online. Cybercriminals count on people acting quickly or impulsively. Just one careless click can allow them to install malware, capture your keystrokes, or steal your passwords and account access.

Email

Is the message genuine?

Check the sender’s address, spelling, and context. Ask yourself: Did I expect this email?

Files

Attachments

Only open files from people or sources you trust — and only when you were expecting them.

Links

Hover first

Hover over a link before clicking. Does the destination look legitimate? When in doubt, type the address you already know.

QR Codes

Scan with care

Scams involving QR codes have increased significantly. Check for a sticker pasted over the original and read the link your camera shows before you tap.

Social Media

Fake stories & videos

Be cautious of fake stories, videos, or links designed to mislead or spread harmful content.

Public Wi-Fi

No password, no security

If a network doesn’t require a password, it isn’t secure. Use a VPN to protect your connection, and save banking for home.

Stop. Look. Think. Before you act.
Stop! Look! Think! graphic reminding staff to pause and consider before clicking a link, opening an attachment, or acting on a request.

Not Sure About a Link?

Paste it into the Bitdefender Link Checker before you open it, or look up a site’s reputation with the URLVoid website reputation checker. Neither replaces caution — a brand-new scam site can pass both.

Six Habits for Home

If your family does only these six things, you have closed most of the doors scammers use.

  • Use strong, unique passwords for every account — a password manager or generator does the remembering. See Passwords and Two-Step Verification for the rules we use at work; they work at home too.
  • Update software and enable automatic updates where available — on your computer, phone, router, and smart-home devices. Updates fix the security flaws attackers use.
  • Secure your devices when not in use — a lock screen with a PIN, fingerprint, or face unlock on every device.
  • Keep your work-related data separate from your personal data — school files stay in your district Google Drive or OneDrive, not on a family computer.
  • Remain skeptical of all requests for sensitive information — no legitimate bank, agency, or IT department asks for a password or verification code out of the blue.
  • Think before you click — the same rule, everywhere.

Turn on two-step verification for your personal accounts too — email, banking, and social media first. It is the one step that still protects you after a password leaks, and most services now offer it under Security settings.

On Your Phone

Don’t let your guard down because the screen is small. Be as careful on your phone as you would be at a desk.

Only Official App Stores

Apps & permissions

Never install an app from a link in a browser or a text. Read the reviews, and say no to permissions an app has no reason to need.

Texts Are Email Too

Smishing & vishing

Treat links in text messages, WhatsApp, and Messenger the way you treat email links. Never give account details on a call you didn’t place.

Public Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Connections

Don’t auto-join unfamiliar networks, turn Bluetooth off when you’re not using it, and save banking and sign-ins for a network you trust.

Scan QR Codes Safely

Menus, parking, flyers

Use your camera’s built-in scanner, check for a sticker pasted over the original, read the link before you tap, and never type a password or card number on a site a QR code sent you to.

Lost or Stolen Phone?

If it had your district email or authenticator app on it, open a ticket or call (405) 872-7800 the same day so we can sign the device out of your accounts. Then use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) to lock or erase it.

Handouts

One-page flyers from KnowBe4’s security team. Good for the fridge.

Questions?

Reach the Technology Department at (405) 872-7800 (extension 7800 from a district phone), or open a ticket. Connecting a personal device to district Wi-Fi is covered on Staff Personal Devices.

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