The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Academic Engagement (OAE) supports the DHS mission by building, improving and leveraging relationships with the academic community. Through this ongoing series, read how OAE actively engages with the academic community in the United States and leads initiatives related to international students, among other key focus areas.

It is important for all students—including F and M international students—to recognize the risks associated with internet usage and take simple yet important steps to protect themselves.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). NCSAM is an annual initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of cyber security while providing tools and resources that can help you stay safe online.

In partnership with NCSAM, Stop.Think.Connect. is a year-round campaign that provides you with access to the resources and tools you need to make informed decisions when using the internet.

You can find tip cards, presentations, and social media guides for keeping your online information safe and developing safe cyber habits on the Stop.Think.Connect. Student Resources page.

To help protect your information online, Stop.Think.Connect. recommends that you:

• Create strong passwords. Use a mix of letters, numbers and characters.
• Remove personal information from your online profiles. Do not include your address or phone number.
• Lock down your privacy settings. Make sure to set all your privacy settings to “private” or “friends only.”
• Be careful whom you connect with. When using social networking sites, only connect with people who you know in real life.
• Avoid using location-based services. “Checking in” to restaurants and other locations can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if someone is stalking you.

To help campuses in the United States strengthen their response to cyber threats, DHS’s OAE has also invited the academic community to participate in the 2017 National Seminar and Tabletop Exercise (NTTX) on Oct. 10-11. NTTX is an annual event that prepares its participants to respond to campus emergencies. The 2017 NTTX event focuses on a failure in campus infrastructure caused by cyberattack.

For more information about NTTX and the other ways OAE supports DHS’s cybersecurity mission, visit DHS’s website or email AcademicEngagement@hq.dhs.gov.