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How to protect your personal information

Tips for how to safeguard yourself and the University
In today's digital age, safeguarding your personal information is more important than ever. Learn about privacy risks, how to avoid them and tips to ensure your personal details and information are protected.

Your personal information includes anything from your name, address, and phone number to more sensitive data including personal identity documents like your passport and drivers' licence, health and financial information, visa details, academic records and your student ID. 

If this information is compromised, it can lead to identity theft and financial loss, among other serious consequences. 

Tips for protecting your personal information 

The University is committed to protecting your personal information and ensuring a secure digital environment. The tips below provide information on how you can take your own steps to protect your data. 

Five tips

1

Don't attach personal information to University emails or chats unless it is specifically requested as part of a process. This is especially important for highly sensitive information like passports and medical certificates. By limiting the sharing of such information, we can better protect your privacy and ensure that your personal details remain secure.

2

Be wary of email phishing scams attempting to trick you into providing personal information. Pause and think before you click on links or open email attachments, and report all suspicious emails. 

3

Set secure passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. The University uses Okta to provide MFA when accessing University applications. Read our MFA Okta guide to set up MFA on your devices

4

Keep your Unikey safe and never share your access to University systems. 

5

Be cautious when using public wi-fi and avoid accessing sensitive information or conducting financial transactions over public wi-fi networks, which are often unsecured.

Read more about keeping your information safe and protected at the University

How you can contribute to a safe and secure environment 

We all have a role to play in ensuring the personal information of our peers and wider University community remains safe and secure. Here are two ways you can make an impact. 

Two tips

1

Stay informed. Familiarise yourself with the University’s privacy policies and procedures which explain how your information is collected, used and disclosed.

2

Report suspicious activity. If you notice any suspicious activity or potential security breaches, report it immediately. 

For potential email phishing, you can report it through the ‘Report Message’ button in Outlook and contact the University Shared Service Centre on 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) +61 2 8627 1444 (option 4 for ICT) or via email ict.support@sydney.edu.au.

1 October 2024

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