Digital Security

Keeping Your Information Safe

Orland School District invests a significant amount of time protecting our users and their data. You can learn more about this here. There are a number of steps that you can take to keep your data safe as well!

Understand the Threats to Your Digital Content

Scammers often use email to trick you into giving them personal information including passwords, account numbers or social security numbers. Some scammers also try to trick you into opening attachments or download software that can provide them access to view your activity or digital content on your device. Most attacks come through email Phishing Attacks. You can learn more about this on the FTC's website.

What Do Phishing Attacks Look Like?

Emails from Familiar Companies - Often scammers design their phishing emails to mimic real companies you know and trust. They state that you might need to update billing information, verify passwords due to unusual activity, contain a fake bill or late notice. If successful, they get you to open an attached file or click on a link to their website tricking you to log in using your real credentials.

Emails from Familiar People - "Spear Phishing" has increased significantly. Instead of designing emails to send to 1,000s of recipients, scammers are carefully crafting emails for individuals using public information from websites or social media. These emails may include requests may appear to be from you boss, co-worker, friend or family member.

What to Look For

  1. Be suspicious with any email requesting sensitive information.

  2. Watch out for urgent subject lines or those asking to verify your account (unless you expecting such an email).

  3. Be suspicious of emails that don't already know some of your information, general emails requesting information are likely a scam.

  4. Hover over links without clicking on them. You will be able to see the link and verify it will take you to the expected website.

  5. Is the email from a legitimate domain? (If the @domain in the email doesn't match the company's real site URL, probably a scam)

  6. Be wary of pop-ups what are often used in phishing attacks.

  7. Trust your gut. If it is from someone you know, does the request seem out of character or use different vocabulary from that individual?

  8. Make sure you are always on a secure website (starts with https:). Your browser will have a lock icon in the address bar.

What Should You Do If You Respond to a Phishing Email

According to the FTC website:

If you think a scammer has your information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, go to IdentityTheft.gov. There you’ll see the specific steps to take based on the information that you lost.

If you think you clicked on a link or opened an attachment that downloaded harmful software, update your computer’s security software. Then run a scan.