Read best practices and tips

Learn practical cyber security tips and best practices that will help you safeguard your personal and institutional data.

  • July 20, 2026

    The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) offers a free service called Canadian Shield that helps Canadians stay safe online by preventing access to known malicious domains.

  • Person adjusting a Wi‑Fi router with while holding a smartphone, with a laptop on a wooden desk in the background.

    June 10, 2026

    Almost every home network starts with a wireless (often called Wi-Fi) network. This means securing your wireless network is a key part of protecting your home.

  • Illustration of a central server securely exchanging emails and files with laptops and folders through a connected network.

    May 27, 2026

    Email applications such as Microsoft Outlook are suitable for everyday communication and must not be used to share or store Level 4 data, which requires encryption.

  • May 13, 2026

    This handbook serves as a reference for U of T researchers to travel securely, confidently and responsibly.

  • May 11, 2026

    This guide helps you discover, drawing on open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods, what information about you is publicly available, and take practical steps to reduce unwanted exposure

  • Person sitting at a desk using a computer displaying a large video conference with many participants in a grid layout.

    May 4, 2026

    To protect participants and reduce disruptions, meeting hosts for video conferencing should take steps to secure their online meetings and prevent unauthorized access.

  • Person holding a laptop surrounded by illustrated icons of spam messages, notifications, and email alerts

    April 14, 2026

    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts. However, attackers are increasingly using MFA fatigue tactics to bypass it.

  • Person sitting on an airplane wearing headphones and using a smartphone.

    March 18, 2026

    Protecting personal information, research data and university systems starts before you leave campus. Whether you’re travelling for work, study or research, use the resources below to safeguard your devices and data.

  • Group of people seated in a row on chairs, using laptops and mobile devices.

    March 18, 2026

    If you’re travelling with a short‑term loaner laptop, phone or tablet provided by the university, review these recommendations before departure.

  • Person sitting in an airport waiting area, holding a smartphone.

    March 18, 2026

    A short guide with practical steps to safeguard research data, devices and accounts while travelling for academic work.

  • Hands typing on a laptop surrounded by travel items, including a map, passport, camera, boarding passes, photos, a toy airplane, and a cup of coffee on a wooden table.

    March 18, 2026

    A pre‑departure checklist to help you configure, pack and secure your devices and research materials.

  • Three people stand by a glass wall covered with sticky notes and charts, reviewing and discussing the information.

    August 20, 2025

    This article introduces three lightweight modelling approaches: STRIDE, DREAD and attack trees. They are ones that research teams can use in a single brainstorming session and return to as a shared security compass.

  • July 14, 2025

    Support and resources are available for students, staff, faculty and librarians travelling internationally for university-related activities such as conferences, study abroad programs, internships, research or fieldwork.

  • A woman carefully reviews a potentially fraudulent message on her mobile phone.

    July 14, 2025

    Protect your accounts and your data from phishing by following these tips to identify and report phishing attempts.

  • A traveller using her mobile device at the airport.

    April 25, 2025

    Learn how to prepare your devices, minimize data exposure and reduce the risk of loss or compromise while abroad.

  • Using safe password to protect your computer system.

    February 14, 2025

    Creating a strong password can make all the difference in protecting your personal information. Follow this guide for how to create strong and secure passwords.

  • One researcher working with a microscope while the other person documenting on a laptop.

    November 11, 2024

    Securing your research environment is a journey of awareness and improvement determined by the amount of risk you are willing and able to accept. Small security considerations and process changes can drastically increase your ability to protect your data and identify, respond to and recover from security incidents.

  • Researchers working together to build a prototype product

    November 11, 2024

    One of the key security risks to the University identified by Information Security is attacks targeted at researchers. While many of these threats extend beyond research, the scope of research activities and the value of intellectual property increases the risk from sophisticated attacks, espionage and foreign interference.

  • Researchers studying their data on a computer monitor

    November 11, 2024

    Research information security looks to protect your research information, data, intellectual property and systems by identifying, understanding and addressing potential information and cyber risks. By considering these risks, you can reduce the potential of data loss, unauthorized knowledge transfer and agreement breaches.

  • A group of people having a discussion in the library.

    November 11, 2024

    Information Security provides advice, assistance and services related to the current and future cyber security realities of research to improve your competitiveness and productivity.

  • A group of students using digital devices in a study area.

    October 10, 2024

    We spend so much of our lives online that our digital world has a significant impact on our physical and mental well-being. By adopting secure practices, you can enhance your digital experience and enjoy peace of mind as you explore the virtual world.

  • A woman working on a data driven application.

    October 10, 2024

    We must ensure that the data in our care is not only secure but also managed with integrity and ethical considerations. Here are some actions you can take to protect data that you collect and handle within your department.

  • A group of people using social media on a mobile phone

    October 8, 2024

    Identity thieves and hackers can use what you post on social media platforms to steal your personal information, posing a risk to your privacy and online reputation. Use these tips to conduct a check-up for your social media privacy health.

  • A graphic depicting people navigating through documents on privacy policy

    September 27, 2024

    Learning how to read a privacy policy will help you make informed decisions before using services or tools that collect personal information.

  • Students collaborating in a computer lab.

    August 7, 2024

    Learn more about information security and gain practical experience without starting your education or career from scratch.

  • A person interacting with personal and secure data.

    August 7, 2024

    Resources created by the Research Information Security Program are available to help you make informed cyber security decisions about your data.

  • A graphic depicting internet fraud via phishing which can use lost of private information and money.

    August 6, 2024

    Find out how to detect internet fraud and stay safe online with these expert insights from Andrew Wagg, Manager, Incident Response and Alex Lu, Incident Response Specialist at U of T.

  • Computer screen showing a ransomware message as a person sits at a desk facing the monitor.

    July 25, 2024

    Ransomware can have a significant impact on an organization – from shutting down operations to the loss of years of research data. That’s why it’s critical for the U of T community to understand the risks and know how to prevent ransomware attacks.

  • Online shopping

    July 15, 2024

    Before loading up your virtual shopping cart, use this list of cyber security best practices to ensure you are protecting your information.

  • Hands holding mobile phones that are secured by MFA.

    July 12, 2024

    Multi-factor authentication is essential to secure your accounts. It’s quick to set up, easy to use and improves security.

  • A clock beside the text, "Tax time"

    March 14, 2024

    Tax scams are designed to frighten people into making payments via money service businesses, pre‐paid cards, gift cards or Bitcoin. Learn about tax scams and how you can avoid falling for them.

  • A laptop sending out multiple emails

    January 26, 2022

    While email is one of the most efficient and prevalent forms of communication today, it brings with it the risk of privacy breaches when sharing sensitive data.

  • Shield with a lock depicting cyber security.

    October 29, 2021

    The University of Toronto’s Information Security Incident Response Plan is available to help information technology managers, non-IT unit leaders and other employees handle security incidents effectively.

  • A person working from home by using her laptop.

    June 5, 2020

    In the landscape of hybrid work, our personal devices have become more than mere tools – they can also be our companions in work productivity. For safe and effective account management on your personal devices while working remotely, follow these five tips.

  • A sample screen of the Security Planner website showing ways to keep your data secure with a personal plan.

    May 5, 2020

    U of T's Citizen Lab provides the community with an easy-to-use guide that helps internet users navigate complicated privacy and security concerns in an ever-evolving digital world.

  • A person browsing the internet on her laptop.

    June 12, 2018

    Internet users have the world at their finger tips while browsing online – that's why it's crucial to take precautions to avoid falling for hacking or phishing attacks.

  • A group of people connected via social media

    June 12, 2018

    With the increase in social media usage, identity thieves and hackers can use information posted on social media to steal your personal information. Follow these tips to stay safe on social media.