Staying safe online helps protect your personal information, College accounts, and the College of Marin community. Learn how to recognize cybersecurity threats, protect your accounts, and report suspicious activity.
Recognize Cybersecurity Threats
Cybercriminals use emails, text messages, and phone calls to trick people into sharing information or granting access to their accounts.
Phishing
Fraudulent emails that appear to come from trusted people or organizations.
Smishing
Fraudulent text messages that try to trick you into clicking links or sharing information.
Vishing
Fraudulent phone calls or voice messages, sometimes using AI-generated voices to impersonate trusted people.
Be cautious of unexpected messages asking you to act urgently, provide passwords, or open unfamiliar links.
Read our Protect Your College Account article for practical tips on recognizing scams and staying secure.
Protect Your College Account
Simple security habits can help prevent unauthorized access to College systems and personal information.
- Use a strong, unique password for your College account.
- Never share passwords or verification codes.
- Only approve multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests when you are actively signing in.
- Keep your devices and applications updated.
- Lock your computer when stepping away.
Visit Passwords & Accounts for help with account access, password resets, and MFA.
Report a Security Concern
Reporting suspicious activity promptly helps IT identify potential threats and protect the College community.
Contact IT if you:
- Receive a suspicious message involving College accounts or services.
- Click a suspicious link or open an unexpected attachment.
- Enter your College password on a potentially fraudulent website.
- Receive unexpected MFA approval requests.
- Notice unusual activity involving your College account or device.
If you believe your College account has been compromised, contact IT promptly. Do not wait for additional suspicious activity.
Stay Informed
Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. Visit Technology News & Alerts on the IT homepage for security awareness tips, important announcements, and current advisories.
For information about technology service interruptions, visit the IT Service Status page.