Library of Congress Federal Credit Union

Cyber Safety Tips for Students

Back-to-school season comes with a lot of moving pieces. New schedules. New teachers. New logins. New apps. Maybe a new laptop, tablet, or phone. And, of course, at least one charger that will mysteriously disappear by the second week of school.

With so much happening online, cyber safety deserves a spot on the back-to-school checklist too.

Students use technology for almost everything now: school email, homework portals, group chats, online shopping, payment apps, streaming accounts, gaming, and social media. That convenience is helpful, but it also gives scammers more ways to reach them.

The good news is that students do not need to become cybersecurity experts. A few simple habits can go a long way.

Watch Out for Fake Emails and Texts

Scammers are very good at making messages look real.

A student may receive a text or email that looks like it came from a school, bank, delivery company, online store, streaming service, or payment app. The message may say there is a problem with an account, a package is delayed, a payment failed, or a password needs to be reset.
Before clicking, take a moment to check.

• Does the sender look right?
• Were you expecting the message?
• Is it asking for a password, code, payment, or personal information?
• Is it trying to scare you into acting quickly?

When something feels off, do not click the link. Go directly to the official website or app instead.

Use Passwords That Actually Protect You

It is tempting to use the same password everywhere. It is easy to remember, especially when students already have a long list of school logins. But if one account is hacked, scammers may try that same password on other accounts.

Students should use strong, different passwords for important accounts, especially email, school portals, banking apps, and payment apps. Avoid using names, birthdays, school names, pets’ names, or anything easy to guess.
When available, turn on multi-factor authentication. Yes, it adds an extra step. No, it is not the most exciting part of anyone’s day. But it can help stop someone else from getting into an account.

Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it is not always secure. Students should be careful about logging into financial accounts, shopping online, or entering sensitive information while using Wi-Fi at coffee shops, airports, libraries, dorms, or other shared spaces.

Also, double-check the network name before connecting. Scammers can create fake Wi-Fi networks that look similar to real ones. When possible, confirm the correct network with the school, business, or location.

Keep Phones, Laptops, and Apps Updated

Software updates are easy to ignore. Most of us have tapped “remind me later” more times than we should admit. But updates often fix security issues. That means they help protect devices and accounts from known risks. Students should keep phones, laptops, tablets, browsers, apps, and antivirus tools updated. Turning on automatic updates can make this easier during the school year.

Be Smart With Payment Apps and Online Deals

Payment apps make it easy to split pizza, pay for tickets, buy used books, or send money to a friend. They also make it easy to move too fast. Before sending money, double-check the username, phone number, or profile. Only send money to people you know and trust.

Students should also be careful with online marketplace deals, concert tickets, textbook offers, apartment listings, and “easy money” opportunities. Scammers know students are often looking for ways to save.

A good rule: if someone pressures you to pay quickly, move the conversation off the platform, or use an unusual payment method, slow down.

Protect Personal Information

Students may be asked to share personal information for school forms, jobs, scholarships, clubs, apps, or online accounts. Some requests are normal. Others may not be. Be careful before sharing:

• Social Security numbers
• Student ID numbers
• Bank account information
• Debit or credit card numbers
• Passwords or one-time codes
• Birthdates
• Home addresses

Legitimate organizations should not pressure students to share sensitive information through a random link, unexpected text, or unsecured message.

The Bottom Line

Cyber safety is part of being ready for the school year.

Students do not need to know everything. They just need to build a few steady habits:

• slow down before clicking;
• use strong passwords;
• be careful with public Wi-Fi;
• protect personal information; and
• ask for help when something does not feel right.

A little caution can help protect accounts, money, privacy, and peace of mind all year long.