Did you receive a "phishy" email? Report it.

If you receive a suspicious email in your Lone Star College email — or even one that you think may legitimate, but you're worried about clicking a link or opening an attachment — report it and we'll do the investigating for you. There are multiple ways to report a "phishy" message (or even a phone call):

• Click the Report Message button when in Outlook or Microsoft 365,
• Submit the Report a Phishing / Scam / Spam Email form, or
• Call the IT Service Desk at 281.318.HELP (4357).

Cybersecurity Awareness Month at Lone Star College

October 2025

This October, Lone Star College joins the national celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM). Throughout the month, we’ll share tips, tricks, and resources to help you be cyber-smart and cyber-aware—whether you’re a student, employee, or both.

We’ll feature a new theme each week, plus a short quiz to test your knowledge. You can also join our live webinars to learn from experts and get your questions answered.

Week 1 (Oct 6–10): Strong Passwords & Password Managers

Tip #1: Make your passwords long.

• In 2025, every password should be at least 16 characters.
• Hackers can crack short passwords in seconds, but a 16-character password could take millions of years to break.

Tip #2: Keep them unique.
Never reuse passwords. Each account deserves its own strong, random password.

Tip #3: Use a password manager.

• Password managers make it simple to generate, store, and autofill strong, unique passwords.
• Common myths—like “if a password manager gets hacked, all my passwords are gone”—aren’t true. Password managers use encryption and don’t even know your master password.

Week 2 (Oct 13–17): Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Tip #1: Any MFA is better than none.
MFA adds an extra layer of protection beyond your password.

Tip #2: Some MFA methods are stronger than others:

• Best: Biometrics (fingerprint, FaceID) or authenticator apps (Google, Microsoft, Duo).
• Good: Hardware tokens, text or email codes (but beware SIM swap risks).
• Weak: Security questions (answers are easy to guess).

Week 3 (Oct 20–24): Update Your Software

Tip #1: Turn on automatic updates.
Updates fix security flaws that hackers exploit.

Tip #2: Update everything.
Not just your computer—phones, apps, browsers, even smart devices need patches.

Tip #3: Don’t ignore update prompts.
Delaying updates leaves your device open to known vulnerabilities.

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Week 4 (Oct 27–30): Recognize & Report Scams

Tip #1: Stop and think before you click.
Phishing emails and texts often create urgency (“Your account will be locked!”).

Tip #2: Check the details.
Look for misspellings, unusual sender addresses, or suspicious links.

Tip #3: Report it.
At LSC, forward suspicious emails to phishing@lonestar.edu. Reporting scams helps protect everyone.

Thank you for participating in Cybersecurity Awareness Month! By taking small, simple steps — using strong passwords, enabling MFA, updating your software, and reporting scams—you help keep Lone Star College and yourself safe online.

Stay safe online!