Especially for Students

• Security Awareness in the Residence Halls
• Tips for Living in Shared Housing
• Information for Parents

Security Awareness in the Residence Halls

Each residence hall room is provided with an "always-on" network connection for each resident. Whether you choose it use it or not is up to you. This network connection allows you to access U-M computing services, such as e-mail, web browsing, FTP, storage, and department-specific resources. Your uniqname and password are required to use most of these resources. For this reason, it's crucial to protect your password like it's money! While it's OK to share your fridge and food, it's never a good idea to share your password!

Here are a couple of hints for protecting your password:

• Learn how to create a safe and secure password using a combination of letters and numbers. Never write your password down!
• Use the "change password" (U-M Login required) feature to create a new password if the security of your password is ever in question.
• Get into the habit of logging out and shutting down your computer when not in use so that others can't gain access to your files and programs.

This lesson also holds true for your credit and bank cards, Social Security card (or number), and M-Card. While we think that the residence halls are very safe places, a few students do experience ID theft in the halls each year.

Here are some tips for protecting your personal and financial information:

• If you don't absolutely have to have an important piece for ID with you (like your Social Security card or passport) leave it at home! These are official documents that you do not want to have to replace. They are also very valuable to identity thieves, and can cause serious problems if lost or stolen. If you need to have them for work or travel, store them in a secure, locked location.
• Don't carry more cards or ID than you can easily keep track of. Keep your important ID and bankcards on your person during the day. Leaving credit cards lying about your room only invites theft. M-Cards should also be carried with you at all times too (except maybe when you're showering!). If your M-Card is stolen or lost call U-M's Department of Public Safety from any campus phone at 3-1131.
• Keep your banking arrangements as simple as possible. The fewer accounts, cards, and statements you have, the easier it will be for you to manage your money. Review all charges to your statements for accuracy, and never write your PIN numbers down where others can find them.

Now a Few Words About Identity Misrepresentation

Some students think it's funny to send e-mail, text messages, or make phone calls impersonating another person. However, these pranks can have serious consequences. Remember that using, creating, or possessing a false identity can be a violation of the Statement of Students Rights and Responsibilities and those found responsible for a violation could face suspension or even expulsion.

There's a lot more helpful information in the Something for Everyone section.

Tips for Living in Shared Housing: Greek Houses, Northwood Community Apartments, Off-campus Apartments and Co-ops

• Keep your credit cards and all official forms of ID safe and out of view. While you may trust your roommates, you never know about their guests!
• Talk with your roommates about mail deliveries to make sure that you receive all mail that's addressed to you. Collect ALL mail (including "junk" mail) that comes to your name from the mailbox area and community living spaces. If you are expecting mail that doesn't arrive, follow up with the Postal Service.
• Place any mail that contains sensitive personal information or payment (to a bank or student loan program, for example) in a secured mailbox rather than an open "out" basket or other public area waiting for pick-up.
• Shred unwanted credit card offers that are addressed to you rather than just dropping them in the trash. In fact, an inexpensive electric document shredder is a great investment for a shared house or apartment.
• Pay attention to what goes in the trash! "Dumpster-diving" is a common way for identity thieves to collect enough personal information to steal your identity.
• Get into the habit of logging out and shutting down your computer when not in use so that others can't gain access to your files and programs.

There's a lot more helpful information in the Something for Everyone section.

Information for Parents

Even so, the tactics and skills you use to protect yourself at home must be adapted for the college living environment. In school, most students share living spaces with many others and must learn to be mindful of their personal possessions and any behaviors that can put themselves at risk for theft of any kind.

Learning to be responsible for one's personal information is an extension of the skills needed to protect one's personal possessions. For example, leaving a computer or phone unattended during a short library break is the kind of behavior that can easily tempt theft. The same is true for careless behavior with extra credit cards, bank statements, payroll stubs or any other printed material that contains sensitive personal information. Students must be educated to recognize and protect their personal information.

Devices such as computers, cell phones, and PDAs can create problems above and beyond material theft. For example, students who are careless about logging out of secure sites run a risk of having someone else commit a malicious act using their identity.

On the similar topic, we ask that you discuss with your student the seriousness of impersonating another person through the misuse of technology. Students sometimes think of these behaviors as innocent pranks, but these "pranks" can have serious consequences. The University has several policies pertaining to these issues.

Password protection is very important. A student who keeps his or her passwords and/or pin numbers in an easy-to-find computer file (or worse yet, written down where someone else could see them), is setting him or herself up for a variety of potentially serious consequences. We ask students to keep their U-M password private, even from trusted family members.

Parents should make sure that their student brings to school only the banking, credit, or ID cards that are absolutely necessary. Original documents, such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, or passports, should be left at home unless absolutely needed for travel or work. If these documents come to school with a student, they should be kept in a locked, secure place. Limiting the number of credit or bankcards to a minimum will help reduce risk. If important personal documents need to be mailed (either to or from school), use only a secure delivery method.

Please use this website as a resource to educate yourself and your student. We welcome your comments and suggestions on this important issue.

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