A Message From:
Gus Anagnos, Chief Information Security Officer, Office of the CISO
Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA, Chief Health Officer, USC Student Health; Division Chief for College Health, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Deborah Schleicher, PsyD, Director, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, USC Student Health
We would like to take this opportunity to remind all students of steps you can take to safeguard your privacy; be aware of location information available to others; and staying safe and empowered when using social, gaming, and dating apps. View these digital safety tips created as part of January’s Stalking Awareness Month and share with others.
Top Things to Consider
- Never share passwords, keep your identity numbers (social security, date of birth) private, and remember that email and public wi-fi are not secure platforms.
- Keep your regular schedule and locations private, including phone-based location sharing—share this information only with people you trust. If you end a relationship* on difficult terms, consider removing your former partner from accessing your location.
- Limit social media posts that indicate you’re not home or have purchased valuable items; post vacation photos after you have returned home.
- If you are using private chat servers, multiplayer games, and other online interactions with people you don’t know in real life, be cautious in sharing identifiable details about yourself (where you live, go to school, your full name, details available through photos of your room, etc.)
- If you are meeting people (in real life) from dating apps, meet in a public location, and stay in touch by phone with a friend. You can also use the “Walk me home” feature in the Mobile Safety app (powered by Livesafe) so you can invite a trusted friend to follow your movements. If you are on the campuses, the blue light phones can immediately connect you to DPS for any safety concern.
These tips can help keep you safe and help prevent identity theft, theft of valuables, stalking, and other crimes that are made easier when digital information is too easily available to others.
Campus Resources
If you have immediate safety concerns, please contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS): the University Park Campus number is 213-740-4321 and the Health Sciences Campus number is 323-442-1000.
*If you experience gender-based or relationship harm, including stalking from an acquaintance or former partner, a confidential advocate from Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services in USC Student Health can help you navigate through options, including safety options from campus resources and on or off-campus reporting options. Call 213-740-9355 (WELL) and ask to speak with an advocate or send a secure message to an advocate through MySHR. You can find additional information from SPARC, the organization that organizes Stalking Awareness Month each January, through activities and materials.
Learn more about information security at USC, including best practices and data security policies.
The health, safety, and well-being of our campus communities is always the university’s top priority. We hope you will keep these tips in mind as you navigate daily activities, both in cyberspace and in the physical environment.
