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Leonia Public Schools

Scholarship. Citizenship. Excellence.

Technology Tips & Best Practices

 

 

Technology Tips & Best Practices

Leonia Public Schools is committed to protecting our network, devices, and digital assets. Follow these safety tips to browse securely and avoid cyber threats.

Quick Navigation: Click on any of the safety topics below to read the detailed guidelines.

Essential Safety Topics

  • Phishing Attacks on the Rise
    Learn the warning signs of phishing emails, the harm they can cause, and the immediate steps to take if you receive one.
  • Avoiding Viruses & Malware
    Keep your computer clean. Discover best practices for managing unexpected downloads, installing system updates, and using password managers.
  • Risks of Online File Converters
    Free online file converters often come with hidden costs. Protect your credentials from background downloads, malicious ads, and data scraping.

Phishing Attacks on the Rise

Identify, understand, and report malicious phishing emails targeting school staff.

Phishing emails are designed to look like authentic communications from trusted sources (like Google Workspace, Genesis, or school administration) to trick you into revealing login credentials or downloading attachments.

Protect Yourself

Area Details & Best Practices
Signs of Phishing Look for requests for sensitive info, mismatched links, unsolicited attachments, different domain extensions, lack of personalization, spelling errors, and urgent language creating panic.
Harm Caused Can compromise accounts, steal credentials or financial details, install ransomware/malware, or initiate fraudulent transactions.
Immediate Action If you suspect an email is a phishing attempt, report it, remove it from your inbox, and quarantine it for technical analysis by our IT team. Do not click any links.

Avoiding Viruses & Malware

Keep your devices secure by practicing clean download habits and software hygiene.

Viruses and malware usually require you to "invite" them in. This typically happens by downloading an unsafe file, clicking an infected link, or running unauthorized scripts on your school machine.

Key Security Measures

Security Tip: System updates contain patches for critical security loopholes. Always install them promptly.

  • Treat Downloads Like Strangers
    Never download attachments from unexpected emails. Be extremely cautious with file extensions like .zip, .exe, and .dmg. Even standard Office files can contain macros designed to trigger background script execution.
  • Keep Everything Updated
    Do not dismiss "System Update" alerts. Keep your operating system, web browsers, and antivirus clients fully updated to defend against active "zero-day" exploits.
  • Use a Password Manager
    Avoid reusing passwords across multiple portals. Utilize secure, enterprise-grade password managers (like Bitwarden or 1Password) to generate and store robust, unique passwords (20+ characters) for every service.

The Risks of Online Converters

Understand the security threats hidden behind "free" online converter tools.

While reputable web utilities (such as Adobe's official PDF tools) are safe, search engines are populated with "free" third-party converters (PDF to Word, Image resizing, video converters) that host security exploits.

Common Exploits of Free Converters

  • The "Double Download"
    After downloading your converted file, the website may trigger a secondary file transfer in the background containing infostealer malware or Trojans to harvest stored browser credentials.
  • Data Scraping & Harvesting
    When you upload documents containing personally identifiable information (PII) — like resumes, contracts, or tax sheets — to free converter sites, they scrape the text for sensitive information before converting the file.
  • Malicious Advertising (Malvertising)
    These portals are covered in fake "Download" and "Play" buttons designed to redirect your browser to install extension hijackers, adware, or notification spam systems.

Technology Help Desk Support

Access support resources and contact information for technical assistance.

If you encounter issues with device accounts, software warnings, suspected security threats, or network access, please reach out to the Technology Department immediately.

Contact Resources