As we live more and more of our lives online such as for teaching and learning, studying, socialising and shopping, the University is committed to providing an inclusive, safe and respectful digital environment. This means that students should be able to study, reach their full potential and have a positive student experience free from online harassment, intimidation, and threatening or violent behaviour.

All students are expected to take responsibility for their attitudes and behaviours online.

It is important that everyone at Brunel considers how to keep safe online at all times both academically and socially. You should think carefully about what information you share, protect your personal details and manage your privacy settings appropriately.

The following are helpful tips:

Think about who will see what you share – only share views, opinions and experiences that you are comfortable with others knowing
Check your privacy settings – make sure they are appropriately managed
Do not share information, photos or descriptions of sexually explicit or pornographic content
Do not share any personal information or photos of young people under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults
If you have been associated with inappropriate material online they should seek to get help as soon as possible either from the University or external agencies and to consider reporting the incident
If you come across something that upsets or distresses you, stop looking at it straight away. You might even want to turn off your device and take a break. Some people find that using a distraction technique also helps, such as focusing on your breathing, watching TV or chatting to a friend
Never share your Brunel network password. We will never ask you to reveal it, and you should only enter it in a website with .brunel.ac.uk in the address.
Phishing emails contain links so Think Before You Click! Don’t click on links that appear in random emails and instant messages. Hover over links that you are unsure of before clicking on them to check that they are who they say they are.
Be careful with what you reveal about yourself on social networks.
Protect your personal details. What you share online can affect both your privacy and the privacy of others, so it’s important to think carefully about what you post. You should avoid posting your personal details online such as your address or telephone number. Remember that photos or online check-ins for an event can also give away personal information, not just written posts
Avoid spending too much time online – take regular breaks, assert your needs and boundaries and if you’re feeling overwhelmed by too information in lots of different formats, talk to a friend.

If you’re worried about any of the above, get in touch with IT Support and report any suspicious or unusual behaviour immediately.

University advice

Browsing the web

Web browsing can present serious risks to information security if you don’t follow best practice. Fraudulent sites and attacks from malware and viruses are all very real threats to you and to Brunel.

Best practice guidelines

When you type a URL into an address bar, check your spelling before pressing <Enter>. Many fraudulent websites adopt domain names that are similar to legitimate websites
Nothing should divide the domain (e.g. amazon) and the top level domain (for example .com or .co.uk)
Make sure your web browser, antivirus and other software is up to date. Vulnerabilities are often found and fixed by software vendors
Avoid unnecessary plugins or extensions for your browsers. The more gadgets you use, the more vulnerable you are
Don’t use your Brunel password for other sites and vary passwords from site to site. This will ensure a breach on one site won’t affect another
Never click on pop-up antivirus alerts. If a pop-up message appears, make a note of the message and the URL and send both to IT
Avoid leaving devices containing data like USB sticks, CDs, DVDs unattended. If possible, make sure they are encrypted
If you think someone may have tampered with your PC, check to make sure you don't have a key logging device
If you’re using a shared PC or shared office, remember to lock your PC by pressing Ctrl, Alt & Del and selecting Lock This Computer
If you’re using a mobile device (phone or tablet), use biometrics or a security pin lock to unlock it. If you’re using a laptop, set a password
If you need to replace or repair your PC, laptop, smart phone or tablet, make sure you remove any Brunel information from it first

You are encouraged to seek help if you have concerns about someone’s online behaviour or are worried about keeping safe. We suggest you do this as soon as possible so that you can stop any issues escalating.

You can talk to:

a personal tutor, a lecturer or another member of staff such as a Taught Programmes Office administrator in your College
the Student Support and Welfare Team either face to face by visiting the Student Centre or via internal phone 67045 or email studentsupport@brunel.ac.uk
use the Report and Support Portal to report online harassment - you can disclose your personal details or make an anonymous report
The Union of Brunel Students' Advice & Representation Centre (ARC)
anyone else whom you feel comfortable with

Staying safe online