Technology at Western - Things We Wish We Knew in First Year
Written by: Minelle Chowdry, 5th year BMOS AND Sharone Pandori, 4th year FIMS
When we first started our first year at Western, we were busy finding lecture halls, coffee spots, and learning how to survive midterms. But tech stuff? That felt like something only computer science majors worried about. Fast forward a few years, after interning with Western Technology Services (WTS), we now realize how much we didn’t know, and how much easier school would have been if we had stopped to find out! Lucky for you, we’re here to help you avoid our mistakes. With the tips and tricks we’ll share, you’ll be prepared to ace all things technology during your time at Western.
Resources & Support:
Let’s be real, university can be a lot. But WTS is your behind-the-scenes support crew helping you figure it out.
- WTS is on Instagram @westernuwts, and shares tips and tricks about campus technology, CyberSmart and more!
- The WTS Helpdesk, just like its name suggests, is here to help! Whether you’re locked out of your email, struggling with MFA, having a hard time figuring out OWL Brightspace, or need help with connecting to Wi-Fi on campus, they’ve got your back.
- Microsoft Office 365 is FREE for all Western students! That means you have access to full versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. No more stressing about software compatibility and paid downloads.
About Cyber Security
CyberSmart, also run by WTS, shares bite-sized tips to help students avoid phishing scams, protect their devices, and stay safer online - without the tech jargon.
Through our work on CyberSmart campaigns, creating content for WTS social media, and collaborating with Helpdesk, we came to understand that cybersecurity is not just a technical issue, it’s a personal one. No matter your faculty, role, or academic background, staying cyber-aware is essential. It’s about protecting your identity, your information, and ultimately, your future.
Here are six key lessons we learned during our time at WTS that we wish we’d known earlier:
1. It doesn't matter how tech-aware you are - the people behind cyberattacks are working HARD
At the start of university, we didn’t think cyber threats applied to us. We didn’t consider our lives to be all that “hack-worthy.” But during our time at WTS, we saw how phishing emails and scams specifically target students, often using things like scholarships, free resources, or pretending to be Western collecting tuition to catch your attention.
The Solution? Get familiar with what phishing looks like using the examples on the CyberSmart website, and hit follow on Instagram to stay in the loop for tips, tricks and alerts.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication is a must-have, not just “nice to have”
At first, we found Duo MFA a little inconvenient - it can feel like a pain to authorize every log-in. But learning how many security breaches are stopped by that second layer of protection gave us a new perspective.
TIP? Select 'Other Options' on your Duo to set up alternative methods of approving your login. That way, you’ll always have a way to log in, even if you forget your phone or you are travelling in another country without access to your local number.
3. A strong password is your first line of defence
Like most people, we used to recycle the same password variations for everything, thinking if it had a number and a symbol, it was good enough. But after finding out how attackers use automated tools to crack reused passwords, we realized it doesn’t matter how “clever” a password seems, it’s about how unique and long it is.
Solution? Switch to passphrases and consider using a password manager. Western’s CyberSmart site explains how to create passwords that are both secure and easy to remember.
4. Digital privacy starts with daily habits
It hadn’t crossed our mind how much personal data we were literally giving away with small actions like signing into random apps with our Western credentials, or sharing our dog’s names on public Instagram accounts. During our internship, we learned that small habits can lead to long-term negative digital exposure.
Solution? Schedule a monthly digital clean-up. Check out the WTS Instagram page @westernuwts for tips on protecting your identity online.
5. QR codes can be surprisingly risky
We used to scan QR codes without thinking twice, especially at events or in popular areas around campus. But working on a CyberSmart campaign about QR phishing taught us that malicious codes can sometimes be placed over legitimate ones, leading to fake login pages or malware.
Solution? Avoid scanning unfamiliar codes unless you trust the source. If you're unsure, manually search for the event or use links from official pages instead.
6. Public Wi-Fi is never the safest choice
We’ve all used public Wi-Fi before in cafes, stores, and airports without giving it much thought. But we learned that open networks can expose your data to risk, especially when accessing secure or personal information like banking websites or completing transactions (aka online shopping).Solution? When using Wi-Fi outside of your home or campus, connect to a VPN. On campus, always choose “uwosecure-v2”-it’s encrypted and safer than the guest networks.
Final Thoughts
When we were in our first year, we forgot to do our required CyberSmart Training (oops!). But now we know why the training actually makes a difference. It’s short, practical, and made for people like us. Not tech pros, just regular people that need to learn how to protect themselves online. If you take it now, you’ll be WAY ahead of where we were.
Interning with WTS and CyberSmart didn’t just teach us about security, it taught us about people. And how we all, regardless of faculty or tech background, have a role in making Western a safer place.
So, if you're a student just starting out thinking, "Cybersecurity has nothing to do with me," trust us, we’ve been there. But now we know better. And now, so do you.
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