SAU 70 Responsible Use Policy

• I am responsible for my accounts.
• I understand that passwords to my accounts are private and only for school use.
• I understand that I am responsible for all online activities conducted through my accounts whether I am at school or out of school.
• I understand that it is unacceptable to attempt to capture another person’s password.
• I will log off all devices to protect my password and account information.
• I will notify the tech department immediately if I think my password is no longer private.

• I will be respectful and constructive in my language and actions on any digital platform whether I am at school or out of school.
• I will use digital platforms to build positive relationships and never engage in online bullying in or out of school.
• I will contribute positively to our school community.

• I will use technology and digital learning resources to enhance my learning and personal growth.
• I'll seek out appropriate, educational content that aligns with our school's values.
• I will verify that a link is legitimate before I click on it, and I will only download with permission.
• I'll respect security settings and filters and only use approved software on school devices.

• I will always represent myself and others honestly online
• I will only use accounts created in my own name and only devices on which I am signed in.
• I will refrain from representing official school organizations.

• I will treat all school technology with care and keep it in good working order.
• I will use resources responsibly.
• If I notice any issues with equipment, I'll promptly inform a teacher or member of the tech department.

• I will honor copyright laws and licensing agreements.
• I will consult with school staff when I am unsure of content use.
• When using others' work including content generated by AI, I'll provide proper citations and seek permission when necessary.
• I will create and submit my own original content ethically, using technology to support rather than replace my original thinking and creativity.

• I understand that it is unsafe to share or post personally identifying information, images and/or recordings.
• I will protect my privacy and that of others by not sharing personally identifying information, photos, recordings, or videos without proper consent.
• I will refrain from providing personal information when interacting with technology.

January 2025 SAU 70 Cybersecurity Notification

Based on a recent presentation by NHOCC (https://www.nhocc.com) please be aware that we are seeing an increase in cybersecurity concerns globally and we want our organization and community to be informed and safe.  I will highlight some of the most common concerns below along with resources to learn more about them.

RANSOMWARE (https://www.cisa.gov/stopransomware/resources)

In the last 30 days, there have been at least seven new variants of ransomware.  Ransomware can be used to encrypt data and interfere with business operations.  Ransomware and extortion enable a significant funding source.  What’s worse is that some of the new variants called wipers are designed to irrevocably destroy data.

PHISHING (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams)

We have also seen an uptick in phishing emails and texts.  Phishing emails and text messages may look like they’re from a person or company you know or trust.  They often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment, sharing credentials, or sharing confidential information.

PASSWORDS (https://security.harvard.edu/use-strong-passwords#first)

Use a different password for each of your important accounts, like your email and online banking.  The current best practice is to use a trusted password manager.  Long passwords are stronger, so make your password at least 12 characters long.  Try to use: A lyric from a song or poem; A meaningful quote from a movie or speech; A passage from a book; A series of words that are meaningful to you; An abbreviation: Make a password from the first letter of each word in a sentence.  [Don’t use personal info; Avoid creating passwords from info that others might know or could easily find out. Examples: Your nickname or initials, The name of your child or pet, Important birthdays or years, The name of your street, Numbers from your address, Don’t use common words & patterns. Examples: Obvious words and phrases like "password" or "letmein"; Sequences like "abcd" or "1234"; Keyboard patterns like "qwerty" or "qazwsx".]  Do not share your passwords with anyone.