CAMPUS COMMON SENSE

Keep you, your belongings and your online activities safe from harm

KNOWLEDGE is power. But beyond academics, arming yourself with college safety information to protect yourself both online and offline is vitally important today, says Peter J. Canavan, a self-employed IT consultant, martial arts expert and part-time college-campus public safety officer.

He shares his findings in his new book, “The Ultimate Guide to College Safety” (Union Square Publishing, out now).

Here’s his advice for staying out of harm’s way.

Don’t share your whereabouts online

Turn off the GPS feature on your devices and social-media accounts. Sharing your location is a huge risk to personal safety. If people know where you are, they also know where you’re not — such as your dorm room or apartment, leaving you vulnerable to robbery.

Stay alert

Walking with your face buried in your cellphone is a huge issue. It can distract you from seeing someone who may be following you.

Tear up credit offers

College kids are inundated with special introductory-rate credit card offers. Shred them, so someone else can’t apply for credit in your name and charge up an outstanding bill.

Stay on guard at ATMs

Visit during the day or use those that are well-lit and highly trafficked at night. Don’t count your money afterwards — get in and get out. Make sure no one can see you enter your PIN number. Beware of skimming devices planted on ATMs that can read your card data. Using a card that has a chip can help prevent this kind of theft.

Protect passwords

Your roommate is a stranger until you get to know him or her. Keep personal property, including technology secured with passwords, locked away. Use diversion safes like those that that look like hairspray or shaving cream to hide valuables.

Fight online bullies

If you’ve been videoed or photographed against your knowledge and such material pops up online, request that it be addressed and taken down immediately.