October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign that provides an opportunity to increase the focus on understanding Internet security and to raise awareness of the resources available to stay safe online.
Each week this month, follow along as our CyberSafe Barbie and Ken encounter potential data breeches, phishing scams, and hackers, revealing the tools available to empower YOU in protecting yourself and your data.
ALWAYS forward suspicious texts, emails, or phone calls to infosec@wfu.edu for verification!
Giveaways! Tuesday, October 17 from 11am-3pm
Join us outside the Pit from 11am-3pm on Tuesday, October 17 as we will be hand out our annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month t-shirt, plus cleaning cloths, candy and much more! Visit our tent, grab some swag and information.
Calendar of events
Week of October 2 – Secure Wireless
Barbie is setting up her wireless connection – but is her Barbie Dream House internet really secure? As she travels to other places for fun adventures, connecting to the right wireless network offers the protection she needs.
Eduroam is an internationally-recognized network which that allows students, faculty, and staff from other institutions of higher education to use their home institution’s WiFi credentials to access our WiFi network. Because Wake Forest University participates in eduroam, our students, faculty, and staff can take advantage of this service by using their Wake Forest credentials when visiting other eduroam participating institutions around the globe. Click here to locate other participating eduroam institutions.
Use only a secure network for remote work; do not use public wired and wireless networks as they are not considered secure.
Take Action!
- Read about our WFU Wireless Network in our help article!
- Get a quick lesson in Workday Learning about Computer and Information Security Essentials with both Zoom and In-Person offerings!
Week of October 9 – 2-Factor Authentication
Barbie joins forces with SuperDeac to prevent them both from being lost in Hackerland. Two factor authentication saves the day when the wrong path is revealed.
Google 2-Step Verification is a two-step authentication service that provides a second layer of protection to increase security of passwords and password-protected data, network application data, intellectual property, and user accounts of faculty, staff, and students.
Take Action!
- Get a quick lesson in Computer and Information Security Essentials – students can view a quick video in Kaltura, and faculty and staff can check out our Workday Learning Training with both Zoom and In-Person offerings!
- Read our website article introducing 2-Factor
Week of October 16 – Anti-Virus Download
Oh no! Barbie’s laptop has caught a virus from her many online shopping trips! Our sidekick Weird Barbie loads our Cybersafe Barbie’s devices with necessary protection for flawless browsing.
Not having antivirus on a computer is like inviting a criminal into your home to cause mayhem and steal your personal resources. In the event a malicious email or text is mistaken as legitimate, having an antivirus installed on your devices is your first line of defense. One of the most common reasons for computer problems is that antivirus software is not installed, not current, or not running. Viruses can be spread between computers via portable devices, downloads, and email attachments.
Take Action!
- Students – ensure you have antivirus software on your laptop! Windows users should confirm they are running Windows Security. Mac users can visit software@WFU to download Avast, our recommendation for antivirus software.
- Mark your calendar and attend our cybersecurity information tent event on Tuesday, October 17, outside The Pit from 11am-3pm. IT specialists will be on hand to answer your questions and provide assistance. Take your turn at spinning the prize wheel and picking up some cool swag!
Week of October 23 – Cautious Clicking
Is that email really from Ken? Did Barbie’s password really need to be reset at her bank? Weird Barbie guides Cybersafe Barbie through her emails to check links and spamming.
Every day, thousands of people fall for phishing scams and share their personal information, aimed at stealing your money and/or your identity. Mobile users are particularly susceptible to phishing scams and often overlook some of the warning signs. When you’re contacted via email, text, or phone, watch for these phishing warning signs.
- Non-personalized greeting – Phishing messages usually do not address you by name, but use a generic greeting, such as “Dear User.”
- Urgent/Threatening language – Phrases such as “Your account will be terminated if you do not…” are often used to elicit a response.
- URLs don’t match and are not secure – If an email has a link, be cautious. Check the link destination. Look for the lock and never log into a website that’s not secure.
- Poor grammar/misspellings – Most phishing attacks originate from countries where English is not their first language. Use this to your advantage by spotting grammatical errors.
- Request for personal information – The tell-tale sign of a phishing message is the request for personal information, such as your address, social security number, account number, etc.
Take Action
- Bookmark this page to stay informed about recent scams.
- Drop by Tribble Courtyard on Tuesday, October 24, between 10am – 4pm, for Do’s and Donuts, as part of Academic Resources Awareness Week! Learn about IS student resources such as strong cybersecurity safeguards, software options, and more! Prizes, free donuts, and tech help.
Week of October 30 – Video Premiere: Barbie in Hackerland
Weird Barbie is the voice of reason to prevent Barbieland from turning into Hackerland! SuperDeac, Darkbot, Ken, and other Barbies join the group.