As the University of North Florida observes Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, students and staff are taking a closer look at securing their digital footprints and protecting sensitive personal information.
“Our generation is so comfortable with putting things on the internet, including personal information, that most don’t even stop to think that there are some who can use this information maliciously,” said UNF Information Technology student Kaleb Patton.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is “Securing the Next 250″ in recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“By taking small steps every day to secure your devices, you can help prevent attacks like identity theft and malware from causing lasting damage to your personal finances and data,” according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Cybersecurity resources at UNF
UNF’s Security Operations Center is a student-led organization that defends against cyberattacks.
Students monitor data in real time, investigate potential threats and take action when incidents occur, according to the UNF Newsroom. These students serve as security analysts, protecting the university against potential online scams.
Student Analyst for the SOC, Amanda Johnston, stated, “Cybersecurity awareness is extremely important to UNF students because of our digital dependence today.”
“Every aspect of our lives is connected to technology, so staying aware helps keep us secure,” Johnston said.
SOC work begins when students or faculty report scams, according to the UNF Newsroom. Students begin investigating whether the alerts are real threats by looking for signs of phishing attempts and scanning devices for signs of compromise.
Depending on the severity of the threat or scam, the SOC works closely with Information Technology Services.
“UNF is actively planning a dedicated space for the SOC, aiming to launch a premier venue for education and engagement,” said Interim Vice President of Digital Strategy and Chief Information Officer Megan Kuehner in a letter.
For safety reasons, the location and contact information for the SOC are restricted from those without proper authorization, but students with cybersecurity questions or concerns should contact ITS via [email protected].
Pexels
CISA urges users to use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, a password manager and to consistently update software.
How to identify a scam
Scams can take many forms, but the Federal Trade Commission says there are ways to spot them. Scammers typically contact users unexpectedly, rush users to provide information, and often instruct users to pay a sum of money and how to pay.
Scammers most commonly pretend to be a part of a government agency, a family member or a friend. When asking for money, scammers will often ask users to pay via a specific method such as a gift card, wire transfer or payment app because these methods can be difficult to trace and recover, according to the FTC.
Recognizing scam patterns can help identify and avoid them. Avoid responding to unexpected calls, texts or other forms of communication that ask for money or personal information, the FTC advises.
The best way to avoid a scam in the moment is to take time to independently verify unexpected requests before following through, the FTC says. The FTC recommends contacting the person or company directly using independently researched contact information.
The FTC also says people should not click on links sent through emails or texts if they are unexpected or suspicious.
Small steps can make a big difference in boosting online safety. CISA urges users to use strong passwords, multifactor authentication, a password manager and to consistently update software.
If a user suspects they have encountered a scam, contact the organization through a secure method or report the scam through a trusted government agency, CISA says.
For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email protected].