October Was Cyberaware Month: What Did You Learn?
Published:
Rebecca Gorman
Rebecca Gorman
Are YOU Cyberaware?
October was National Cybersecurity Awareness Month @BinghamtonITS. “B” aware! Through our social media campaign, https://binghamton.edu/its pages and our posters all over campus, we’ve spread the word about the importance of online safety. Cybercriminals don’t discriminate -- they target any device: computers, laptops, tablets and phones alike. Their main way of reeling you in is by using phishing scams -- a type of social engineering -- to trick or trigger you into doing what they want. Unfortunately, today’s technology makes phishing easier. Any cybercriminal with a working email address can launch an attack targeting unsuspecting victims. That could be you, so don’t take the bait! Phish food is a great ice cream flavor, but it’s not great when it’s you.
Remember: Never click on any link without hovering over it first to make sure it’s legitimate and from someone you trust (make sure you always double check the sender’s email address). Recently, the university has been attacked by phishing scams touting free iTunes gift cards and encouraging people to click on little green boxes that lead to spam websites. Look for typos and grammar mistakes, too. If a link is suspicious, don’t click it. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure you learn how to stay safe and secure online. Below are resources you’ll want to take advantage of to stop phishing scams right in their tracks.
HOW DO I STAY SAFE AND SECURE?
Binghamton University’s Information Technology Services is constantly updating and providing information to help you remain secure while computing at Binghamton:
ITS Security Phishing and Security Pages: Tips, Tips, Information on Staying Secure
https://www.binghamton.edu/its/phishing
https://www.binghamton.edu/its/about/organization/security/
Binghamton University’s Information Technology Services Main Site:
https://www.binghamton.edu/its/about/organization/security/
Social Media Campaign: Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BinghamtonITS.
Some October Highlights of @BinghamtonITS Cyberaware Month social posts included helpful information:
Limit what you #ShareOnline. No one wants to see you on Barstool! The less you share about yourself, the smaller the target you are for a #PhishingAttack. #Cybercriminals use info you post online to trick you to gain your trust. #binghamtonu #bingsecurity #cyberaware
#CheckTheSender. Any message from an organization should come from an organizational email address. A notice from Bing will never come from an address like HELPDESK@binghampton.edu. Notice the P? There’s no P in Binghamton. #binghamtonu #bingsecurity #cyberaware
#ProTip: Before clicking on email or web links HOVER FIRST. Mouse over links in emails to reveal their URLs and to avoid getting #Phished. A link like hacker.com/binghamton you do not want to click on. #binghamtonu #bingsecurity #cyberaware #Voorhees
#PopUps can be evil. Use caution. One false click might cost more than we #BrokeCollegeKids can afford to give. #binghamtonu #bingsecurity #cybersecure
Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @BinghamtonITS
