October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Department of Homeland Security defines NCSAM as a “collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.” To this end, Campus Technology Services uses this opportunity to educate the college campus on staying safe online.
This is the fifth year SUNY Oswego has been participating in NCSAM. This year’s theme is centered around identity theft. Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information for (usually) some type of monetary gain. Credit cards, social security numbers, birthdates, usernames and passwords can all contribute to a thief setting up new accounts under your name. Some of the ways they gather this information is through phishing scams and access to your email. CTS efforts for October will focus on raising awareness about identity theft with the following activities:
1) A Phishing Derby: Forward any phishing scam email you receive to phishing@oswego.edu by Oct. 30. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a $10, $25 or $50 Amazon gift card.
2) Go for 2! Contest: Prevent people from getting into your email by requiring a second form of authentication, usually a random code sent to your cell phone. Anyone who signs up for two factor authentication with their SUNY Oswego email account by Oct. 30 will be entered into a drawing for a $10, $25 or $50 Amazon gift card.
3) Can you pass the Phishing quiz?: Visit the CTS table on Thursdays during the month of October from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marano Campus Center concourse and see if you can identify whether an email is legitimate or a phishing scam. Anyone who completes the quiz will be entered into a drawing for a T-shirt. Drawings will be held at the end of each Thursday.
4) Watch a movie: Grab some free popcorn while watching the following movies. Free admission.
a) “Deep Web” (2015): Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 to 8:45 p.m., Marano Campus Center auditorium, room 132
b) “Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web” (2017): Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 to 9 p.m., Marano Campus Center auditorium, room 132
CTS hopes you can participate in our NCSAM activities while also learning more about staying safe online. For more cybersecurity tips and resources, visit the CTS cybersecurity site.