21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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Greetings Simmons Community,

As we enter October, we celebrate the 21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “Secure Our World,” emphasizes the importance of daily actions to reduce online risks. As your Information Security Officer, I’m committed to fostering a secure digital environment for our entire university community.

Focus on the Human Element

This year, we’re highlighting the crucial role each individual plays in cybersecurity. By making smart decisions online, whether at work, home, or school, we can collectively enhance our digital safety.

Four Key Actions to Enhance Your Cybersecurity

  1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Utilize SharkPass/Duo to add the extra layer of security provided to you for Simmons accounts to other third-party accounts.
  1. Use Strong Passwords Create unique, complex, strong passwords for all accounts. Consider using a password manager for added security.
  1. Recognize and Report Phishing Stay vigilant against unsolicited messages requesting personal information. Report suspicious emails to Technology.
  1. Update Your Software Regularly Ensure all your devices have the latest security patches and updates.

Cybersecurity in Education

Simmons University is proud to be designated as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Education by the NSA. This recognition underscores our commitment to preparing students for the evolving cybersecurity landscape. This prestigious recognition places Simmons among a select group of institutions nationwide dedicated to reducing vulnerabilities in national information infrastructure.

Stay Safe During Election Season

As we approach the 2024 election, it’s essential to be vigilant about cybersecurity. Here are key strategies to protect yourself:

Verify Voter Registration Sites

  • Check for Official Domains: Always look for .gov endings.
  • Go Directly to State Websites: Avoid clicking on links; use trusted sources like Vote.org.

Avoid Donation Scams

  • Use Trusted Platforms: Donate through ActBlue for Democrats and WinRed for Republicans.
  • Be Cautious with Informal Methods: Avoid sending donations via messaging apps.

Spot Misleading Political Ads

  • Check the Source: Look for credible references in ads.
  • Cross-Verify Claims: Use trusted news outlets to confirm information.

Navigate Social Media Safely

  • Fact-Check Surprising Claims: Use reliable sources like FactCheck.org.
  • Be Careful with Sharing: Avoid spreading unverified posts.

Protect Against Phishing

  • Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages: Don’t click links or download attachments from unknown senders.
  • Report Suspicious Emails: Notify Technology.

By practicing these strategies, you can help create a safer online environment during this critical election period.

Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can create a safer digital environment for our entire Simmons community.

Stay secure, 

Kristen Howard 

Simmons Information Security Officer

Welcome Back

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Technology Support Center (TSC) located in MCB Ground Floor A-050

Technology is excited to welcome you back to campus! Whether you’re new or have been here for years, we’re here to assist you. The Technology Service Desk is located on the ground floor of the MCB, room A-050. The Service Desk’s services, including walk-up support and equipment loans, are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Not on campus or remote? Our Service Desk provides technical support on a wide variety of topics. We can help you troubleshoot problems with your computer, account access, printing, Zoom, and many other technology-related issues. Our website provides access to many resources including contact information, support hours, FAQs, service and support request forms, classroom and event support information, and hardware and software discounts.

Elevate Your Skills with LinkedIn Learning

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Discover the Power of Continuous Learning

As the new academic year begins, it’s the perfect time to focus on personal and professional development. Enter LinkedIn Learning, an online platform offering a diverse range of courses spanning business, technology, and creative fields. With expert-led tutorials, LinkedIn Learning is a flexible and practical tool for skill enhancement. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast keen on exploring AI and machine learning, a creative mind diving into graphic design, or a business professional looking to sharpen your leadership or analytical skills, this platform has something for everyone.

Stay Ahead with Hot New Technologies

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and staying informed about the latest trends is more crucial than ever. LinkedIn Learning offers courses on cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, data science, and cloud computing. These courses are designed to give you a competitive edge in your field by deepening your understanding of the technologies driving innovation across industries. Whether you want to learn how AI is reshaping business processes or explore the latest advancements in cybersecurity, LinkedIn Learning has you covered.

Why LinkedIn Learning is Your Ideal Fall Companion

LinkedIn Learning’s greatest strength lies in its vast library of courses, taught by industry veterans who provide both theoretical knowledge and practical insights. The platform’s integration with LinkedIn allows you to easily add completed course certifications to your profile, enhancing your professional online presence. What sets LinkedIn Learning apart is its personalized approach, offering course recommendations based on your interests and career goals, making it a tailored and efficient learning journey.

Embrace the Opportunity for Growth

This fall, transform your study breaks into productive learning sessions with LinkedIn Learning. The skills you acquire could significantly impact your academic and career trajectory, open new opportunities, or simply boost your confidence in your abilities. Start your learning journey on LinkedIn Learning today and take a significant step toward enhancing your skill set and future-proofing your career.

Visit LinkedIn Learning, explore its extensive course catalog, and embark on a journey of self-improvement and professional development. Your future self will thank you for this investment.

Classroom Media Equipment Improvements

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LEF Podium Monitors

Faculty teaching in the Lefavour Science labs will be pleased to learn that all podiums are now equipped with confidence monitors. No more turning around to check what’s displayed on the screen—everything you need is right in front of you. Originally, the podiums were designed to be “mobile” so they could be easily disconnected and moved. However, after years of feedback and realizing that the podiums were rarely, if ever, moved, we found a cost-effective solution to add monitors to every lab on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

Document Cameras

Document cameras have become more compact, versatile, and affordable over the years. As a result, every classroom on campus is now equipped with one, aligning with our goal to standardize media equipment for a consistent experience across all classrooms. While you may not need to use these cameras for their traditional purpose, they offer a valuable secondary function—they can double as webcams. Simply connect the attached USB cable to a laptop or podium PC, and the document camera can serve as your Zoom camera and microphone. This is a convenient way to show a view of students to a remote presenter on Zoom or capture your presentation for sharing on Panopto or Moodle. (Please note: Many of our classrooms still use Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) computers, which cannot run Zoom, but we are working toward installing full computers in every classroom.)

Information Security and Phishing

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For the fall of 2024, it is expected that approximately 20.7 million students will attend U.S. universities. This influx of students, faculty, and staff returning for the academic year presents increased opportunities for cybercriminals, who often exploit the busy start of the school year to launch their attacks​ (EdTech Magazine)​ (Proofpoint).

Phishing Attacks: Phishing attacks continue to be a significant threat, accounting for 36% of all data breaches in 2023. Currently, about 1.2% of all emails sent globally, which equates to nearly 3.4 billion emails per day, are malicious. This makes phishing one of the most prevalent cybersecurity threats, with educational institutions being particularly vulnerable due to their large and varied user bases​ (Proofpoint)​ (Pixel Privacy).

Protective Measures: To mitigate the risk of falling victim to these attacks, it is crucial to adopt robust cybersecurity practices:

  1. Be cautious of emails claiming urgency.
  2. Verify the sender’s email address.
  3. Watch for suspicious logos, signatures, or content.
  4. Check URLs before clicking; ensure they lead to official, encrypted sites.
  5. Think twice before opening attachments or clicking on links.
  6. Use different passwords for work, school, and personal accounts, and keep them secure.
  7. Regularly update devices, apps, browsers, and antivirus software.
  8. Delete sensitive information that is no longer needed.
  9. Backup your files regularly.

Common Scams Targeting Students: College students should be aware of common scams, including:

  • Fake emails offering “Part-Time” work.
  • Fake emails with “important information about your account” or issues with registration.
  • Tech support scams claiming issues with your computer.
  • Fake scholarship or textbook rental scams.
  • IRS scams demanding payment for a fake “federal student tax.”
  • Tuition reimbursement or student debt cancellation scams.
  • Requests for login information, passwords, or personal data.
  • Fake friend requests and misleading messages about shared documents.

These precautions and awareness can help protect against the growing wave of phishing and other cyberattacks targeting educational institutions and their communities​ (Pixel Privacy)​ (identitytheft).

Colleges of the Fenway AI Panel, Call for Panelists

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The Colleges of the Fenway AI Think Tank is preparing to host a COF-wide panel event this fall semester. The goal of the session is to continue the cross-institutional conversations about AI and education. By hosting a panel of students followed by a panel of faculty, we hope to share with the community the varying utilizations, and applications and perceptions of AI (to include large language models and image/audio generation tools). The panels will be moderated by the AI Think Tank members. Panel questions will be sourced from attendees and selected/adjusted by AI Think Tank members.

The Think Tank is currently seeking panelists for both the student panel and the faculty panel. We ask that you please circulate this opportunity to the appropriate groups and teams at your institution. Interested panelists can indicate their interest by submitting this form.

*Please note that panelists do not need to be experts on this topic! We are hoping to assemble a group of folks interested in discussing AI from their perspective.

Departing? Export Your Data

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Amid completing finals, saying good-bye to friends, and preparing for what’s next, it is important for departing students to preserve their digital files that made-up their educational experiences. After leaving the University, Simmons accounts remain active for six months.  After that, stored data will be irrecoverable. We recommend making preparations to export and backup your data now while there’s still plenty of time.

Transferring or exporting data for later use may seem like a daunting and stressful task, however, special utilities make this important job much easier.  

Transfer your data

If you have an existing personal Gmail account (or can make one) we recommend transferring the data from your Simmons account into that account. The process is straightforward and the instructions are simple to follow.

How does it work?

  • Log into Google through your Simmons login.
  • Visit the transfer data website: Copy Content from your School account to Another Account.
  • Emails, Google Drive documents that you own, and documents you own in My Drive will be transferred.
  • Follow the instructions to create a new personal Google account if necessary and to start the transfer.

The transfer can take anywhere from a few hours to a week. You will be notified via email when the process is complete. The original emails and files will remain in your Simmons account after the transfer.

Export your data

If you want a backup ZIP file or do not have a personal Gmail account, Google Takeout is a free, easy-to-use product that automates the download of user data across Google’s services making it ready to be uploaded to a new account or preserved as a back-up.

How does it work?

  • Log into Google through your Simmons login.
  • Visit the Takeout website:  https://takeout.google.com
  • Choose the products and services you wish to back-up. More data can be backed up using Takeout,  including but not limited to: Gmail, Google Apps, Google Calendar, Google Drive Files, Google Keep, and YouTube.
  • Follow the instructions to create an export.
    The files are collected into a ZIP and can be downloaded for safekeeping.

Some downloads may take a long time. Do not worry! Google will notify you via email after they finish packing things up and when downloads are available.  

Where can I learn more?

Google’s Account Help Pages describe the basic procedures:

The Simmons Technology Service Desk is available to help.

Protecting Our Data

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Do you handle sensitive data that is considered Personally Identifiable (“PII”) or non-public information (“NPI”)?  If you do, are they stored in the correct places?  If you are collaborating with others, are the data kept in secure and encrypted locations?  Are the files transferred using a secure method such as Kiteworks?

Please refer to the Data Classification and Secure Storage Policy for more information on approved storage and transmission methods.

In general, PII refers to any information that allows the identity of an individual to be indirectly or directly inferred.  The following are some examples of PII:

  • Names
  • Addresses
  • Social Security numbers
  • Telephone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Purchase history
  • Internet browsing history
  • Fingerprints
  • Combination of gender, race, birth dates, and/or geographic indicators

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) defines NPI in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.  According to the FTC, NPI includes any information that an individual provides to obtain a financial product or service, unless that information is otherwise “publicly available”. It can also include information obtained from a transaction or in connection with providing a financial product or service.

The following are some examples of NPI:

  • Names
  • Addresses
  • Income information
  • Social Security numbers
  • Data submitted on an application
  • Account numbers
  • Payment history

If you have access to any PII or NPI data that are not secure according to the Data Classification and Secure Storage Policy, please reach out to Technology for assistance.

Digital Spring Cleaning: Refresh Your Online Presence

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Your online presence plays a crucial role in shaping your personal brand and future career prospects. Just like your dorm room, your digital life can accumulate clutter over time. This spring, take the opportunity to declutter and refresh your online presence with these essential tips.

Review your social media profiles
Start by auditing your social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Ensure that your profiles showcase your best self and align with your professional goals. Update your profile pictures, bio sections, and privacy settings. Remove any outdated or inappropriate content that may not reflect positively on you.

Clean up your digital footprint
Conduct a thorough search of your name on various search engines to see what information appears. If you find any unwanted or inaccurate content, take steps to remove it or contact the website owner. Be proactive in managing your digital footprint by setting up Google Alerts for your name to stay informed about any new mentions.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is a powerful platform to network with professionals and explore career opportunities. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. Add a professional profile picture, write a compelling summary, and highlight your education, skills, and experience. Join relevant groups and engage with content related to your field of study.

Refresh your personal website or blog
If you have a personal website or blog, take the time to update its design and content. Ensure that it showcases your best work, projects, and achievements. Consider adding new blog posts or case studies that demonstrate your expertise and passion for your chosen field.

Manage your email subscriptions
Over time, your email inbox can become cluttered with newsletters and subscriptions you no longer find valuable. Take a few minutes to unsubscribe from unnecessary emails and organize your remaining subscriptions into folders. This will help you stay focused on important communication and reduce digital distractions.

Secure your online accounts
Cybersecurity is crucial in today’s digital landscape. Ensure that all your online accounts have strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate complex passwords.

By following these digital spring cleaning tips, you can refresh your online presence and create a positive digital brand that will serve you well throughout your Simmons years and beyond. Remember, investing time in maintaining a professional and authentic online presence is an essential part of your personal and career development.