{"id":1979,"date":"2024-10-04T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/?p=1979"},"modified":"2024-10-03T11:38:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T15:38:56","slug":"21st-annual-cybersecurity-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/?p=1979","title":{"rendered":"21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greetings Simmons Community,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we enter October, we celebrate the 21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year&#8217;s theme, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/cybersecurity-awareness-month\">Secure Our World<\/a>,&#8221; emphasizes the importance of daily actions to reduce online risks. As your Information Security Officer, I&#8217;m committed to fostering a secure digital environment for our entire university community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus on the Human Element<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, we&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Four Key Actions to Enhance Your Cybersecurity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)<\/strong> Utilize SharkPass\/Duo to add the extra layer of security provided to you for Simmons accounts to <a href=\"https:\/\/guide.duo.com\/third-party-accounts\">other third-party accounts.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use Strong Passwords<\/strong> Create unique, complex, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/secure-our-world\/use-strong-passwords\">strong passwords<\/a> for all accounts. Consider using a password manager for added security.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recognize and Report Phishing<\/strong> Stay vigilant against unsolicited messages requesting personal information. Report <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/secure-our-world\/recognize-and-report-phishing\">suspicious emails<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/servicedesk.simmons.edu\/\">Technology<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Update Your Software Regularly<\/strong> Ensure all your devices have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/secure-our-world\/update-software\">latest security patches and updates<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cybersecurity in Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simmons University is proud to be designated as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simmons.edu\/news\/simmons-university-designated-center-academic-excellence-in-cybersecurity-education-by-nsa\">Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Education<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stay Safe During Election Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we approach the 2024 election, it&#8217;s essential to be vigilant about cybersecurity. Here are key strategies to protect yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verify Voter Registration Sites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check for Official Domains<\/strong>: Always look for .gov endings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go Directly to State Websites<\/strong>: Avoid clicking on links; use trusted sources like <a href=\"http:\/\/vote.org\">Vote.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoid Donation Scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use Trusted Platforms<\/strong>: Donate through <a href=\"https:\/\/secure.actblue.com\/\">ActBlue<\/a> for Democrats and <a href=\"https:\/\/winred.com\/\">WinRed<\/a> for Republicans.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be Cautious with Informal Methods<\/strong>: Avoid sending donations via messaging apps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spot Misleading Political Ads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check the Source<\/strong>: Look for credible references in ads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cross-Verify Claims<\/strong>: Use trusted news outlets to confirm information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate Social Media Safely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fact-Check Surprising Claims<\/strong>: Use reliable sources like <a href=\"http:\/\/factcheck.org\">FactCheck.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be Careful with Sharing<\/strong>: Avoid spreading unverified posts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protect Against Phishing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be Wary of Unsolicited Messages<\/strong>: Don\u2019t click links or download attachments from unknown senders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Report Suspicious Emails<\/strong>: Notify <a href=\"https:\/\/servicedesk.simmons.edu\/\">Technology<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By practicing these strategies, you can help create a safer online environment during this critical election period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. By working together, we can create a safer digital environment for our entire Simmons community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stay secure,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kristen Howard&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simmons Information Security Officer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greetings Simmons Community, As we enter October, we celebrate the 21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year&#8217;s theme, &#8220;Secure Our World,&#8221; emphasizes the importance of daily actions to reduce online risks. As your Information Security Officer, I&#8217;m committed to fostering a secure digital environment for our entire university community. Focus on the Human Element This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,3],"tags":[375,411,38,39,12],"class_list":["post-1979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-special-news","category-technews","tag-375","tag-411","tag-cybersecurity","tag-cybersecurityawarenessmonth","tag-information-security"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1979"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1980,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1979\/revisions\/1980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/technews.simmons.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}