The theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2023 is Step up your cyber fitness. It’s all about stretching your cyber security muscles and taking things one step at a time! Cyber security is a shared responsibility, so join us and others at VIU in promoting cyber security by participating in Cyber Month.
🏆 Win a prize by entering the daily Cyber Month challenges at:
Cyber Month 2023 Weekly Content
The best workouts always begin with a good warmup. This week, we’ll lay the groundwork for the rest of Cyber Month, covering topics like:
- Are you ready to step up your cyber fitness?
- Know where to go to learn more about cyber threats
- 💪Track your progress while you step up your cyber fitness!
#DYK that we have security awareness training available to you? 4 courses that train users of the potential threats to VIU's information and how to avoid situations that might put VIU’s data at risk.
The #1 reason to take the training - you’ll learn how to protect yourself and your family.
The first course is Secure I.T. 100 – Information Security Essentials for VIU, a short, 20 question quiz that focuses on VIU with emphasis on the risks we experience here and specific examples.
Here’s where the workout really begins. This week, we’ll work up a metaphorical sweat by learning how and why to:
Use strong and unique passwords and passphrases
- Check out VIU Password Security
- Understand why unique passwords are so important
Enable 2-Step Verification (2SV) at VIU
- and multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever you can
void phishing and social engineering scams
- Look for the 7 red flags of phishing
- Make sure you ruin a cyber criminal's day!🎵
Your online accounts contain a lot of information about you. Make sure that the information stays where you want it to by keeping your accounts secure.
- Take the Get Cyber Safe Checkup
Beat cyber criminals to the punch by defending your devices! This week, we’ll cover the ways you can keep your devices protected, including:
- installing anti-virus software
- VIU has you covered on your work device, but how do you pick software for home?
- Learn how to spot a virus
- using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Set up the VIU VPN - Global Protect
- Why not use a VPN when you aren't working and protect your digital privacy?
- securing your home Wi-Fi
- Know how to keep your wi-fi to yourself
- Protect yourself while using a public wi-fi
Staying in good cyber shape means keeping on top of your security habits. This week, we’ll talk about the ways you can automate your cyber safety, like:
- using a password manager
- Not all password managers are the same, make sure to pick one that is right for you.
- enabling automatic updates
- Updating your devices is one of the most important ways to keep your device and your information safe.
- backing up your data
- VIU backs up your data at work, does your data at home have a backup plan?
Your online accounts contain a lot of information about you. Make sure that the information stays where you want it to by keeping your accounts secure.
- Take the Get Cyber Safe Checkup
Cyber Security doesn't have to be spooky👻
🎃This year for Hallowe'en share your motivation with the world! This week, we’ll teach you how to be a coach for your family, friends and coworkers with advice on:
- talking about cyber security with older adults
- Help them avoid online scams
- Show them how to use social media safely
- teaching kids about cyber threats
- Simplify cyber security for kids
- Keep the kids in your life cyber safe with this checklist
- Show them the Get Cyber Safe Workbook for kids
- helping your office get cyber safe
- Tell them about all the great information they can find on the Secure I.T. web page
- Lead by example, take one (or all) of the VIU security Awareness Training courses. They are quick and fun!
- Retake the Cyber Fitness Assessment Quiz
- Now that the month is drawing to a close, take the quiz again to see where you’ve improved and the target areas you can keep building on.
Follow Secure I.T. on Twitter/X for topical security information that is just as relevant for your home life as your life at VIU
Past Cyber Security Awareness Month Highlights
Cyber criminals spend their days trying to trick us into giving up our personal information, tamper with our devices and even steal our identities. When cyber attacks like phishing are successful, they can ruin our days, to put it lightly. That’s why, this Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’re encouraging you to ruin a cyber criminal’s day.
You got phished
- Phishing: An introduction - Get Cyber Safe
- Signs of a phishing campaign: How to keep yourself safe
- Recover from a phishing attempt on your VIU account:
- Change your VIU Password
- Contact the IT Service Desk!
- Recover from a phishing attack on your personal accounts:
- Are you prepared to fight phishing messages? Take the Quiz and find out.
Where, why and how it happens
- The different types of phishing (email, phone, online shopping, gaming, social media and direct messages)
- Phishing trends (banking, romance scams, event-based scams)
- How social engineering works
- Don't let cyber threats prevent you from enjoying an endless stream of cat-based videos.
Prevention
- Taking Security Awareness Training - Security Awareness Training is one of the top protective controls for the Education Sector.
- For faculty and staff, try the newSecure I.T. Security Awareness Training
- For students, keep you and your family secure with the 15-minute Cybersecurity awareness training provided by Amazon.
- For everyone - What are you doing to protect yourself? Your family?
Join MCU stars Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson and Train to be an Internet Bodyguard!
- Check out the Phishing Playlist
- Using strong and unique passphrases and passwords
- Using a password manager
- Enabling 2-Step Verification (2SV)
2SV is the #1 tool you can use to help secure your accounts. It is a proven, effective way to improve your security and frustrate the bad guys.
- Almost all online services (including social media, banks, shopping, etc.) have offered 2SV to make your account more secure.
Putting it all together
- Learning to spot the 7 red flags of phishing
- 5 ways to spot a Phishing Email
- Helping older adults get cyber safe
- Four ways you can help friends and family avoid phishing scams - Get Cyber Safe
- Cyber Security for kids and Students
- How about a game of "I think therefore I meme"?
- Make it a Cyber Safe school year
- How to talk to kids about Cyber Security
- How (and what) to teach your kids about phishing - Get Cyber Safe
- Teach others about phishing
- Don't get Reeled in
- What to do about a suspicious looking message
- VIU Email account + Suspicious = Contact the IT Service Desk
- Are you ready to put it together - take the Get Cyber Safe Checkup!
No matter what's going on around us, the internet keeps us in touch and spending time with our favourite people.
Stay safe while being social
- Avoiding phishing scams
- Keeping private information private
- Using strong passphrases and complex passwords and enabling 2-Step Verification (2SV)
Share special moments safely
- Staying safe while file sharing
- Malware and Anti-Virus Software
- Storing and Backing up Data -File Survival Tips
Work from home safely
- Using Wi-Fi safely
- Setting up a secure home network
- Workplace and Career-specific Cyber Threats
- Using VIU VPN
- Keeping kids and families safe online
- Tips for making a business cyber safe from the office or at home
All members of the VIU research community are encouraged to take extra precautions to protect the security of their research.
If You Connect It, Protect It
Devices have become an integral part of our lives. In fact, sometimes it’s hard to remember all of the connected devices we use on a daily basis. The first few days of CSAM will focus on taking stock of all of the devices in your life and bidding farewell to those devices that have served you well, but that you might not use anymore.
You can start by taking stock of your own cyber security knowledge by taking the Get Cyber Safe Assessment Checkup.
It’s time to repay your phone for all it has done for you by making sure it’s properly secured.
Show your computer you care by:
- Creating complex passphrases
- Preventing malware
- Avoiding phishing scams
Network devices - Let’s give these unsung heroes their dues by making sure they’re secure against cyber threats.
- Set up a secure Wi-Fi network
- Use Wi-Fi safely
Take care of your TVs, doorbells and other smart devices by:
- Setting up your networks for smart devices
- Changing your privacy settings – Use the new device checklist
- Using IoT at home