Cybersecurity Training Bolsters Knowledge

By MAXWELL REESE

In the ever-evolving digital realm, the task of avoiding cyber threats seems impossible. However, the best shield to have against them is simple: knowledge.

“Cybersecurity Awareness Month [October] is a global initiative to help people stay safe online by highlighting cybersecurity and teaching simple habits to protect against cyber threats within organizations and the average Joe’s life,” said Theologos Petridis, a cybersecurity graduate student and Seton Hill cybersecurity specialist. “At Seton Hill, it is the time where we send you those pesky, but important and informative, training modules.”

“Cyber Awareness Month is a month-long effort by IT to increase cyber awareness by running weekly training assignments for faculty and students to learn how to keep themselves and Seton Hill safe,” said Cameron Reeger, a cybersecurity graduate student and Seton Hill cybersecurity specialist. Reeger was the lead organizer of Cyber Awareness Month. 

“Students could have interacted with QR codes around campus taking them to our cybersecurity awareness site,” said Petridis. “This site has articles that can help them learn about simple tools, such as number locks, that keep them safer online.” 

“Students [could] complete their training by going to our training platform Zenguide by Proofpoint,” said Reeger. “These trainings helped raise cyber security awareness by teaching about various topics in cybersecurity that they should be aware of.”

“Cybersecurity is not solely an IT responsibility,” said Petridis. “It is a community initiative where we are only as strong as our weakest link. It takes everyone within this university to keep the whole safe. One hacked account can lead to a plethora due to a simple phishing message, so we must all

remain vigilant.”

“I would say the most important topic that was covered in cyber awareness month’s training would be phishing. Phishing is often the most common means of attackers getting someone’s credentials,” said Reeger. “So understanding how to identify phishing and making sure to report any email you suspect of being phishing is integral to keeping yourself safe. You can identify phishing by simply carefully looking through an email to make sure you recognize the ‘From’ address, noting if there are spelling mistakes, and just making sure it passes the smell test. Like most things if something seems too good to be true it probably is.”

“Be curious, go to our site, Cyber.SetonHill.edu, and take a read of some of the content,” said Petridis. “Ask questions to our team, students of the field, and just talk about cybersecurity. Awareness of cyber issues will put you one step ahead when it comes to keeping yourself safe online.”