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Scams used to be easier to detect without worry. A Nigerian prince asks for a few hundred dollars to give you access to his fortune. But those days are gone, and scammers are in a constant arms race with cybersecurity for your sensitive information. Learn about the different types of scams and how to deal with them.

  • Triggers Hackers Use to Trick You: Urgency, Authority, and Curiosity

    Hackers don’t rely on technology alone—they rely on human psychology. Most attacks rely on three simple triggers to get people to act quickly without thinking. The first trigger is a sense of urgency, with messages like “act now or lose access” or “your account will be locked,” creating pressure that pushes users to respond immediately…

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  • MFA + Strong Passwords: Your Best Defense Against Account Attacks

    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts by requiring more than just a password to sign in. Even if a password is stolen through phishing, malware, or a data breach, MFA can still prevent an attacker from accessing your account. This additional safeguard is especially important because passwords can be…

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  • Secure File Sharing 

    SharePoint provides a secure and efficient platform for storing and sharing files within the university environment. When used properly, it allows faculty and staff to collaborate while maintaining control over sensitive information. Files should always be shared with specific individuals or groups rather than using broad or anonymous access links. Additionally, permissions should be reviewed…

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  • Find Out If Your Data Was Exposed in a Breach

    Data breaches continue to affect major organizations, and recent reporting has linked the ShinyHunters extortion group to incidents involving Charter Communications, a company with services branded as Spectrum. A simple way to check whether your email address appears in a known breach data is to use Have I Been Pwned at haveibeenpwned.com. This site lets you search your…

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  • Understanding QR Code Phishing

    In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, threat actors continue to innovate using methods like QR code phishing. This technique, which seemed emergent just a few years ago, has now become more refined and widespread. QR code phishing, also known as “Quishing,” remains a threat as these codes are now ubiquitously used for convenience in many…

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  • Cyber Security Tips for Traveling

    Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of cybersecurity risks. Whether you’re on a business trip or summer vacation, it’s essential to protect your digital life from potential threats. Here are some practical tips to help you stay secure while traveling. Traveling doesn’t have to compromise your cybersecurity…

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  • Typosquatting: When a Tiny Typo Leads to Big Trouble

    Have you ever mistyped a website address? Maybe you accidentally hit “goggle.com” instead of “google.com”? Well, that seemingly innocent slip-up can lead you down a treacherous path—one paved with cyber traps. What Is Typosquatting? Typosquatting is like a cunning chameleon. It preys on our human tendency to fumble our keystrokes. Here’s how it works: Why…

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  • Spotting and Avoiding Phishing Attacks

    Phishing is essentially someone trying to get you to do something via email, usually by asking you to volunteer personal information or click a link, which enables them to compromise you, your accounts, or your computer. Other kinds of phishing may require you to open an attachment or a link, which can infect your computer…

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  • The Importance of Password Rotation

    Password rotation is the periodic changing or resetting of passwords. The goal is to limit a password’s lifespan to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. By doing so, we condense the window of time during which a stolen password remains valid. Why password rotation matters: How Often Should You Rotate Passwords? The frequency of password…

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  • Obscured, Obfuscated Links

    Recently, researchers have discovered another technique cybercriminals use to steal your information. In this technique, cybercriminals use obfuscated links to show IP addresses like XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX, instead of websites. Obfuscated links are URLs that have been modified to hide the real location of a website.   In this attack method, cybercriminals send an urgent email that appears to come from a legitimate source and…

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