Kennesaw State’s Cyber Institute offers training, and resources for best practices in securing data, digital privacy and securing information.
As the fall semester reaches its end, students must continue to be mindful of their digital information and data remaining secure. The UITIS Office of Cybersecurity includes information and frequently asked questions to lower the risks and vulnerability of phishing, a fraudulent way for hackers to persuade individuals to reveal their personal information through email, within the KSU community.
According to Cyberdegrees.org, over $17,000 is lost every minute due to phishing attacks, and 94% of malware is delivered via email, making phishing one of the most costly and common types of cyber attacks.
There are countless resources available for students to better protect their digital information, including Malwarebytes‘ list of cyber security tips for students. The list mentions using multi-factor authentication, such as Duo, and locking down files as added security for school accounts.
College identity theft, the act of stealing aspects of college students’ personal information to defraud them, has become more prominent in recent times. Idstrong.com suggests using “throw-away” emails for online accounts while using your personal email for important business. The site states “you’re less likely to respond to a spam or phishing email that can hack your accounts”.
The UITIS Office of Cybersecurity hosts cyber security awareness training every semester through the KnowBe4 USG-provided cybersecurity training platform. This allows students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with cybersecurity principles and incorporate said principles into their digital routines.
Students must bare in mind that semester breaks are targeted times for hackers as most students are not monitoring accounts in between semesters. This poses an incredible risk to both students and the University.
Kennesaw State has launched The KSU GenCyber program, a three-part workshop hosted during the summer semesters that gives high-school students introductory-level training in cybersecurity and its components. Topics include cybersecurity principles, ethics, risk management, ethical hacking, adversarial thinking and much more.
Technology is now more prevalent than in previous times, including digital and virtual learning. Cybersecurity is an increasingly important topic within the education sector and is becoming a popular college major. In August, KSU was awarded recognition as the top university nationwide for cybersecurity outreach.
Students can visit Kennesaw States Cyber Institute and the UITS Office of Cybersecurity for more tips, tools and resources for protecting their digital information, privacy and identity.
