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Learn how to not get caught in the Dark Web as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). The Department of Homeland Security defines NCSAM as a “collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.” To this end, CTS uses this opportunity to educate the college campus about staying safe online, and a variety of other cybersecurity-related topics.

 

This is the sixth year SUNY Oswego has been participating in NCSAM. This year’s theme is centered around the Dark Web, and how to not get “caught” in it. The Dark Web is a small part of the Internet, typically off-limits or hidden to the average person, where anonymity is the main focus. While it is true that the Dark Web is important for people needing extreme anonymity such as activists, the Dark Web is also the part of the worldwide web where black markets exist for illegal goods, including stolen credit card numbers, SSNs, passwords, and other information. The data gets stolen often through phishing emails, or from breached websites, but there are steps you can take to help protect your accounts and prevent your data from ending up on the Dark Web. Our efforts for October will focus on raising awareness about these steps with the following activities:

  1. A Phishing Derby:  Forward any phishing scam email you receive to phishing@oswego.edu by October 30. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of two $15 Amazon gift cards.

  2. Go for 2! Contest: Prevent people from getting into your LakerApps account by requiring a second form of authentication, usually a random code sent to your cell phone. Anyone who signs up for two-factor authentication with their SUNY Oswego account by October 30 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of two $15 Amazon gift cards. Learn more about how to enable two-factor authentication on the related Google page.

  3. Virtual Cybersecurity Scavenger Hunt:  Fire up your best internet researching skills, and try your best to solve the clues. Those participants getting all the answers correct will be entered in drawings for Amazon gift cards. More information about rules and prizes for the Cybersecurity Scavenger hunt can be found on the website.

  4. Register for the FREE virtual Cybersecurity & Privacy Festival, hosted by Stanford University IT, taking place October 19 - 23. There will be several sessions and workshops, covering a variety of topics of interest for the average internet consumer to the budding ethical hacker. For more information about the agenda and how to register, go to the Stanford University Cyberfest webpage. Please note: When registering please use the NON-SUNetID registration link and use your .EDU email address. You must use an .EDU address, or your registration will not be approved.

  5. Check out the cybersecurity-themed artwork of CTS staff member Tyrone Johnson-Neuland. His piece “Dark Web” is the inspiration for this year’s theme. For those still on campus, you can check out Tyrone’s art on display in the windows of the Marano Campus Center arena, but a virtual tour of his artwork is available on his website.

 

We hope you can participate in our NCSAM activities while also learning more about staying safe online. Visit the CTS Cybersecurity webpage for more cybersecurity tips and resources.