Article Archive #2
Service navigation

Importance of Security
Information security is about addressing and reducing IT RISK. It’s easy to overlook risk as a topic when all you hear is talk about passwords, firewalls, encryption, policies, or two-factor authentication. In this section, you’ll read about how the university is at risk and what you can do to reduce the risk in your group, department, and college.
-
Exam time!
Yes. I know that you just took your compliance training as it’s due to be completed before the end of the year, but since the exam period is on us, I thought it would be good to do some “off-the-record” testing… Which of the following is a myth? Did you find the myth? This was…
-
Student Loan Relief Programs
Our students need to be made aware of this scam, whether it’s through faculty or student services offered through our departments. The U.S. Government recently announced its plan to give citizens up to $20,000 of student loan relief. This plan requires that citizens apply to determine if they qualify for the loan. Cybercriminals are taking…
-
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022
All over the United States, people are observing “Cybersecurity Awareness Month” in October. That’s great! There is a WHOLE month devoted to cybersecurity! If only we could make it a National Holiday, a day where hackers take the day off, and everyone is given the day to change ALL their passwords. We can call it…

Scam Types
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.
-
Strengthening Security: Lessons from Recent University Breaches
As part of our ongoing commitment to cybersecurity, we want to share insights from recent security incidents affecting universities. The following examples underscore the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard our work environments. Let’s delve into the breaches and explore steps we can take to protect our data: University of California, San Francisco…
-
Important Reminder: Beware of SMS Scams
This week, we are writing to remind you of an ongoing issue that has been affecting some of our university community members. There have been reports of students receiving SMS messages from individuals pretending to be professors at our university. These messages typically offer paid positions and request personal information such as resumes, age, and…
-
The Importance of Using Approved Anti-Malware Software on University Machines
In the digital age, universities heavily rely on various software for administrative tasks, research, teaching, and learning. This reliance also opens potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious entities. Therefore, it is crucial to use only approved anti-malware software. The Risks of Unapproved Anti-Malware Software Unapproved anti-malware software can pose several risks: The Benefits…
-
Protecting and Securing Your Personal and University Data on Your Phone
Our smartphones have become a treasure trove of personal and professional data in the digital age. As members of a university community, we often access sensitive information through our personal devices. This action makes it crucial to understand how to protect and secure our data. Why is Mobile Security Important? Our phones are not just communication…

Benefits & Tips for You
In this section, you can learn about all the different tools available to you at UT, such as secure file sharing and monitoring your systems. We will also share best practices for staying secure at school and at home.
-
Tips for Securing macOS
It’s no surprise that macOS is the second-biggest operating system worldwide. Apple has a well-regulated array of computers available for consumers that merge many strengths of the whole Apple ecosystem. However, this doesn’t mean that you should not take any steps to help secure your macOS computer. Securing your Apple computer involves several steps to…
-
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…
-
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…

Protecting University Data
Discover essential articles on cybersecurity practices specifically tailored for the University of Tennessee. Learn effective strategies to safeguard sensitive information, defend against threats, and maintain data integrity. Equip yourself with knowledge to protect your university’s digital ecosystem.
-
Safeguarding Your Remote Work
Remote work in higher education is now the norm. To keep your online work safe using university-provided tools like OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, follow these straightforward steps: Working remotely in higher education is convenient and secure when you use the university-provided tools while taking these precautionary steps.
-
Privacy Concerns with Onboard AI: Microsoft Copilot
Continuing with privacy concerns with onboard AI, Microsoft Copilot, which uses the hardware on any system with Windows 11 Copilot+ to run the native AI of Copilot, has been seen as a potential issue for user privacy. We’ve highlighted a few privacy concerns associated with Microsoft Copilot: You can opt out of data collection for…
-
Managing Permissions on Mobile Phones
Application permissions are settings that control what an app can access and do on your device. Here are some common types of permissions: These permissions can be needed for the application to function, but sometimes, the application takes more permissions than necessary. In the cybersecurity world, we would call that a violation of “Least Privilege” or…

Explore
Write
Chat
Call