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Information Security
Article Archive #2
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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.
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What is a Purple Teamer?
A purple teamer is a cybersecurity professional who works to bridge the gap between red teams (offensive security) and blue teams (defensive security). Their role involves fostering collaboration and ensuring that both teams’ efforts align to enhance an organization’s security posture. Here are some key aspects of what a purple teamer does: By combining the…
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What is a Red Teamer?
A red teamer is a cybersecurity professional who simulates real-world attacks on an organization’s systems, networks, and applications to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. The primary goal of a red teamer is to think and act like a malicious hacker to test and improve an organization’s security posture. Key Aspects of What a Red Teamer Does …
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Why Reporting Phishing Emails Benefits UT
Reporting phishing emails seems like a small thing, but it can have a large impact on security and UT. Reporting phishing emails is crucial for UT to maintain a strong security posture. In our most recent phishing test, about thirty-five percent of the people in the test simply deleted the email. Around thirteen percent forwarded…
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.
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When Bad News Travels, Attackers Are Listening
Malicious actors monitor news outlets and social media for signs of confirmed or suspected security events that they can exploit to their advantage. A campus outage that generates public discussion is, to them, an opportunity with a shelf life. The psychology is simple: during a disruption, people expect to hear from IT, so a call…
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ClickFix: Don’t Be Tricked by a Fake “Fix”
Cybercriminals are using a tactic called ClickFix to trick people into compromising their own devices. These scams use fake error messages, security warnings, or fake CAPTCHA verification prompts that tell users to take steps to “fix” a problem. One common trick is instructing users to press Windows + R to open the Run box, then press Ctrl + V to paste…
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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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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…
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.
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Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things
Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT) The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to describe the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity. These devices can communicate with each other and with other systems over the internet, creating a vast…
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Holiday Cybersecurity Tips for Higher Education Users
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but it’s also a time when cybercriminals are on the prowl, looking for opportunities to exploit security vulnerabilities. It is important to be aware of potential cybersecurity threats and take steps to protect your personal and University-related information. In this article, we’ll discuss essential cybersecurity…
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Safeguarding Against QR Code Fishing
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, one emerging tactic is the use of QR codes in phishing emails. This deceptive technique poses a significant risk to both end users and IT professionals. UNDERSTANDING QR CODE FISHING: QR code phishing involves embedding malicious URLs or content within a seemingly innocuous QR code. These codes can…
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.
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The Importance of Information Security
Each week, we have a section in OIT Weekly about information security. We give tips and tricks to help you protect yourself from bad actors. Given how much information security is in the news, this information can feel boring or redundant. Recently though, the University of Michigan experienced a significant information security event that had…
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Security Terms
As the school year gets underway, it is important to be vigilant when checking your email. There are a couple of techniques that scammers are using to steal your information. SPOOFING is the modification of an email so that the message appears to have originated from someone or somewhere other than the actual source. Spoofing is…
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Are My Documents Secure in the Cloud?
With the increased use of cloud storage (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Evernote, etc.), individuals should take extra precautions to ensure that both personal data and university data are protected. Cloud storage can reduce the risk involved with physically carrying data around on removable media. Users often have on-demand access to their information anywhere, and…