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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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The Importance of Software Updates
There is always a bit of annoyance when we see that our computer needs an update. It always seems to happen when we are right in the middle of important work. We begrudgingly either install the updates or pick a time for the inevitable reboot. But did you know that generally, those updates only cover…
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Reporting Cybercrime
We all know that we should report any cyber incidents to the OIT HelpDesk and eventually OIT Security. This is the most important thing you can do following a cyber incident with university devices and data. What if, however, it’s your data and your devices? Thankfully it is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and the…
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What is Encryption?
You’ve probably heard of encryption at some point. Encryption is a key technology in both business and consumer applications. Perhaps you’ve used encryption in messaging applications or your emails without even knowing. So, what is encryption and how does it work? Encryption is a process used to protect data by converting it into a coded…
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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Tech Support Scams
What are tech support scams? Tech support scams are a type of cybercrime that aims to trick users into believing that their computer has a serious problem, such as a virus. The scammers then offer to resolve the issue for a fee, which often involves installing malware on the user’s device or directing them to…
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The Rising Threat of AI Voice Cloning
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital landscape, offering powerful tools for innovation but also new avenues for exploitation. One emerging threat is AI voice cloning, a technique that uses machine learning to replicate a person’s voice with startling accuracy. While this technology has legitimate applications in entertainment and accessibility, it has also been weaponized…
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Social Engineering: Examples and Avoiding Them
Social engineering is a significant threat that leverages human psychology and trust to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security for fraudulent purposes. It relies on exploiting human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities. Understanding what social engineering is, recognizing its various forms, and knowing how to protect oneself from such attacks are crucial for maintaining security in both…
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Privacy Concerns with Onboard AI: Google Gemini
Ending the series of privacy concerns with onboard AI, Google Gemini, which uses the hardware on any Android smartphone with Gemini support, has been seen as a potential issue for user privacy. Privacy Concerns Associated with Google Gemini: To Opt Out of Google Gemini, Follow These Steps When You Opt Out of Google Gemini, Here…
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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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…
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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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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.
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Look, No Hands—Let OIT Continuously Monitor Your Systems
One of the responsibilities of every user of UT’s IT resources is to continuously monitor their UT Owned workstations, laptops, and servers. What does that even mean? HOW? WHO? Who does ANYTHING continuously? These two words, continuous monitoring,” would imply that you (or somebody) should be looking at a computer(s) 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Thankfully, this…
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Plans and Programs and Controls, Oh My!
Information security conversations often include words like “IT security plans,” “systems,” and “program plans.” What do these terms mean in the context of cyber security, and why should we care? Three reasons WHY we are talking about cyber security: Human Resource (HR) or Fiscal (FI) policies provide a governance structure for conducting university business, the…
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File Sharing Options for Sensitive Information
We regularly receive questions about sharing or storing sensitive information. While we have several recommendations, first, let’s talk about why you should be concerned about how you share or store sensitive information. ALL users are responsible for ensuring that their use of sensitive information services complies with laws, regulations, and policies where applicable; it is EVERYONE’s responsibility.…