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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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Cybercriminal at Your Door!
Ring is a popular brand of security cameras designed for home safety. Unfortunately, Ring customers were the latest victims of a phishing attack. Cybercriminals sent phishing emails spoofed as Ring in an attempt to steal customers’ sensitive information. Cybercriminals start this attack by sending you a phishing email with an HTML file attached. The email…
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Homoglyphs and Unicodes (No, not Unicorns)
You may be wondering what homoglyphs and Unicodes are. Homoglyphs are letters or characters that look similar. For example, the character “e” looks like the character “ė.” Unicode is a unique code assigned to characters so that any platform or program can understand them. For example, the Unicode for “e” is U+0065, and the Unicode…
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Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency exchange platforms allow you to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. When you buy cryptocurrency, it’s stored in a digital wallet. Most cryptocurrency exchanges require that you use an additional authentication method to access your wallet. Cybercriminals use social engineering to bypass this added level of authentication to steal your currency. In a…
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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Stay Safe Online When Using AI
Continuing with National Cyber Security Awareness Month, a frankly unavoidable tool is AI. AI is becoming more integrated with computing systems and applications. Some of them are relatively recently released to the public while others have been around for a while. If you have a Windows 11 computer, you can probably see Copilot in the lower…
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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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Tips for Securing Windows
Many people use Microsoft Windows as their primary operating system for work, school, personal computing, and even gaming. The most recent Windows Operating System is Windows 11, but there are still many people on Windows 10. Fortunately making your operating system more secure is very similar in both versions. Tips to help secure your Windows…
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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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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Digital Privacy—What is a Data Broker?
In today’s digital age, personal information has become a valuable commodity. Data brokers have emerged as key players in this data-driven economy. Data brokers operate behind the scenes, gathering vast amounts of personal information from various sources. They compile detailed profiles on individuals and sell this data to businesses, marketers, and even government agencies. Understanding…
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Getting Into the Mindset of a Hacker
Have you ever wondered how a hacker looks at systems and finds unexpected ways around controls meant to keep them out? Is this a special mindset or a thought process that is learned? The mindset of a hacker can vary widely, but generally, it involves a few key traits and perspectives: While the term “hacker”…