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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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Beware of Scams Related to Recent Earthquakes!
Last week, two earthquakes occurred in Turkey and Syria. Unfortunately, cybercriminals often use crises to get your attention and manipulate your emotions. Cybercriminals have already begun exploiting this event to scam you and steal your sensitive information. You should not be surprised to see an influx of phishing attacks referencing this recent event. Cybercriminals may…
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You broke Facebook??
The latest social media scam is yet another phishing scheme designed to scare Facebook users into sharing their login credentials. Here’s how you can spot fraudulent signs and protect your account from hackers. How this scam works You receive an email that appears to come from Facebook and says something like this: “Recently, we discovered a…
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TikTok Filter Scams
The social media app TikTok is famous for its creative audio and visual filters. TikTok adds and removes filters frequently, so some users may look for ways to access filters that haven’t been added. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the demand for new filters to manipulate you into downloading malware. In a recent scam, cybercriminals…
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Clone Phishing Scams
The university and its departments often use email to send important information to faculty, staff, and students. If someone sends out an email that’s missing information, they may send you a follow-up email. Now, cybercriminals are using a technique called “clone phishing” to imitate these follow-up emails and manipulate you. The scam begins with cybercriminals…
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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Cyber Security Tips for Traveling
Traveling can be an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of cybersecurity risks. Whether you’re on a business trip or summer vacation, it’s essential to protect your digital life from potential threats. Here are some practical tips to help you stay secure while traveling. Traveling doesn’t have to compromise your cybersecurity…
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Spotting and Avoiding Phishing Attacks
Phishing is essentially someone trying to get you to do something via email, usually by asking you to volunteer personal information or click a link, which enables them to compromise you, your accounts, or your computer. Other kinds of phishing may require you to open an attachment or a link, which can infect your computer…
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The Importance of Password Rotation
Password rotation is the periodic changing or resetting of passwords. The goal is to limit a password’s lifespan to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. By doing so, we condense the window of time during which a stolen password remains valid. Why password rotation matters: How Often Should You Rotate Passwords? The frequency of password…
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”…