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 Blue Teamer?
What is a Blue Teamer? A blue teamer is a cybersecurity professional focused on defending an organization’s systems, networks, and applications from potential threats. Their main goal is to protect the organization’s assets by ensuring robust security measures are in place. Key measures implemented by a blue teamer: By focusing on these security measures, blue…
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Be Careful in the DeepSeek
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese artificial intelligence company that has recently gained significant attention. Founded in July 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek is backed by High-Flyer Capital Management, a Chinese hedge fund that uses AI for trading decisions. The company focuses on developing open-source large language models (LLMs) and has quickly risen to prominence with…
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What is Open-Source Intelligence?
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) involves gathering information from publicly available sources. There is information available on businesses, organizations, people, and website domains. Here are some techniques that can be used: OSINT techniques can help you gather a wide range of information from publicly available sources. Always remember to use this information ethically and respect privacy laws.…

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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Watch Out! FedNow Scams
FedNow is a new instant payment service created by the Federal Reserve. This service allows banks from all over the US to provide instant funds to any of their customers. Any consumer could use FedNow to send and receive payments instantly. In the coming months, we expect to see an influx of cybercriminals trying to…
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Ransomware?
Ransomware is malicious software, also known as malware, designed to encrypt files on a computer, making them unreadable. The creators (the bad guys) then demand a ransom in exchange for a “key” to unlock the files on the computer. Ransomware incidents can severely impact personal and university processes, leaving the victims without the data on…
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Linktree Scam
Linktree is a landing page service where businesses and individuals can list multiple links from a single page. This service is often used on social media to share and access various webpages easily. However, cybercriminals can also use Linktree to host malicious links to try to steal your personal information. In a recent scam, the…
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AI Phishbait
intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular in the past year. Many people have started using AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Bard. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are taking advantage of AI’s popularity to steal your information. In a recent scam, cybercriminals created fake Facebook ads for free downloads of AI products. If you click one of these…

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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Tax Time!
Do you know a cybercriminal’s favorite time of the year? It’s Tax season! Taxes are a sensitive topic that can easily catch your attention and manipulate your emotions. Cybercriminals exploit this time of year by including mentions of taxes in phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns. Tax season is also a vulnerable time for your sensitive information. Tax…
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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…
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4 Easy Steps to Stay Secure Online
This October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is “See Yourself in Cyber.” It highlights how individuals, from everyday technology users to cybersecurity professionals, are the first line of defense to thwarting cybercrime. The steps to improving your online cybersecurity are no secret, and you’ve heard them many times. It never gets old, sharing these reminders: 1. Watch…

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”…

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