For the entirety of October, SUNY Oswego’s Campus Technology Services promotes cybersecurity, as the month is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
This year’s theme focuses on the dark web and the dangers that come along with it. The dark web is a “small part of the Internet,” according to CTS’s website, that is off limits to the average person and anonymity is the main focus. A major concern lies around personal data being for sale — including social security numbers, credit card numbers and passwords to critical accounts.
Information Security Analyst Ursula Wilkinson, who works with CTS at SUNY Oswego, said there were three main parts leading to the choice of the theme this year, two of which were “light-hearted.”
With the timing and Halloween being right around the corner, CTS used a theme that could relate to the “spookiness and spiders,” Wilkinson said. CTS was able to highlight Tyron Johnson-Neuland, who also works at CTS, and his artwork during the office’s campaign. One piece is specifically called “Dark Web.”
However, the main reason was that a lot of people do not know what the dark web is or why they should be concerned.
“It would probably surprise people to learn how much personal data is for sale in the dark web black market, stolen from breached websites and hacked accounts, and potentially how much of their own data is out there,” Wilkinson said. “People often think they don’t have any accounts or data that are worth anything, so they don’t have to worry about cybersecurity. They couldn’t be more wrong.”
With a lot of people switching to working from home or remotely due to COVID-19, Wilkinson said cybersecurity is more important than it ever has been before. Following an abrupt adjustment to using more technology, it put pressure on everyone.
“For instance, the number of COVID-19 related phishing scams has increased over the last several months,” Wilkinson said. “Stress can make us more apt to make mistakes. The bad guys only have to catch us once having an off-day to successfully hack us. But the good guys have to keep defenses 100% solid all the time.”
Throughout the month, CTS is hosting several virtual events to increase awareness about cybersecurity and the dark web. Events include a “Phishing Derby,” where students can forward scam emails to phishing@oswego.edu by the end of the month for the chance to earn a gift card and a Virtual Cybersecurity Scavenger Hunt. All submissions to these events must be sent in by Oct. 30.
Wilkinson added she was not sure if participation in these events has decreased or increased yet with them being purely virtual, but she said CTS might see an uptick in participation.
“In terms of how much participation we have seen, it could always improve, and we are always considering different methods to reach people,” Wilkinson said.
There have not been any concerns or incidents with students or faculty at SUNY Oswego in terms of issues with the dark web, according to Wilkinson. During the month, CTS does not want to scare people but rather “educate and empower” them to ensure their safety online.
“The biggest takeaways that I hope people understand are that, yes, you are a target, keeping sensitive information isn’t someone else’s job and there is no technological ‘silver bullet’ that will keep data secure all the time,” Wilkinson said. “The best practices and tools are already out there for you. It’s up to you to use them.”
Image provided by Tyrone Johnson-Neuland
