October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Vincennes University is using the opportunity to educate students, staff, and the public on online safety. Jaci Lederman, Executive Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, stresses the growing need to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.
Lederman notes that cybercriminals often exploit emotions like urgency to trick people into revealing personal information. She advises building a “human firewall” by staying cautious when encountering suspicious messages.
“There are bad actors out there preying on people. It’s important to empower people to know it’s okay not to respond. Don’t open the email if you don’t trust it. Stop and think—is this a legitimate request?” Lederman said.
One of the simplest defenses, she adds, is using multi-factor authentication to add extra protection to accounts. Additionally, Lederman recommends limiting your digital footprint by being selective about which services you sign up for and keeping your software updated to block vulnerabilities.
