By Ari Massefski, Class of 2014
Each October, the Department of Homeland Security observes National Cyber Security Awareness Month with its “Stop | Think | Connect” program. The program is intended to warn citizens about the dangers of computer hackers, identity theft and viruses that threaten digital data—dangers that have become more prevalent with the rise of the Internet as a popular everyday tool.
“Today, the Internet is a hostile environment,” said David Steinour, George Washington University’s chief information officer. “Every day, criminals try to acquire identities and financial account information illegally and use that information to commit theft. Like all other networks connected to the public Internet, GW’s network is continually facing potential threats by criminals and hackers who try to penetrate our security and find weaknesses to exploit.”
One cyber threat is called phishing, said Mr. Steinour. A phishing scheme is one in which a scammer sends an e-mail purported to be from an official organization, such as a bank or a government agency, but is really a plot to steal someone’s identity using the information sent back.
“It is important to remember that no legitimate organization will ever ask you for your bank account number or login information in an email,” said Mr. Steinour.
Techniques to secure cyberspace include keeping software up to date, using antivirus software and creating secure passwords. Users should keep their account information confidential and report any potential breaches of security. Suspicious communications should be immediately deleted or brought to the GW IT Support Center.
“For over a decade, GW has had an active information security program and has promoted security awareness among students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said Mr. Steinour. “The Division of Information Technology employs a dedicated information security and compliance services team that works both publicly and behind the scenes to identify and reduce information security risks and prevent such attacks by monitoring the GW network and blocking malicious activity.”
This month, the Division of IT will provide security awareness messaging to all members of the GW community aimed at reminding students, faculty and staff that the Internet is a shared resource, and that everybody has a role in securing the Internet in order to make cyberspace safer for everybody.
“Cyber security is not something we can pay attention to for only a month each year,” said Mr. Steinour. “It is a shared responsibility between all individuals who use computing and network services and the organizations that provide those services.”
For more information, please visit the National Cyber Security Alliance’s website at http://www.staysafeonline.org or contact the Division of IT at (202) 994-GWIT (4948), [email protected] or http://itsupport.gwu.edu. Technology assistance is available through the IT Support Center 24 hours a day.