10/21/2024

Dear members of the Puget Sound community,

Thank you for your engagement during Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October! You can still sign up for learning opportunities by visiting, pugetsound.edu/CAM2024.

As a reminder, come swing by the TS table in the Wheelock Student Center from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. any Tuesday in October.

E-Cycle Event - October 30

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Tech Center on the lower level of Collins Memorial Library

If you have any departmental or personal electronic items you would like to e-cycle, you are welcome to drop them off during this time. To ensure data security, all items with data will undergo a secure data destruction process. Technology Services partners with GreenPC, a local company dedicated to the proper disposal of electronic waste, and a list of accepted items can be found on the Green PC website.

This week’s learning opportunity spotlight: KnowBe4

Did you know that current faculty, staff, and students have access to a library of interactive learning modules about online security? Learn how to protect your accounts, devices, and information at home, work, or school through self-paced courses available through KnowBe4.

Click on the KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training tile on your app's dashboard at login.pugetsound.edu to start exploring. Find out how to navigate the platform or simply visit the Library tab to search for available content. It’s essential that our community members remain security conscious.

For faculty and staff, the “2024 Kevin Mitnick Security Awareness Training” module is one of the university’s annual required trainings along with modules in Vector Solutions, which can be accessed via the Compliance Training - Faculty/Staff tile on login.pugetsound.edu.

This week’s security tip: Data Breaches

If you read the news or have been a victim yourself, you are likely aware that data breaches are becoming increasingly common and can have serious consequences. A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals gain access to data. The leaked data may be highly sensitive in nature and are frequently exposed, sold on the dark web, or used to commit cyber crimes.

Knowing how to respond after your data has been breached can help prevent financial loss or identity theft. Follow the checklist on the Federal Trade Commission’s website depending on what kind of data were exposed.  

General tips on what to do after a data breach

  • Be vigilant about checking your financial account statements for unauthorized transactions
  • Check your credit report to detect unusual activity or information
  • Initiate a credit freeze with all three national credit bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian - to prevent an unauthorized individual from opening accounts in your name
  • Stay alert for targeted social engineering scams
  • Change account passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.

Other tips on protecting your information

  • Take control of what you are sharing by checking the privacy settings on your online accounts. Limit what information people can see, who can see it, and what data is shared with advertisers. To make it easier to find privacy settings on popular services, reference this helpful listing.
  • Get notified if data associated with your email address becomes involved in a data breach by using a free service like Have I Been Pwned
  • Assume that anything you post online publicly will exist forever
  • Always use university-provided accounts, devices, and systems when conducting university business, and keep your personal and professional computing separate.
Providing Feedback and Conclusion

We hope the information presented during this month equipped you with the knowledge and tools to stay safe online and #SecureOurWorld. We value your input and invite your feedback through this Google Form. Campus members who successfully reported the simulated phishing email using the Phish Alert Button will be randomly selected to receive an exclusive sticker, free drink from DES, or a Logger Store gift voucher as a small token of our appreciation and recognition.

If you have questions about cybersecurity, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support by submitting a request on the TS support portal.

Thank you,

Technology Services

TS Service Desk
Walk-In Support: Tech Center in Collins Library
Phone Support: 253.879.8585
Online Help: https://support.pugetsound.edu/
Email Support: servicedesk@pugetsound.edu