Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023
Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe and protected when using technology whenever and however you connect. This month is all about taking action! There are all kinds of ways to stay safe and secure online but even just practicing these cybersecurity basics can make a huge difference:
Enable Multi-factor Authentication
Use strong passwords and a password manager
Update your software and devices regularly
Recognize and report phishing
Throughout the month of October, the Information Security Office (ISO) will be hosting events to engage, entertain, and encourage better digital security. Full schedule below.
Keynote Event
Wires and Outliers: Exploring the Shadows within Enterprise Networks
Venture into the abyss of contemporary enterprise networks where hidden connections and anomalous devices whisper in the darkness at the Cybersecurity Awareness Month keynote event. Armed with unconventional methods and real-world examples, we will safely crawl into the unseen spaces between security controls and uncover commonly overlooked exposures.
When: October 17 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: TXST Performing Arts Center Recital Hall
Event will be live-streamed* - Check https://txstatepresents.universitytickets.com the day of the event for the streaming link.
*Thank you gifts will be given to in-person participants.
Keynote Speaker - H.D. Moore
HD Moore is a pioneer of the cybersecurity industry who has dedicated his career to vulnerability research, network discovery, and software development since the 1990s. He is most recognized for creating Metasploit and is a passionate advocate for open-source software and vulnerability disclosure.
HD serves as the CTO and co-founder of runZero, a provider of cutting-edge cyber asset management software and cloud services. Prior to founding runZero, he held leadership positions at Atredis Partners, Rapid7, and BreakingPoint. HD has also been a frequent speaker at industry events such as Black Hat and DEF CON.
HD's professional journey began with exploring telephone networks, developing exploits for the Department of Defense, and hacking into financial institution networks. When he's not working, he enjoys hacking on weird Go projects, building janky electronics, running in circles, and playing single-player RPGs.
Special Events
Backdoors and Breaches with Black Hills Security
Backdoors and Breaches is an incident response game developed by Black Hills Security to assist organizations in refining their incident response practices, develop new procedures, and deal with incidents holistically, all based on the roll of a dice! The TXST Information Security Office will play a live game with the Black Hills Security team. Register early. Space is limited.
When: October 26, 2:00 p.m.
Where: Live via Zoom - Register to Attend
TXST State of Cybersecurity with Dan Owen, CISO
Join TXST Chief Information Security Officer and the rest of the Information Security Office as we present on the state of cybersecurity at Texas State University. With over 40,000 students faculty and staff, and tens of thousands of interconnected systems, Texas State University is a target-rich environment, and we are all integrated into it.
In this live webinar, we'll give you the real story about what we face today and going forward at TXST, and how you can impact cybersecurity for the University and beyond.
When: October 27, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Where: Live via Zoom - Register to attend
Wednesday Workshops
Every Wednesday in October, the ISO will host in-person, hands-on workshops covering issues that affect the cybersecurity of TXST Bobcats.
Each week we will cover one topic in-depth, from initial contact by a phisher or scammer to recovery in the unfortunate event that you become a victim of a cyber crime. Knowing what to look for at each phase of an attack will help you to respond better to possible cyberattacks and phishing so that you are prepared to respond.
Workshops are from 3pm-5pm in the Alkek open teaching theater (2nd floor lobby) and open to faculty staff and students. No registration required.
The Impossible Job Offer - Wednesday 10/4
The fake job offer is by far the most successful social engineering tactic seen at Texas State University. Students regularly get caught up in scams that promise high pay for low hours, doing simple or remote work. They then often find themselves the victim of identity theft or personal financial loss. Attendees will learn how to identify and avoid job scams, both those received via email and those seen on popular message boards.
Face Your Cyber attacker - Wednesday 10/11
This workshop will investigate the causes and methods behind common phishing attacks and scams. We will discover who is initiating these attacks and why they do it. Attendees will learn what to look out for when they receive a suspicious communication, what to do about it, and how to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.
Don't Get Pwned! - Wednesday 10/18
Assess your personal security posture by investigating settings on your device, cleaning up junk, checking your passwords and, if you’re brave, checking to see if “you’ve been pwned.” Attendees will get hands-on instruction on how to harden their security posture by finding and fixing weaknesses in their digital lives.
What will I do now? - Wednesday 10/25
Anyone can fall victim to phishing, social engineering, scams, and cyber-attacks. Even professionals make mistakes that can cost them dearly. The best thing to know how to do if you fall victim to a cyber-attack is how to recover. For individuals, this could mean having to regain access to compromised accounts or replacing stolen devices. Attendees in this workshop will learn how to mitigate the worst impacts of such an event and learn pro-active counter measures.