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It's October 12, 2022.
Cybersecurity risks are abundant and with online classes the potential for being hacked is high.
You are a Student at Wake Forest University.
Can you get through the day without falling victim to a cybersecurity attack?
[[This is your day.]]
Your alarm goes off at 9:45
As you turn off the alarm you see email notifications.
While laying in bed you begin reading through them.
One of the first emails you see is from Amazon with the subject "Your Refund"
Do you [[open the email]] or [[read through the rest of your inbox]]?
The link takes you to a new site.
The site reads "Enter your credit card and billing address and we will process your refund immeadiately."
Do you [[enter your information]] or [[close the tab]]Would you check out the [[sender email address]] or the [[grammar of the email]]?The email address is associated with the name "Amazon Customer Relations" and the email is "amazoncustomerrelations@gmail.com"
With this in mind, do you [[try to remember your last Amazon order]], [[close the email]], or [[forward the email to IS' information security team infosec@wfu.edu]]?The email reads "Due to system error you were double charged for your last order. A refund process was initiated but could not be completed due to errors in your biling information. you are required to provide us a valid billing address. Click Here to Update Your Address."
Do you notice any grammatical errors in the text?
[[Yes]] or [[no]].As you try to remember the last thing you ordered from Amazon, your finger slips and you [[click on the image of Amazon's logo]].
After closing the email you [[read through the rest of your inbox]].
After forwarding the email, you are surprised by how quickly you get a response from the Information Security team promising to look into a possible phishing scam.
Feeling good, you [[get out of bed and begin getting ready for your day]].The image takes you to a new site.
The site reads "Enter your credit card and billing address and we will process your refund immeadiately."
Do you [[enter your information]] or [[close the tab]]?Oof! You have just given your credit card information over to a malicious hacker!
If you had looked closely at the email, you would have noticed that the sender's address was associated with a gmail account; if this was legitimate, you would expect an Amazon email address.
If you had closely analyzed the grammar of the message, you would have noticed the misspelling of "billing", missing words in their sentences, and been more suspicious.
Finally, if you had been more suspicious of Amazon requesting account information the company already had, you would not have entered your sensitive information.
The next time you see a suspicious email you should avoid clicking on links, carefully investigate the message, and, if you are at all suspicious, forward the email to the Information Security (infosec@wfu.edu) team who can discern any threats.
Cybersecurity is everyone's job, you have just learned more ways to protect yourself! Start over, this time you'll know better!
[[This is your day.]] After closing the tab you [[get out of bed and begin getting ready for your day]].After glancing at the time, you realize its 9:58am and you need to be in class in two minutes.
You rush to set up your laptop, change into an acceptable shirt, sit down at your desk, and [[log onto zoom]].Eagle eye! You notice the misspelling of the word "billing" in the email.
Feeling suspicious, you [[forward the email to IS' information security team infosec@wfu.edu]].You don't notice anything odd with the grammar.
Do you continue to look for issues with the email, like the [[sender email address]]?
Or do you [[get out of bed and begin getting ready for your day]]?At the end of class a notification pops up on your computer revealing a software update is available.
Your next class is in 45 minutes. Do you [[begin the update]], [[check your email]], or [[get on social media]]?You have emails from your favorite clothing company, your professor of religion discussing class presentations, and Student Union.
You [[get out of bed and begin getting ready for your day]].
The email reads, "Due to system error you were double charged for your last order. A refund process was initiated but could not be completed due to errors in your biling information. you are required to provide us a valid billing address. Click Here to Update Your Address."
Do you [[click on the link]], [[take a closer look at this email]], or [[read through the rest of your inbox]]? The computer update requires you to download antivirus software, Avast, from software.wfu.edu and will take 20 minutes.
Do you [[continue with the download]] or [[check your email]]?
The first email you see is from "Shoe Direct" and the subject line is "90% off all styles".
You are [[taking advantage of the sale]]!As you browse, you notice an update from WFU Information Systems and [[follow the account]]!While the Avast antivirus software is downloaded you make coffee and prepare for the rest of your day.
When it finishes you [[open your email]].
The first email you see is from "Shoe Direct" and the subject line is "90% off all styles".
You [[buy some shoes]].After clicking on the link you are redirected to a site that will not load.
Giving up on that website, you [[go to your favorite clothing store to browse shoes]].
You make a purchase and [[enter your credit card information]].
Yikes!
Unbeknownst to you, you have just compromised your credit card account. By forgoing the computer update you saved twenty minutes of time, but missed out on a security download.
This security download would have prevented you from opening the link to “Shoe Direct” and from allowing the site to download malware onto your computer.
Cybersecurity is everyone's job, you have just learned more ways to protect yourself! Start over, this time you'll know better.
[[This is your day.]] The WFU Information Systems instagram reminds you to update your antivirus softare.
You [[begin the update]]!Your computer, which is protected thanks to your softwared download, blocks the site and reports that the site was malicious.
Looks like spending the time to update your computer was the right call!
You [[head to the library to work on your resume]].
You are sitting in the library browsing jobs on Handshake.
As you look at jobs, you are comparing job requirements with your resume.
Feeling tired, you are contemplating getting coffee. You decide to go to [[Camino]].As you get up to go to Camino you take another look at your resume.
Do you [[close your resume]] or [[not]]?Congratulations!
You have successfully naviagated the day and avoided cybersecurity pitfalls!
Head to is.wfu.edu to find more cybersecurity month activities!
Also on the IS website you can enter a raffle for various prizes!You walk away and head to Camino.
When you return 15 minutes later your computer is gone.
By not securing your computer you have neglected the physical security of your machine.
Physical security is an important facet of cybersecurity. Remember to secure your computer by taking it with you or using a computer lock!
You have just learned more ways to protect yourself! Start over, this time you'll know better!
[[This is your day.]]