Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Safe computing demands 24/7 diligence, but for one week every year, technology security comes into special focus at Mississippi State with Cyber Security Awareness Week.
Students, faculty and staff are taking part in this year's event Oct. 18-22 with an array of activities designed to educate users about significant cyber security issues and share information about MSU's efforts to counter threats.
According to Information Technology Services Security and Compliance Officer Thomas Ritter, the university faces an ongoing battle against rogue hackers.
"Mississippi State is essentially under constant attack from phishers trying to get access to our resources and accounts. Attacks can be either directly against our Internet-facing systems or via social engineering, which is the act of manipulating people into divulging sensitive information or performing some action not in their best interest," he said.
The best solutions for staying safe and sound online are education and awareness, Ritter said.
"We encourage all of our users to educate themselves about the threats they are likely to encounter, and that's really what Cyber Security Awareness Week is all about," he said.
This week's lineup, which is free and open to the public, includes:
-- On Monday [Oct. 18], Ritter will present "Current Issues in MSU Cyber Security" in the Union's Fowlkes Auditorium from 3-4 p.m.
-- Tuesday [Oct. 19] Shackouls Honors Forum hosts a copyright panel discussion with Ritter and University Libraries associate professor Bradley Brazzeal in the Griffis Hall Forum Room from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
-- Also on Tuesday, National Security Agency GDP Director David Garland will offer insight into the federal agency's experiences on the cyber security frontier during a presentation from 3-4 p.m. in the Union's Fowlkes Auditorium.
-- On Thursday [Oct. 21], FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Franks will provide a briefing about cyber crime in Mississippi and what the bureau is seeing in the state. His presentation takes place from 3-4 p.m. in Fowlkes Auditorium in the Union.
In addition, information booths will be set up on the first floor of the Union Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and t-shirts will be given away at events while supplies last.
The Campus Information Security Committee, Information Technology Services, Division of Student Affairs, Provost's Office and Center for Computer Security Research are sponsoring Cyber Security Awareness Week. For additional information, visit http://infosecurity.msstate.edu and http://filesharing.msstate.edu.