Cybersecurity Awareness Month is here. It’s a time to sharpen your defenses and learn together as a community. This year’s theme is Get Connected to Bee Protected. It’s all about connection: sharing knowledge, strengthening habits, and looking out for one another.
Here are three simple ways to start
Tip 1: Build Your Cyber Defenses at Home
Yale has strong protections in place, but at home, we’re often more relaxed, and hackers know it. Unchanged admin passwords, reused logins, and unsecured Internet of Things (IoT) devices (think smart speakers or routers) can put your data at risk.
What to do:
- Change default passwords on home devices and keep them updated.
- Use unique passwords for personal accounts.
- Turn on Multifactor Authentication whenever possible, especially for sensitive data.
Tip 2: Learn Together, Stay Stronger
Cybersecurity doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s more powerful when we connect and learn together. Two big events this month will put your cyber knowledge into action:
- Oct. 24: EDUCAUSE Cybersecurity Trivia - Campuses across the country will face off in this fast-paced online challenge. Think Team Yale can claim the crown? Join us to find out.
- Oct. 29: Fancy Bear Goes Phishing talk - Special webinar with Scott Shapiro, the Charles F. Southmayd Professor of Law and professor of philosophy at Yale. In our marquee event, he'll share insights from his book, "Fancy Bear Goes Phishing." We'll explore how one phishing email changed global trust, and what it means for us today.
Tip 3: Join The Hive
Cybersecurity at Yale isn’t just a policy; it’s a community.
That’s why we launched The Hive: Yale’s Cyber Buzz. It’s your go-to spot for quick tips, polls, and activities throughout October and all year long.
This month, The Hive is buzzing with Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities like our fun "Insider Threat Movie Titles challenge" — think "The Phish & the Furious" or "Data Hard with a Vengeance." And be sure to check out the welcome video from Jeremy Rosenberg, our Chief Information Security Officer. Be sure to hit the ‘Join’ button in The Hive channel to build your cyber muscles, connect with colleagues, and join the fun.
Added bonus: Hive members get access to exclusive activities and the chance to win cyber-themed prizes during October.
Let’s make this October an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn together. We’ll better protect ourselves both at Yale and at home.
P.S. Visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage to get the full scoop.