October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe and protected when using technology whenever and however you connect. The theme for the month is "It's easy to stay safe online." Throughout the month of October, get to know the basics of cybersecurity with the IT Services' Cybersecurity Checklist  and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency resources.

These sites will provide information about:

• Enable multi-factor authentication for all important online accounts to provide an additional layer of security.
• Use a trusted password manager and strong passwords.
• Recognize and report phishing emails which can infect your machine with malware.
• Update software to ensure the most current patch is applied.

Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort between government, industry, and the public. It is an effort that reaches from the White House to the individual to raise awareness about cybersecurity and to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to be safe and secure online.

"As we prepare for the upcoming holidays, October is the ideal time for people to learn about their cyber presence and the role cybersecurity plays in keeping them, their friends, and family safe and secure," Stephen Tycer, chief information security officer, said.

Throughout the month of October, IT Services will host live events throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month to dive deeper into cybersecurity topics.

• Students, faculty, and staff are invited to stop by the IT Services table at the Union Connections Lounge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3.
• Guest speaker Jennifer Cook, senior director of marketing at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, will give an online presentation entitled "A Whole Lotta BS (Behavioral Science) about Cybersecurity" at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12. (Register for the webinar).
• University of Arkansas Chief Information Security Officer Stephen Tycer will give a presentation about the current state of cybersecurity at the university at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21 (Register for the CISO presentation).

Securing our online campus community is an ongoing effort as cybercriminals continue to evolve their methods. Simple steps like not clicking links in emails or text messages, avoiding downloading unverified attachments and reporting suspicious messages can go a long way toward protecting our university. To learn more, visit the Cybersecurity Checklist.