Are You Ready For Cyber Security Awareness Month 2023?

Oct. 2, 2023
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Week One: October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month!

This year’s Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM) theme is: Step Up Your Cyber Fitness!

We will be sharing tips and resources to help you build your cyber safety muscles and strengthen your online security. 

Remember, everyone at Laurier has a role to play in building a cyber safe community. Be sure to read our weekly newsletters all month long for tips and a chance to win a prize! (read to the end to learn more!)

With so much of our lives online, it’s important to prioritize our cyber fitness to protect our digital well-being. From phishing attacks that steal sensitive information, to malware that damages devices, it’s important to be prepared to react to any of these cyber threats to protect yourself and those around you. The RCMP reports that Canadians lost over 530 million dollars to cybercrime and online fraud in 2022 – a 40% increase from the previous year.

Topics we'll cover this month include: 

  • Phishing Self-Defence Skills: Phishing is the most common way for cyber-criminals to gain access to their victims’ accounts and networks. We’ll include tips on how to spot threats such as QR code phishing attacks, “vishing” or voice phishing, and attacks impersonating voice mail services and information about reporting these messages to reportspam@wlu.ca.
  • Advances in Cyber Threats: Phishing attempts using new AI and quantum computing technology and techniques such as “Attacker in the Middle” are either already in use by threat actors or will become more prominent in the future. These threats pose new security challenges for the Laurier community, which require us to have increased awareness and skills.
  • Strength in Numbers: Share some benefits of making cyber security a community effort, and provide advice on how to inform your friends, family, and colleagues about cyber security best practices.

Are you #CyberFit? Test your knowledge and win a prize!

Every week, we will be giving away a Laurier water bottle and magnet, courtesy of The Hawk Shop. Complete the weekly quiz for a chance to win!

But wait, there's more – we're also giving away an iPhone 11! Complete all of our weekly quizzes for a chance to win an iPhone 11. The winner will be drawn at the end of the month.

We hope you enjoy the resources we'll be sharing throughout the month. Stay tuned!

Read our other Cyber Security Awareness Month newsletters: