Information Security

Required Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Training

During the first week of October 2023, all employees will receive an email from WCU Office of Information Security to complete a training module called "2023 Danger Zone" which is hosted on KnowBe4, WCU's Information Cybersecurity Awareness Training and management platform. The training module includes a video with embedded question prompts and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Employees should complete the module by Friday, December 1, 2023.

Employees enrolled in the required training can access it here: Employee KnowBe4 Training

Employees in need of a computer or a space to complete the module should contact the Faculty & Staff Training office (fast@wcupa.edu) for accommodations.

Self-Paced cybersecurity awareness training materials for students are available on D2L in a site called Navigating Digital Learning.

Stay Cybersafe

It is important to remember to Be Cyber Smart and Think Before You Click. Bad actors are intensifying their efforts to trick unsuspecting users into scams that can steal your credentials, inject malware onto devices, or obtain credit card information by falsely selling products.  Common phishing message types include impersonation messages (posing as a professor, colleague or friend), fake job offer scams and false “Shared Document” notifications. Bad actors have even begun to utilize QR codes in emails to circumvent common email security filters and trick targets into visiting malicious websites. Higher education institutions are often targeted especially when users are focused on exams and projects and less likely to spot a scam.

Things to consider to navigate safely and securely:

• • • • Think before you click. If an email looks suspicious or an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.
      • Don’t fall for fake delivery notifications or text messages.
        
        

Security University

IS&T encourages everyone to take increased ownership of enhanced online activity and the important security practices that come along with it. The virtual safety of our community, and, ultimately, our nation, depends on our personal online safety practices. Cybersecurity is important to West Chester University and we are committed to helping our faculty, staff and students become more resilient.

Information Security Tools @WCU

WCU has various methods of offering Information Security and Privacy programs. Information Security can only be achieved with lots of layers (like an onion.) One of those layers is the concept we sometimes call the "Human Firewall." Many times this is the first layer that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and IT services. This means YOU. However, in order to make that achievable, WCU has provided a few services and educational opportunities to assist you.

DUO Multi-Factor Authentication

DUO Multi-Factor Authentication protects your digital identity from being compromised even if your password is exposed to bad actors. 
LEARN MORE ABOUT DUO

Mimecast Email Security Gateway

Mimecast is an email filtering service that sits between you and your WCU email account. Mimecast is designed to help protect your account from Unsolicited Email (Spam), Phishing Attempts and Malware.

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL SPAM PORTAL

Cybereason

Cybereason is an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) system that detects suspicious activity, uncovering attackers’ behavior patterns and empowering IS&T to detect and stop emerging attacks. As part of a multi-pronged approach to enhance endpoint security monitoring, all university owned laptops and desktops now require an application called Cybereason.

Phishing Simulations

Phishing simulations help users learn to recognize, avoid, and report potential threats that can compromise accounts, critical business data and systems. Just one compromised account can put valuable computing resources and sensitive institutional or personal data at risk of exposure. Even accounts with limited or no access to confidential material can be weaponized to attack and compromise additional user’s accounts until one with sufficient privileges is targeted and taken over. Every account matters.

PhishBowl

If you receive a suspicious email, you can visit The Phish Bowl to view a list of latest phishing attempts. If the email is posted, then the email has already been reported, and you can simply delete the email. How to Spot and report a Phish or Spam email.

Phishing Red Flags:
For your safety and security, please consider the following red flags if you receive a job via email that is not coming from Handshake, or from a professor, student, or staff member at the university that you know and trust.

• Is a personal assistant job, or a job where the employer is not named
• Comes from an email address that doesn’t match the company’s name
• Does not provide information, such as the title of the person sending the email, the employer’s address or phone number, etc.
• Offers to pay a large amount of money for not much work
• Offers you the job without interviewing you
• Asks you to pay an application fee or some other fee as a condition of starting employment
• Wants you to transfer money from one account to another, by wire service, courier or other means, or deposit a check that they send you
• Requests your bank account or credit card information

Remember:
No legitimate employer will send payment in advance and ask you to send a portion of it back to them. These jobs are often posted as a personal assistant or administrative assistant and ask for assistance in depositing checks or doing mystery shopping. These checks are fraudulent and can end up costing you hundreds of dollars.