Brock ITS is marking National Cyber Security Awareness Month with a series of workshops to educate the University community about the risks of living, working and socializing in a connected world.

Cyber-criminals target members of the Brock University community daily, said Andy Morgan, Director, Client Services for Brock ITS. “Phishing attacks are a common occurrence in Brock inboxes, spear phishing attacks are becoming more frequent and social engineering attacks directed at individuals are on the rise,” he said.

Ransomware has also been detected on a few Brock devices in the last few weeks. “The continued diligence of the entire Brock community will help keep Brock University data and systems out of the hands of cyber-criminals looking to profit from mistakes,” Morgan said.

Educational workshops planned for October include:

• Hacked and Ransomware Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. in the Computer Commons training room
• Securing your mobile device on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. in the Computer Commons training room
• A presentation on cyber security awareness by Brock’s security team on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. to noon in Academic South 201
• Encryption – it’s easier than you think on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Computer Commons training room

Faculty and staff can register for the workshops on Brock’s Focus on Learning webpage, available through the Human Resources, Environment and Health and Safety website.

If there are concerns about an e-mail, phone call or unexplained happenings on any device, call the Brock Help Desk at ext. 4357.

“We are here to help,” Morgan said. “Remember to ‘think before you click.’”