Articles by author: Brock University

  • Brock professor available to discuss dangers of ransomware

    EXPERT ADVISORY: R00227 – 24 October 2016

    Friday’s cyber attack that knocked out some of the world’s top websites has been called a “stunning breach of global Internet stability,” and is a reminder of how much of an issue cyber security has become.

    October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and more attention is being drawn to the increasing prevalence and sophistication of another internet security problem — phishing and ransomware scams.

    Teju Herath, Goodman School of Business Associate Professor of Information Systems, teaches courses on information assurance and holds an Advanced Certificate in Information Assurance.
     
    In a Globe and Mail op-ed co-written with Goodman School of Business Associate Professor of Operations Management Michael Armstrong, Herath explains ransomware and why the risks are heightened with this particular type of security breach.

    “Typical hackers steal and sell valuable data such as credit card numbers or passwords and then find customers to buy that data; however, ransomware hackers sell data back to its owners,” explains Herath.
    “If your computer is infected by ransomware, your files will be encrypted to render them inaccessible until you pay a ransom.”
    The FBI estimated that more than $209-million was paid in U.S. ransoms over just three months earlier this year.

    Ransomware specialists are becoming more astute and no longer need to ride the coat tails of emails to infect a whole network of computers.

    Herath says computer users should run antivirus programs to detect threats, keep operating systems and applications updated, think twice before clicking on unexpected email attachments and back up files on a regular basis.
    Herath is available to comment on:
    •    The risks and dangers of ransomware
    •    What computer users and IT departments can do to defend themselves

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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    Categories: Media releases

  • Renowned Italian statistician speaking at Brock Monday

    MEDIA ADVSORY: R00226 – 21 October 2016

    Complex research takes the co-operation of a wide variety of scientists, statisticians, analysts and other experts.

    As part of the 2016 Fields-Brock Transdisciplinary Distinguished Lecture Series, Dr. Fabrizio Ruggeri, Research Director, CRN-Imathi in Milano, Italy, will give a talk about the Bayesian Methods of Complex Problems.

    Faculty of Mathematics and Science Dean Ejaz Ahmed is pleased to invite Ruggeri, who is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and was one of the first recipients of the Zellner Medal, the most prestigious award given by the International Society for Bayesian Analysis.

    Ruggeri will present some of the work he and his co-authors have done in a number of different fields and discuss how complex systems arise in many disciplines such as environmental sciences, engineering, biology and medicine.

    The talk will take place Monday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Brock University’s Pond Inlet.

    For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

    * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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    Categories: Media releases