Do you feel safe on the Internet?

October is National CyberSecurity Awareness Month at Auburn University. The Office of Information Technology has been working hard to get information out about Internet safety.

CyberSecurity Awareness Month is a national campaign recognized by many computer and information system groups, societies and organizations. The basic purpose is to make businesses and home users aware of cybersecurity.

“Users need to be aware of the risk when dealing with data on the Internet such as online banking, paying your credit card bill and even registering for classes,” said Mark Wilson, the manager of network securities at Auburn University.

Each week in October there is a different topic and theme to promote cybersecurity. Week one was about phishing and protecting your identity and week two was about surfing the web safely by not putting out personal information. Auburn just wrapped up week three which was about how illegal downloading is stealing and the last week will be about securing your cell phones and laptops.

Each cybersecurity topic has a different theme to give it a visual presence. The themes focus on renaissance and classical artwork. The Office of Information Technology used different pieces of art to make advertisements about cybersecurity.

There is a different theme each week, but the message stays the same. The underlying message on every advertisement is "use anti-virus software, keep Windows Updates current and backup regularly."

This is the second year for a CyberSecurity Awareness Month campaign on Auburn’s campus. Last year the theme for cybersecurity was Halloween.

The Office of Information Technology is promoting the awareness month through the Web site www.keepITsafe.auburn.edu. The Web site has security tips, information about the promotional ads Auburn is using, security links and many materials for IT providers to use.

“OIT has a presence on the campus cable network and we have had articles about cybersecurity published in the school newspaper,” said Wilson, who has worked at Auburn for nine years. “We also have posters on campus, a Facebook presence and signs on the transit buses.”

The campus cable network is running student-produced videos with the help of EDUCAUSE. EDUCAUSE is a non-profit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

All the advertisements are used to target students, faculty and staff on Auburn’s campus. Each type of promotional ad is geared toward one of the specific targeted groups. The Facebook presence is an example of how OIT is targeting students.

“It is important that people are aware of the risk involved when being online and most of the threats today are through social engineering sites,” said Wilson. “The benefit of CyberSecurity Awareness Month is showing users that they can and need to take internet safety into their own hands.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 the Office of Information Technology will have a CyberSecurity Day in front of the Auburn University Student Center. From 9 to 11:30 a.m. students and staff from OIT will be passing out flyers and answering any questions people may have about cybersecurity.