As a University on the rise, UC Riverside is on the radar of brilliant students and researchers across the globe. Unfortunately, this global recognition also puts our university on the radar of cyber criminals looking to maliciously exploit our systems and victimize our community.

Now more than ever, UC Riverside needs heroes—cyber security superheroes, to be exact. That’s why UCR Information Technology Solutions (ITS) invites you to participate in national Cyber Security Awareness Month and gain the cyber security superpowers needed to keep our campus safe!   

Throughout the month of October, the ITS booth will be set up near Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf every Monday and on the east side of the Bell Tower every Thursday. Students, faculty, and staff who visit the booth will be invited to take the Cyber Security Superhero Challenge. Challenge participants who demonstrate that they have cyber security “superpowers” will be eligible to win fun prizes, including power banks, water bottles, wireless charging pads, and a coveted Cyber Hero t-shirt!

In addition to the on-campus events, ITS will run a blind fishing derby in October. At some point during the month, the ITS Information Security Office will send out an email phishing lure to campus. What makes this lure blind compared to ITS’ normal campus phishing simulations is that if you interact with the email you will not be notified that it is a UCR-sanctioned simulation. The first 10 people to successfully report the tagged blind phish using PhishAlarm will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a limited-edition UCR cyber security challenge coin!  

So, do you have what it takes to keep our campus safe? Find out and earn your Cyber Hero cape! Visit https://its.ucr.edu/cybersmart to learn how to participate in Cyber Security Awareness Month and strengthen your cyber security superpowers.