Cybersecurity advisory for all graduate students

As members of the UC Santa Barbara community, we all have a shared responsibility to protect our personal and professional information from cyber security threats. "As individuals, cybersecurity risks can threaten our finances, identity, and privacy. Universities, which are characterized by their openness based on academic freedom, are among the most widely attacked targets" (UCSB Information Security).

Our UCSB networks protect and store sensitive information dealing with student records, personnel files, and research data. All UCSB faculty and staff members were required to complete an online cyber security refresher course at the beginning of 2017. Graduate student employees also had to fulfill a cyber security training as part of their employment requirements.

KEY RESOURCES AND TIPS

• Students, faculty and staff can report incidences of cyber threats, attacks, and potential vulnerabilities to the UCSB Office of Information Technology (OIT) Security Services. You can consult their website for the latest advisories and alerts on potential viruses and hoaxes.
• If you are receiving threatening communications via email or on the phone, you are encouraged to contact the UC Santa Barbara Police Department at 805-893-3446. If you require immediate assistance during an emergency, you are advised to dial 911.
• If you feel like you may have experienced or witnessed any suspicious intrusions, send an email to the OIT Security Team at security@ucsb.edu. For spam, send your report to abuse@ucsb.edu. Please consult with the guidelines on the OIT security page on how to secure your messages.
• The UC Office of the President website also houses a section on information security, with resources, policies and other campus security links.
• Other resources recommended by the UCSB Information Security team are the "Stop.Think.Connect" website and the National Cyber Security Alliance website.