Staying alert and reporting suspicious activity helps protect state systems – and the North Carolinians we serve.Today, March 5, is Slam the Scam Day – a reminder from the Social Security Administration about the growing threat of government impersonation scams. These schemes increasingly target individuals, businesses, and government agencies by creating urgency and demanding untraceable payments such as cryptocurrency, gift cards or wire transfers.
Topics Related to Cybersecurity Awareness
Every year around tax time, scammers ramp up phishing attacks, fake IRS messages and tax-related identity theft attempts, hoping to steal personal information or redirect refunds. Importantly, though, these scams can occur at any time of the year.
NCDIT cybersecurity interns participating in a program designed to build a talent pipeline into the IT workforce are helping protect the state of North Carolina’s IT systems and the people who use them.Jennifer Medina, a Wake Technical Community College graduate, and Jacob Wright, a Fayetteville Technical Community College student, are among the first interns through a partnership with the Carolina Cyber Network, comprised of 23 North Carolina universities and community colleges.
Scammers are increasingly using visually stylized QR codes to deliver phishing links, reports Help Net Security, a cybersecurity news outlet. QR code phishing (quishing) is already more difficult to detect because these codes deliver links without a visible URL.Quishing attacks are even showing up on the streets of downtown Raleigh.
Chief Privacy Officer Martha Wewer recently highlighted how North Carolina is embedding privacy principles into everyday operations – year-round.
The N.C. Department of Information Technology shared resources and tips during Data Privacy Week, an international effort during the week of Jan. 26-30 to empower people and organizations to respect privacy, protect data and enable trust.Explore the resources below to help you make confident, informed choices about what you share and how you protect it – at work and at home.
Did you know that every time you go online you create thousands of data points? From the websites you visit and the purchases you make to the apps you use and the devices you carry, your digital footprint is constantly expanding. This information can include deeply personal details such as your Social Security number, your health data and even the number of steps you take each day. This data is collected, analyzed and stored by organizations across the globe. While you cannot control every piece of data that is gathered, you can control how you protect it.
As online shopping continues to grow, especially during the holiday season, cybercriminals are seizing the opportunity to lure victims with fake websites, counterfeit promotions and shopping scams.The good news? You can shop online safely by recognizing common red flags and following a few simple tips.Fake Online StoresCybercriminals create fake websites that mimic legitimate retailers or use the names of well-known brands. When you search for the best online deals, you may find yourself at one of these fake sites.
Image caption: Fayetteville Technical Community College President Mark Sorrells shakes hands with Samuel Abling and Jacob Wright, who were selected for the Cybersecurity Internship Program at NCDIT.
The N.C. 911 Board is hosting a series of cybersecurity exercises for public safety answering points across the state. The exercises cover cybersecurity best practices, roles, responsibilities and training.