Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 10 april 2018

Psych! Colleges teach phishing lesson by targeting their own

By KANTELE FRANKO search that was then used
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — by the government or sold
Thousands of university for profit. Prosecutors said
students and employees spear-phishing emails were
targeted by email phish- used to target over 100,000
ing schemes this year have professors, but they didn't
taken the bait. Fortunately, publicly identify those indi-
they were duped not by viduals or their schools.
real scammers, but by their Ohio State has used phish-
own schools — in simula- ing simulations for employ-
tions meant to make them ees since 2016. Officials
more adept at spotting real won't disclose exact results
threats. for security reasons but say
When Ohio State University responses have improved
did its first student-focused since the early rounds
phishing in January — a when, for example, a mes-
strategy also used in the sage about a second-floor
corporate world — over 18 printer was clicked by peo-
percent of the recipients ple in facilities that didn't
clicked through. The Univer- even have a second floor.
sity of Alabama at Birming- In a hurried, tech-reliant
ham's employee-focused culture in which so many
phishing awareness cam- people exchange so much
paign snagged over 7,000 information at their finger-
people in March, or about tips on smartphones and
a quarter of the recipients. other devices, Patton said,
Ohio State sophomore Eze- the battle is getting people
quiel Herrera, who prides to slow down.
himself on quickly respond- The practical, experiential
ing to messages, was training of fake phishing
caught off guard twice by has proved more effective
the fake phishing emails. compared than slideshows,
The first time, he said, he webinars or other com-
felt proud his school was mon types of training that
taking that kind of educa- can get stale, said Joanna
tional action. The second A security analyst points to a button that Ohio State University email users can click to report sus- Grama, who directs the cy-
time left him frustrated. pected phishing messages, Friday, March 30, 2018 in Columbus. Associated Press bersecurity program at the
"I was sort of like, 'Wow, I'm higher education technol-
really, really bad,'" Herrera, of what makes an organi- protect individuals and the ecutors accused a group ogy association EDUCAUSE.
19, said with a smile. Since zation secure is what hap- broader campus commu- of Iranians of hacking the The risk, of course, is that
then, he said, he has be- pens between an individ- nity against cyberattacks computer systems of about folks will feel tricked, so it's
come more cautious while ual and their keyboard or that could cost far more 320 universities in the U.S. important that the training
scrolling through emails their phone." than the phishing simula- and abroad to steal bil- be educational, not puni-
from unfamiliar senders. Patton talks about it like a tions. lions of dollars' worth of sci- tive, Grama said.
The faux phishing messages digital vaccination, helping Just last month, U.S. pros- ence and engineering re- At Alabama-Birmingham,
mimic emails about finan- one faculty member de-
cial aid, holidays, resetting cried the phishing simula-
passwords or other topics tion as a waste of time, but
but contain signs of poten- most responses were posi-
tial fraud, such as generic tive, said Curt Carver, the
greetings, requests for ur- university's vice president
gent action or information, for information technology,
spelling errors, and send- who recalls first hearing
ers from unfamiliar domain about the concept of self-
names. Recipients who phishing over a decade
click links in the emails are ago.
redirected to tips about Some people report the
good cybersecurity habits messages as suspicious,
and how to spot and report and others send replies like
real attempts at stealing "Ha, you got me!" or "Didn't
passwords or other sensitive get me this time!" A few, he
information. said, expressed interest in
"A phishing simulation helps making it more of a game,
people understand the role wanting to gauge how well
that they play in manag- they detect phishing at-
ing security — that it's not tacks compared with oth-
up to their IT support or the ers.
help desk or whoever that "They've realized ... they
they can sort of blindly walk can be a hero, they can be
along," said Helen Patton, Ohio State University sophomore Ezequiel Herrera looks up an old email about cybersecurity and a person that helps protect
Ohio State's chief informa- phishing during an interview on campus on, Friday, March 30, 2018 in Columbus. Associated Press everybody else," Carver
tion security officer. "A lot said.q