Humber College should provide training for its student body to remain cyber-safe.
Currently, Humber faculty receive phishing emails every few months as a test to make sure they can avoid attracting fraudsters.
If the phishing email is clicked, a separate page explains the suspicious attributes of the email and why faculty should keep an eye out for them.
Microsoft Outlook also urges users to report phishing emails by using a Phish Alert Button, or PAB, to make their internal systems aware of potential threats.
This is an important training exercise that should be made available to Humber students, not just faculty, to prepare them for attempts of data or identity theft.
Haidar Jabbar, a professor who specializes in Application Security Testing in cybersecurity at Humber’s Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, said it would be beneficial to prepare students for potential cyber-attacks due to the college’s susceptibility.
“A cybersecurity attack on Humber College could manifest in several ways due to the institution’s significant digital footprint, diverse user base, and critical data repositories,” Jabbar said.
Haidar Jabbar, PhD who teaches cybersecurity at Humber College. He agrees cyber training should be provided for students. Photo credit: Humber Reporter
“In today’s digital age, cybersecurity threats are prevalent across various sectors, and individuals need to understand how to protect themselves and their data online,” he said.
“Providing cybersecurity training to students not only equips them with essential skills and knowledge to navigate cyberspace securely but also cultivates a culture of cybersecurity awareness and responsibility,” Jabbar said.
He said a proactive approach can significantly mitigate cybersecurity risks, foster digital resilience and prepare students for cybersecurity challenges in their academic and professional endeavours.
Starting in 2020, Humber hosted events for Cybersecurity Awareness Month or CSAM during October, but the helpful training exercises are for faculty rather than students.
“Throughout October, ITS will provide access to training videos, infographics and activities based on the sub-themes above. The delivery format will be every week (as per sub-themes) through our training platform KnowBe4. Employees should expect to receive training enrolment and reminder emails from IT Security,” the web page read.
CSAM will start its fourth year this fall. It needs to be expanded and made available to students and faculty to ensure that all members of the college’s community are prepared for potential threats.
Jabbar said cybersecurity training for students could involve covering basic principles to hands-on learning.
This includes identifying phishing attempts, data and Wi-Fi backup, understanding cyber laws, and case studies to understand the real effects of breaches and ransomware attempts.
“This comprehensive training equips students with essential cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations for navigating the digital landscape securely,” he said.