Homeland Security Investigations deputy special agent will guest speak on cyber crime and terrorism.
By Ansley Lewis
alewis87@student.alamo.edu
Usha Venkat, director of information technology, hopes to raise awareness of IT security and technology for students, faculty and staff during Cyber Security Awareness Week Oct. 27-Oct. 30.
The event will be hosted by the office of technology services at this college.
“IT security is becoming huge and technology is very widely used,” Venkat said. “It is becoming more and more sophisticated.”
Venkat said the widespread use of technology brings challenges, such as viruses that can corrupt files, spam or unwanted email that clogs accounts and networks, phishing or trying to trick someone into providing passwords, and cyber crime, such as identity theft.
She said it needs to become a “shared responsibility” and people should be aware and protect themselves from cyber attacks.
Six events are scheduled throughout Cyber Security Awareness week.
On Oct. 27, an IT security careers booth will be in Loftin Student Center’s lobby on the first floor from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Attendees have an opportunity to spin a prize wheel and win T-shirts designed by the office of technology services.
Office of technology and computer information systems staff will speak to attendees on how to stay protected from security issues, as well as provide career advice and degree plans for students.
On Oct. 28, three events are planned: Special Report on Cyber Crime Trends, a child safe presentation and a copyright compliance webinar.
Aristides “Harry” Jimenez, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, will be the guest speaker on cyber crime trends and will lecture on Homeland Security and how to detect cyber vulnerabilities from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in Room 218 and 219 of the nursing complex.
The child safe presentation aims to inform attendees on how to keep children safe online and provide tools for tracking offenders with a presentation from 11 a.m.-noon in Room 218 and 219 of the nursing complex.
Fritz Dolak, copyright and intellectual property manager at Ball State University, will lecture on copyright laws and what people can do to avoid infringement. The lecture is from 1-2 p.m. in Room 712 of Moody Learning Center.
On Oct. 29, as part of employee development day, a cyber security awareness workshop will provide faculty and staff with tips on how to protect themselves online from 4-4:45 p.m. in Room 712 of Moody Learning Center.
On Oct. 30, office of technology services staff and Association of Information Technology Professionals volunteers will host a personal computer clinic and a technical support booth from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on the second floor in Moody Learning Center.
Students, faculty and staff can attend the support booth and PC clinic for information on how to protect their machines from viruses and cyber attacks.
For more information, call Venkat at 210-486-0782 or visit alamo.edu/sac/security.