Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual opportunity for the Trinity community to strengthen the skills and habits that help protect personal information, institutional data, and our digital environment. Throughout October, Technology, Data & Innovation (TDI) will share practical guidance, resources, and awareness activities focused on today’s most common cybersecurity risks, including phishing scams, account security, artificial intelligence-enabled deception, data privacy, and device protection. As part of this national initiative led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and supported by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Trinity College continues its#SecureTheNest campaign.

This year’s theme, “Protect Yourself. Protect Trinity.”, emphasizes that cybersecurity is both an individual responsibility and a shared community practice. Whether you are a student, faculty member, or staff member, the actions you take every day help reduce risk for yourself and the College. Explore this year’s weekly awareness topics, campus activities, and practical resources designed to help you recognize threats, make informed decisions, and stay secure throughout the month and beyond.

Take these four actions

Phishing, Scams, and Social Engineering:

Many cyberattacks begin with a simple message designed to trick someone into clicking a link, sharing information, or approving a request. Today’s scams extend beyond email and may include text messages, QR codes, social media messages, fake job offers, and AI generated content. Take a moment to verify unexpected requests, especially those creating urgency or asking for personal information. Staying alert and reporting suspicious activity helps protect both you and the Trinity community.

Secure Your Accounts:

Strong account security starts with more than just a password. Use unique passphrases, enable multifactor authentication, keep account recovery options current, and consider using a password manager or passkeys where available. These simple steps make it much harder for attackers to gain access to your accounts and help protect both your personal information and Trinity resources.

Can You Trust What You See and Hear?

From deepfake videos and cloned voices to AI generated phishing emails and impersonation attempts, cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make scams more convincing. Not everything online is what it appears to be. Before responding to unexpected requests, sharing information, approving transactions, or clicking links, verify the source through a trusted method. Staying informed about AI enabled deception can help you make better decisions and protect yourself and the Trinity community.

Privacy, Devices, and Digital Footprints:

Your personal information, online activity, and connected devices create a digital footprint that can affect your privacy and security. Protect yourself by keeping software and devices up to date, reviewing privacy settings, securing personal and institutional data, and being mindful of what you share online. Whether you are using a laptop, smartphone, tablet, or social media platform, small actions can significantly reduce risk and help safeguard your information both on and off campus.