In Line with National Crime Prevention Week: Cybersecurity Awareness

Santos, Churt Noel
BSCS 4A
CS Seminars and Educational Trips

BLOG REPORT:
"Cybersecurity Awareness"

    On September 6, 2024, as part of National Crime Prevention Week, a webinar titled "Cybersecurity Awareness" was organized in collaboration with NAPOLCOM Cordillera. The session focused on educating participants about cybersecurity threats and effective ways to protect themselves online.

The webinar aimed to raise awareness of growing cyber threats and provide actionable strategies to ensure online safety. In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is more critical than ever, making this event timely and relevant for all internet users.

The session was led by Reeve Michael Angelo M. Callejo, a cybersecurity expert with vast knowledge of the field. His clear and insightful presentation helped participants understand complex cyber threats and how to address them.

For this blog, I have a few key topics that I would like to share, would you like to know what it is? keep reading!

The webinar explored several key topics, including phishing scams, malware, DDoS attacks, and common hacking schemes like those targeting Facebook and GCash users. Each topic was explained in a way that made it easy for participants to grasp the importance of cybersecurity.

1. DoS (Denial of Service)

What is DoS:

A DoS attack aims to make a network service unavailable by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate requests, causing it to crash or become unresponsive.

How to Prevent:

• Use firewalls and intrusion detection systems to filter out harmful traffic.
• Implement rate limiting to control the number of requests a server can handle.
• Have a robust incident response plan in place.

2. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

What is DDoS:

Similar to DoS, a DDoS attack involves multiple compromised systems (often part of a botnet) targeting a single service, making it even harder to mitigate.

How to Prevent:

• Deploy DDoS protection services that can absorb excess traffic.
• Use content delivery networks (CDNs) to distribute traffic across multiple servers.
• Monitor traffic patterns for unusual spikes.

3. Phishing

What is Phishing:
Phishing attacks trick users into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers, often through deceptive emails or fake websites.

How to Prevent:

• Always verify the sender's email address and check for spelling errors or unusual links.
• Use email filters to block phishing attempts.
• Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts.

4. Malware

What is Malware:

Malware is malicious software designed to damage or disrupt systems, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to networks.

How to Prevent:

• Install and regularly update antivirus and anti-malware software.
• Avoid downloading software from untrusted sources.
• Keep operating systems and applications updated to patch vulnerabilities.

5. Brute Force Attack

What is a Brute Force Attack:

A brute force attack involves trying multiple password combinations until the correct one is found, compromising accounts.

How to Prevent:

• Implement account lockout mechanisms after a certain number of failed login attempts.
• Use strong, complex passwords and encourage password managers.
• Enable multi-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.

6. Facebook/GCash Hacking Scams

What is it:
These scams often involve social engineering tactics to gain access to user accounts or financial information, typically through fake websites or messages.

How to Prevent:

• Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
• Enable two-factor authentication for additional security.
• Be cautious of unsolicited messages or links, and always verify the authenticity of requests.

with all that, participants left with a deeper understanding of how to protect their personal data, recognize online threats, and implement security best practices like multi-factor authentication and avoiding phishing traps.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing concern, and events like this play a crucial role in keeping people informed. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it’s essential to stay proactive in protecting yourself online. Consider joining similar webinars in the future to stay updated on the latest security practices.