October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and ITS is going to be rolling out a testing for students using Microsoft’s Attack Simulation Training.

Phishing has existed in attackers’ toolboxes for decades, with threat actors posing as trusted contacts and then targeting unsuspecting victims through email or text messages to steal sensitive data. While malicious actors always attempt to craft legitimate-looking phishing communications, some cybercriminals excel at this more than others. Historically, phishing communications have often been easy to spot because of careless drafting, with a lot of spelling errors and incorrect grammar.

However, simply advising people to look for “traditional” attributes of phishing is no longer enough to keep organizations safe. Beyond investing in the right technologies, such as enabling spam filters and implementing multi-factor authentication, education can make or break efforts to safeguard organizations from phishing and ransomware.

Below is an email that you will be getting on Wednesday October 18^th at about 10:00am.  It is from what appears to be a mail server advising you of two messages that could not be delivered because of the synchronization delay, and it wants you to click on the “View Returned Messages” to get them.

Notice who the email is coming from—it is coming from effecturellc Portal dUScj@effecturellc.com. This is not a legitimate Microsoft email.

When you receive this email, report it as attempted phishing. If you click on the “Report” button, then you can select the “Report phishing” tab.  This will allow you to report this email to Microsoft for review and they will be able to block future emails from getting into our system. It will also delete the email for you, so you do not have to do anything further with it.

You can read more at Report Phishing Button in Outlook (For Students Only). You are an essential part of keeping Drake safe and secure.

Check out this week’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month topic in OnCampus. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam and take the cybersecurity quiz to win prizes.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Jeremy Calvert, ITS

The Drake Principal Center for Global Citizenship is excited to be providing funding for Drake students to attend regional and national conferences that focus on global or international topics.

Applications may be funded up to $500, depending on costs and the level of student participation. Priority may be given to applicants who have an active role in the conference (e.g. the applicant will be presenting a paper or serving as a discussant). Funds may be used to cover the costs of travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is open to all current undergraduate and graduate-level students enrolled in any Drake degree program and who are in good academic standing.

Applications for funding will only be accepted using the online form and should include the following. Applications that fail to address all of these items will not be considered.

• Major(s) and Expected Graduation Year at Drake University
• Title, Location*, and Dates of the Conference
• Conference Website
• Conference Registration Fees (if applicable)
• Mode of Transportation to the Conference and Expected Costs
• Plans for Lodging and Expected Associated Costs (if applicable)
• Other financial assistance the student is receiving for the conference (such as from the student’s academic department, an outside grant, etc.) (if applicable)
• One brief paragraph explaining how the conference relates to the student’s academic and/or professional goals, how it connects with global or international topics, and what form of participation the student will engage in at the conference
• Supplemental documentation to support your application, such as the abstract/proposal submitted to the conference organizers (if applicable)

*Virtual conference participation is also eligible for funding to cover the cost of registration.

Conference funding applications are considered on a rolling basis. We ask that applications be submitted at least thirty days prior to the scheduled start of the conference to allow sufficient time for review and response, and to ensure the student can make further or alternate funding arrangements if needed.

If you have any questions, please contact global@drake.edu.

— Hannah Sappenfield, Global Engagement

Attend a Sleep Hygiene Workshop Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in the Olmsted Center, Drake Room. This workshop is helpful for any student that experiences difficulties with sleep. The discussion will focus on strategies to combat sleep difficulties.

Register Today!

Kayla Bell-Consolver, Broadlawns Drake Counseling Center

Midterms can be a difficult time. The Broadlawns Drake Counseling Center has a variety of groups and programs available for additional support. Join us throughout October to receive free resources for support.

— Kayla Bell-Consolver, Student Counseling Center

Ransomware attacks can cause downtime, data loss, and compromise sensitive data. Phishing emails remain a leading cause of ransomware entry, meaning you have a key role to play in keeping Drake safe.

There are many ways to spot and report attempted phishing. Please see Junk Mail and Phishing (FAQ) for more information about suspicious and unexpected emails. To report suspected phishing, submit a Phishing Attempt Reporting ticket and follow the steps detailed in Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to).

Additionally, ITS has implemented a new way for students to report suspected phishing. Starting Wednesday, October 11, students will be able to report suspected phishing attempts directly from the email in question. Please see Report Phishing Button in Outlook (For Students Only) for more information.

To keep yourself safe from ransomware, follow these best practices:

• Think before you click. Phishing is a leading cause of ransomware attacks. If you aren’t sure about a suspicious email, link, or website, report it and don’t open it.
• Back up your files. Ransomware may look for files to edit, encrypt, or delete. Protect your files by backing them up to a secondary location.
• Keep software updated. Out-of-date software may pose an easy target for ransomware attacks. Update your software and operating system regularly.
• Only use secure networks. Use eduroam while on campus for a secure connection.
• Never pay the ransom. If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a ransomware attack, contact ITS immediately.

Understanding how ransomware operates, its entry points, and preventative measures empowers you to take your cyber safety into your own hands.

Take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.

Watch for next week’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month topic in OnCampus. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

Chris Mielke, ITS

This form is for you to express interest in joining the Civic Engagement Committee. This is a low-time commitment that will involve at most four hours a month with one meeting per month. The committee will be responsible for helping the Civic Engagement Senator plan events, brainstorm ideas, help students become more civically engaged, and address issues that arise on campus. After filling out the form, I will contact you to let you know if you have been accepted to join the committee. Thank you and please contact me chloe.lepak@drake.edu with any questions.

— Chloe Lepak, Sophomore, A&S

October was established as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004 and is a collaborative effort between government agencies and private industry to help individuals protect themselves online, especially as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. Drake is kicking off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with our first topic—security culture.

Whether you know it or not, you play a major role in Drake’s security culture. That may sound intimidating, but chances are you’re already doing your part. Security culture comprises the ideas, customs, and social behaviors of a group or organization that influence its security. Reporting a phishing email to ITS, discussing a news-making cyber attack with a coworker—that’s security culture at work!

To keep yourself and Drake safe, remember the following cybersecurity tips to enhance our security culture:

• Think before you click. If you aren’t sure about a suspicious email, link, or website, report it and don’t open it.
• Keep your information private. Use privacy settings on social media and other websites to control who sees your information. Additionally, be cautious who you share your information with. Remember, Drake will not ask you for your passwords, social security number, or other personal information.
• Strengthen your password. Use a variety of characters, avoid using personal information, use a different password for every app and website, and change your passwords regularly.
• Use multifactor authentication. MFA provides another layer of security to ensure it’s really you accessing your information.

Drake prioritizes your safety, and we ask you to do your part to strengthen our security culture.

Take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.

Watch for next week’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month topic in OnCampus. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Chris Mielke, ITS

The Summer 2024 Uganda travel seminar is a three-week, six-credit course where Drake students visit Uganda to study sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. The course will take place in the first three weeks of Summer 2024.

Interested students can learn more about the program by attending information sessions on the following days/times:

• October 9th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• October 10th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• November 15th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112
• November 16th @ 5 PM in Aliber 112

Please contact Professor Henderson (heath.henderson@drake.edu) with any questions.

— Heath Henderson, Zimpleman College of Business

As you will recall from your own college search, the most influential person you talked with during your college visits were current students. The interaction that you have with prospective students and family members will impact their future interest in Drake and ultimately play a significant role in the student’s decision-making process. 

The goal of the Office of Admission is to articulate and communicate Drake’s mission statement which serves as a promise. As a representative of Drake, it is critical that you know, understand and communicate the tenets of the mission of the University through information and stories. As a member of Cole-ition you will provide tours to families, interact with prospective students, meet Drake staff and students, get service hours, develop speaking skills, and have a great resume builder!

If you are interested fill out this form with your information:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2jSVnZdysnZkexJTxJPoIDL6qv3DqpPzft26VCVz6OUmn-A/viewform?fce_id=bd75ed72-d919-4544-b0eb-3c0e94ce726b

An informational session will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, from 1:30–2:15 p.m. in Sussman Theatre.

For questions, email admissioncoleition@drake.edu.

— Reed Nenonen, Senior, School of Education