Cybersecurity — It’s Not Just for Computer Experts
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 7, 2018) – Long Beach State University cybersecurity expert Mehrdad Aliasgari, assistant professor of computer engineering and computer science, wants people to understand that keeping data and electronic devices safe from criminals is not only a job for technology experts.
“To me, cybersecurity is as general education as it gets. Everyone needs to know the basics of this,” Aliasgari said.
Technology users don’t need a deep understanding of how devices and software function in order to improve their ability to protect digital assets. Critical thinking skills and a healthy sense of caution can also function as bulwarks against criminals seeking to compromise information technology systems through such means as “spear phishing” attacks or loading malware onto a USB drive.
Assistant Professor Mehrdad Aliasgari explains why cybersecurity isn’t just a job for computer specialists.
Cybercrime is a big problem for American society. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, founded in 2000 when the Internet was still a relatively new part of life for millions of Americans, received its four millionth consumer complaint alleging a cybercrime in October 2017. The Bureau received nearly 302,000 complaints of cybercrime in 2017. Known cyber offenses caused more than $1.4 billion worth of economic losses last year.
These crimes include business email compromise scams, which can involve offenders tricking people into sending payments or sensitive information over fraudulent emails; ransomware attacks by criminals who hijack a victim’s data before demanding a ransom for its release; or posing as tech support workers in order to illegally access a victim’s computer or other devices.
Personal cybersecurity requires diligence. Users need to be cautious when it comes to using public Wi-Fi networks, avoid using passwords containing information that may also be found on social media — words like one’s mother’s maiden name or a pet’s name — and be able to recognize “phishing” attempts from fraudsters attempting to trick people into giving up vital info, Aliasgari said.
Spear phishing is a type of fraud involving criminals using email to deceive selected members of a specific group, such as people working for the same company, into delivering sensitive information, according to the FBI.
“Try to detect a phishing website, so if this is trying to making you log in with your Social Security or bank account number, don’t do that,” Aliasgari said.
Assistant Professor Mehrdad Aliasgari’s cybersecurity advice.
Cal State Long Beach is doing its part for cybersecurity by introducing a new cybersecurity minor — open to students who are not majoring in computer-related studies — to help fill the market demand for cybersecurity knowledge in the workforce. Aliasgari is serving as the program’s faculty advisor.
“You can tell your future employer or current employer, ‘Look, I have gone through this training. I know the basics, and I know how to stay safe. I can actually help my colleagues to stay safe,’” he said.
Long Beach State University also has a dedicated team of information technology professionals working to keep the campus community safe and provide alerts to potential scams.
“We have deployed a number of technologies to enhance campus information security, ranging from multi-tier firewalls, two-factor authentication, and need-based virtual networks to data encryption,” Vice President and Chief Information Officer Min Yao said.
Campus employees also receive training designed to help them protect sensitive data, and the human brain remains an essential component for all information security systems.
“Ultimately, the best information security shield is an educated user of technology who understands the risks of cyberworld and employs the best practice and sound judgment when using technology equipment and accessing information resources. Enhancing information security has been one of our top priorities and will remain so for a considerable period of time,” Yao said.
Assistant professor Aliasgari is available for media interviews. He may be contacted via email at Mehrdad.Aliasgari@csulb.edu
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About the campus:Long Beach State University is a teaching-intensive, research-driven university committed to providing highly valued undergraduate and graduate degrees critical for success in the globally minded 21st century. Annually ranked among the best universities in the West and among the best values in the entire nation, the university’s eight colleges serve more than 37,500 students. The campus values and is recognized for rich educational opportunities provided by excellent faculty and staff, exceptional degree programs, diversity of its student body, fiduciary and administrative responsibility and the positive contributions faculty, staff, students and more than 300,000 alumni make on society.
