When the University of Georgia wanted to make its students, faculty, and staff safer on the Internet, the computer security awareness campaign known as SecureUGA was launched.
A major component of SecureUGA is a catalog of online security presentations, covering such topics as email scams (phishing), protecting against computer viruses, social networking, and others. Each topic is presented in easy-to-understand, non-technical language and can be viewed in about 5 minutes.
Since 2008, all UGA employees are required to view these presentations, with students encouraged to follow suit. Then the idea came to mind that what is good for UGA, is also good for the rest of the University System of Georgia and the entire state.
“SecureUGA has been a great vehicle for raising awareness of computer and Internet security threats and measures our students and employees can take to avoid them,” said Brian Rivers, director of University Information Security. “Even though targeted to the university community, the messages can benefit students and employees at all University System institutions as well as the citizens of Georgia. “
Until recently, a university login was required to access the presentations. Now anyone with Internet access and a Web browser can take advantage of the wealth of SecureUGA information by following these simple steps:
- Point your bowser to: http://secure.uga.edu.
- Click on “Role Based Security Awareness Presentations.”
- Click the “Guest Access” button to see the list of presentations.
Some of the presentations that will be of particular interest include Identity Theft and Fraud, Online Personalities and Avatars, E-Mail and Web Security, and Securing Electronic Portable Devices.
“The SecureUGA training modules are perfect for focusing attention on Internet and computer security,” said Stanton Gatewood, chief information officer for the University System of Georgia and former chief information officer for UGA.
Gatewood, whose accomplishments at UGA included the original launch of SecureUGA during his tenure, stated that increased accessibility to these modules is an excellent example of “building a culture of awareness and preparedness” regarding Internet and computer security.