Campers in Manatee and Sarasota counties will enjoy hands-on, high-tech fun at the State College of Florida Super Cyber Camp. SCF’s Coding Academy offers STEM-based camps at SCF Bradenton. Campers will learn engineering skills using Minecraft. They will learn how to defend against simulated cybersecurity threats in virtual reality. Join us during Winter Break for a week of fun with friends and high-tech hands-on learning!
Hear what recruiters look for on a resume, learn about the variety of cybersecurity jobs available, find out how security clearances work, and get answers to all of your questions in this free, interactive webinar for students and job seekers. Special Agent Melissa Fair, Applicant Coordinator/Recruiter for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Tampa; Tim May, Engagement and Policy Budget Manager at the National Security Agency (NSA); and Amanda Martens, Recruiting Manager for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be joined by moderator Steve “Scuba” Gary, PhD, Associate Professor in the School of Information at the University of South Florida, to review best practices for applying for positions with the FBI, CISA, and federal government agencies in general. This event is a live webinar and cannot be recorded for security reasons, so don’t miss out!
As Veterans Day approaches, many Americans may be searching for opportunities to give back to those who have served our country by donating to charity. Unfortunately, malicious scammers on the internet are notorious for taking advantage of the honorary day by using communication techniques similar to trusted military nonprofits to mislead prospective donors.
FightCybercrime.org recently released an article discussing the top red flags of a veteran charity scam. According to the article, “Through targeted communications, scammers use names similar to well-known charities and flood their communications with words like “hero,” “sacrifice” and “disabled” to pull on the heartstrings of compassionate Americans. Oftentimes, these fake charities will create targeted lists by searching social media for people who support the military. Other times, these scammers will imitate existing fundraisers or charities around military observances—such as Veterans Day—when the military is top of mind.” The top red flags of a veteran charity scam may include:
Fake charities will thank you for a donation that you never made in hopes that you will give “again” without questioning the legitimacy of their organization. If you receive communication that praises you for a donation you don’t remember making, proceed with caution.
If a charity refuses to provide basic information about the organization itself or how your donation will be used, be wary. Legitimate organizations are happy to provide you with answers to all your questions before you donate. Prior to donating to any charity, we recommend doing some research. Search the charity’s name on sites like GuideStar, Charity Navigator or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, which provide donors with free access to data, tools, and resources to make informative giving decisions.
Real charities appreciate donations whenever you are ready to give, so be wary of anyone who pressures you to donate right away. They are trying to get your money before you have time to do research or question their legitimacy. If someone is using high-pressure tactics to try to get you to donate, hang up or don’t respond until you’ve had time to do some investigating. We recommend running an internet search of the charity’s name followed by the word “scam” or “complaint”.
If the charity asks you to donate using an unusual payment method like gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash or money transfer, it’s a scam. Scammers like these types of payment methods because they are untraceable. Credit cards or checks are much safer payment methods that can be tracked down if something goes wrong—and a legitimate charity will gladly accept these types of payment methods.
If a charity asks you to provide personal information—such as your Social Security Number or bank account number—it’s a scam. Real charities don’t need this type of information to process a donation. If you are required to provide personal information you aren’t comfortable sharing, look for another charity to donate to. To find a reputable charity, search for well-known organizations that support the cause you’re interested in.
Veterans Day is a day for honoring those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Sadly, veteran charity scams look to take advantage of Americans who wish to give back. Remember, when in doubt, do your research! Reputable charities will not pressure you into making a donation without answering your questions, and they will never ask for sensitive information. If you are targeted by a scammer, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov.
Want to learn about U.S. Cyber Command civilian hiring opportunities and requirements? The U.S. Command Hack the Hiring Process webinar on November 9 aims to shape the future workforce by providing information on how to start a career in the U.S. Cyber Command.
See the flyer for more details. Once you are registered, you will receive a link via email within 48 hours of the event.
“Almost all modern automotive vehicles are equipped with some form of electronic connectivity through GPS devices, smartphones, telematics devices, roadside sensor units, on-board devices, WiFi, among others,” Francia said. “On one hand, these connectivity features provide newly found conveniences. On the other hand, they provide an expanded attack surface that adversaries can take advantage of.”
Francia explained one example is an adversary successfully taking control of a vehicle’s speed on a busy interstate highway. He has been part of a research group known as the Transatlantic (US-Ireland-Northern Ireland) working group on IoT/CPS Cybersecurity Research. Their research has uncovered several cyber threats related to connected vehicles including that the radio frequency signal from keyless remote fob transmitter can be intercepted and cloned for replay attack; the vulnerabilities in automotive controls due to insecure communication channels; the susceptibility of the inter-vehicle network due to an insecure protocol; and the viability of Machine Learning techniques in recognizing various attacks on the vehicle network.
Francia’s research project on securing connected cars from cybersecurity threats began in 2019. It has received funding support from the National Security Agency, the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, the Office on Naval Research and the Florida Department of Transportation. The workshop was supported by the National Science Foundation (USA), Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland), and Science Foundation of Ireland (Republic of Ireland).
For more information on UWF’s Center for Cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cyber.
Article available at https://news.uwf.edu/uwf-cybersecurity-expert-shares-research-on-connected-vehicle-security-warns-of-vulnerabilities-in-modern-vehicles/.
Oct. 21, 2022—Tampa, Fla– The Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida) at the University of South Florida and Florida Digital Service are working together to launch the state’s first statewide assessment of both public and private critical infrastructure cybersecurity pursuant to House Bill 5001, Appropriation 2944B. The appropriation provides $7 million in funding to Cyber Florida to “conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the state’s critical infrastructure and provide recommendations to support actionable solutions for improvement of the state’s preparedness and resilience to significant cybersecurity incidents.”
The assessment is part of a significant investment by the Florida Legislature to enhance the state’s cyber resiliency, dubbed “CyberSecureFlorida.” The initiative also includes a $30-million statewide cybersecurity awareness and upskilling training program for public sector employees and establishing a cyber range to help public cybersecurity and information technology professionals learn to detect, prevent, and mitigate cyberattacks. Law enforcement personnel will also be able to use the cyber range to learn digital forensics and evidence-gathering techniques.
“Florida lawmakers have made an unprecedented investment in the state’s cyber resiliency,” said General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie, Executive Director of Cyber Florida. He continued, “This risk assessment will enable Cyber Florida to start building a statewide community of cybersecurity leaders and practitioners centered on Florida’s collective cyber resiliency.”
The assessment consists of an online survey of roughly 150 questions using the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) created by the Idaho National Laboratory and the Department of Homeland Security. Cyber Florida is leveraging Idaho National Laboratory’s critical infrastructure cybersecurity expertise through a Strategic Partnership Project (SPP). Florida is the first state in the nation to conduct a statewide survey using CSET.
The CSET link will open on Oct. 20, 2022, at cybersecureflorida.org. Participation is voluntary, and Cyber Florida is encouraging all critical infrastructure organizations in the state, both public and private, to participate. Participants will receive a custom risk assessment report for their organization, which they can use to apply for potential grant funding. All data will be kept confidential and housed on secure servers at Cyber Florida’s host institution, the University of South Florida.
The data will be compiled and reviewed by researchers at MITRE working with Cyber Florida to create a report for the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis. The report will outline the aggregate, anonymized findings and recommend potential legislation and funding initiatives to enhance and fortify the state’s critical infrastructure cybersecurity posture.
To learn more about the assessment, please visit cyberflorida.org/cybersecureflorida/.
ABOUT CYBER FLORIDA
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014 to help position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research, and outreach. Hosted by the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida leads an array of initiatives to inspire and educate future and current professionals, support industry-advancing research, and help people and organizations better understand cyber threats and what they can do to stay safer in cyberspace.
###
This free webinar is open to all K-12 students wishing to learn some code-cracking skills! Join us for a spooky time!
October 4, 2022 – Tampa, Fla. – The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida (USF), also known as Cyber Florida, is delighted to announce that Ernest “Ernie” Ferraresso has been selected to serve as Cyber Florida’s new Director, overseeing the center’s day-to-day operations under Executive Director General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie.
Ferraresso previously served as Cyber Florida’s Associate Director of Programs and Partnerships, leading numerous essential projects and initiatives and helping the center grow from a regional entity to a statewide organization. Among his achievements, Ferraresso built strategic public and private partnerships across Florida to forge a strong cyber workforce and worked to implement programs focusing on education, research, and engagement to advance Florida’s cyber resilience
Before joining Cyber Florida in 2017, Ferraresso was Director of Operations for a small technology design and integration firm, overseeing the design and implementation of cybersecurity and emergency operations center technology solutions in the U.S. and Latin America. He is a retired U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer whose work included assignments with U.S. Special Operations Forces, the Intelligence Community, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and U.S. Cyber Command.
“Ernie is a highly respected member of the Cyber Florida team,” said General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie. “His expertise, prior exemplary service at Cyber Florida, collaborative leadership style, and ongoing commitment to the mission made him the standout candidate for this role. I am entirely confident that, under his leadership, Cyber Florida will continue to flourish and secure its rightful place as the nation’s preeminent center for cybersecurity.”
Ferraresso describes his vision for Cyber Florida’s future as being the mechanism at the heart of Florida’s efforts to stand as the national model for a statewide culture of cyber resiliency and collaboration. “Florida has made significant investments in advancing public sector cybersecurity as well as building a robust cyber industry and workforce across the state,” noted Ferraresso. He continued, “There are many entities, both public and private, working toward the same goals across the state, and I see Cyber Florida as the nexus of these efforts, connecting, enabling, and facilitating the initiatives and resources needed for Florida to realize its goal of being the national leader in cybersecurity.”
ABOUT CYBER FLORI
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, was established by the Florida Legislature in 2014 to help position Florida as a national leader in cybersecurity through education, research, and outreach. Hosted by the University of South Florida, Cyber Florida leads a spectrum of initiatives to inspire and educate future and current professionals, support industry-advancing research, and help people and organizations better understand cyber threats and what they can do to stay safer in cyberspace.
###
Caitlin Whitehead, Matthew McKeever, and Cameron Whitehead, all members of the UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team and members of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Club (hackucf.org), were selected to represent the United States at various global scrimmages and the International Cybersecurity Challenge (ICC) in 2023.
Over 1,200 athletes from across the nation competed in the Season II US Cyber Open CTF Competition, after which a select group of the top 85 athletes were invited to train and compete in the US Cyber Combine Invitational. The US Cyber Combine is an inclusive, virtual camp focused on athlete training, evaluation, observation, and engagement to provide coaches an opportunity to identify high potential athletes for the US Cyber Team. The selection of the Season II, US Cyber Team took place during a Draft Day program where the top 25 cybersecurity athletes were selected to represent the United States.
Do We Belong Here is a podcast dedicated to proving that EVERYONE has a place in the world of cybersecurity. Hosted by Tashya Denose, the Cyber Whisperer, Pam Lindemoen, the Chief Information Security Officer Advisor at Cisco, and produced by Cyber Florida’s Sarina Gandy, our show focuses on highlighting the industry leaders who are working to make cybersecurity a more inclusive and welcoming place, and having open conversations to show that we are never alone in our struggles.
