Computer experts: keep digital life safe from cyber threats

“There is a big industry of cyber crime,” warns Venkat Venkatakrishnan, associate professor of computer science. Photo: Joshua Clark/UIC Photo Services

Manage your digital life carefully, computer scientist Venkat Venkatakrishnan warns.

“Students need to be careful — keeping your operating system up to date, logging out of websites and not sharing passwords,” said Venkatakrishnan, associate professor of computer science.

Computer users face cyber threats every day, disguised as emails from unfamiliar people, questionable links and strange files.

The Academic Computing and Communications Center wants students and employees to protect their valuable online security, educating the UIC community on these threats throughout October for National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Every week this month, ACCC focuses on a new topic of cyber security. Learn more about secure password management Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center East concourse. A booth in the Daley Library Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will provide information on copyright infringement.

“Any time there is a computer connected to the Internet that is handling information, there is some kind of threat out there,” Venkatakrishnan said. “There is a big industry of cyber crime working to harness information about individuals.”