Event to help consumers stay safe online on Dec. 8

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The Two Steps Ahead: Protect Your Digital Life cybersecurity event hosted by the National Cyber Security Alliance and Logical Operations is Dec. 8 at RIT.

Public officials, business leaders and cybersecurity experts will gather at RIT on Dec. 8 for an event to help digital citizens stay safer and more secure online.

Sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance and Logical Operations, the talks will educate consumers and businesses about the need to add layers of security to their everyday online activities. The event is part of STOP. THINK. CONNECT., a national global cybersecurity awareness campaign that encourages all Internet users to be more vigilant about practicing safe online habits.

The Two Steps Ahead: Protect Your Digital Life cybersecurity event is from 9–11 a.m. Dec. 8 at RIT’s Louise Slaughter Hall, room 2210–2240.

The event will spread the word about activating easily implemented security features, including two-step authentication, which is available on many of the web’s most popular sites. The goal is to shift the perception of cybersecurity among the American public from avoidance of the unknown to acknowledgement of shared responsibility.

“As RIT helps to fill the demand for more cybersecurity professionals, we understand the importance of educating the public about best practices,” said Bo Yuan, associate professor and chair of RIT’s Department of Computing Security. “We want to engage the public, the private sector, and state and local governments in our nation’s effort to improve cybersecurity.”

The morning event will feature a hands-on demonstration showing attendees how to improve their security on websites, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, LinkedIn and financial institutions. It will also include a panel discussion with local consumer protection and cybersecurity experts.

“It’s time to shift our viewpoint and—literally—get ‘two steps ahead’ on Internet security by changing our position from one dominated by vulnerability and risk to focusing on taking action by using two–step authentication and creating a culture of cybersecurity,” said Michael Kaiser executive director at NCSA. “We can do this by working together and using new security tools to build a safer, more secure and trusted Internet. Utilizing all available security measures and understanding the consequences of actions and behaviors online is the key message underlying the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign.”

The event will include remarks from:

• RIT President Bill Destler

• Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle

• Bill Rosenthal, CEO of Logical Operations

• Warren Clark, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York

• An FBI Special Agent in the Buffalo Division Cyber Squad

• Bo Yuan, associate professor and chair of RIT’s Department of Computing Security

• Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance

• Kristin Judge, director of Special Projects at the National Cyber Security Alliance

“The World Economic Forum maintains cybersecurity as one of the top five global risks, and it has been ranked as a top concern in federal chief information officer surveys. It is a growing threat, and the first step to protecting ourselves is to educate ourselves,” said Assembly Majority Leader Morelle. “That is why I am proud to partner with the National Cyber Security Alliance to help community members become more aware and develop the skills necessary to protect our public and private sectors from evolving cyber threats.”

The NCSA is a nonprofit cybersecurity education and awareness organization that partners with public and private organizations. Logical Operations, the world’s leading provider of information technology instructor-led courseware, enables professionals to become the first line of response against cyber-attacks through hands-on, instructor-led training that prepares IT professionals to tackle real-life security incidents.

“Research has repeatedly shown that most security breaches start with human error,” said Bill Rosenthal, CEO of Logical Operations and an event sponsor. “This event will highlight many simple steps people can take live a safer personal and professional ‘digital life.’”

The Two Steps Ahead event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. For more information and to register for the event, go to twostepsrochester.eventbrite.com.