Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week 1 2024

Overview

This KB article covers the myths surrounding cybersecurity. Welcome to the first week of Cybersecurity Month!

Most Common Myths

Cybersecurity is surrounded by several myths and can lead to a false sense of security. The problem with these myths is people often believe them, and this can bring a negative effect to companies and their cybersecurity awareness.  

Below are some of the most common myths, debunked! 

• Myth 1: “I'm too small to be a target: 

  • Reality: Cybercriminals often like to attack smaller entities due to them potentially having less advanced security measures, which would make it easier for them to attack. Cybercriminals would always want an easier target, rather than overworking themselves with potentially no benefits.  

• Myth 2: “Strong passwords alone will keep me safe”: 

  • Reality: Strong passwords do help, however without multi-factor authentication (MFA), accounts are still vulnerable to attacks such as breaches. This is why our campus pushes all students, faculty, and staff to have MFA, and keep the campus as secure as possible.  

• Myth 3: “Deleted data is gone forever”: 

  • Reality: Deleted files can often be recovered if the proper data destruction methods were not used. Having personal information on university computers and deleting the files is not always the best practice. Ensure you do not keep any personal information on computers to ensure the campus, and your safety.

Related Articles

Despite these being common myths, there are many more. Check out the link below for more Cybersecurity Myths, Debunked!  

Cybersecurity Myth

Need Help?

If you need assistance or require this information in an alternate format, contact the IT Service Desk:

Location

Warner 016

Phone

(518) 255-5800

TDX Portal

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This article has been adjusted for EIT standards – [04/20/2026 | Dadhija Patel]