Information Security

Mission Statement

The Information Security Office is committed to lowering the risk profile of the University’s electronic information by implementing industry best practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of student, faculty, and staff information. We uphold the University’s compliance obligations by developing information security policies, providing security awareness training, and overseeing the implementation of strategic information security initiatives.

Scam of the Week

Don't Bank on This Email

Imagine you open your inbox and receive an urgent message from your bank, warning you that your account will be restricted unless you confirm your information right away. The email has your bank's logo and color scheme, and includes a link to update your information. Because the message looks real and you don’t want to lose access to your money, it’s tempting to select the link.

But this email is actually a phishing scam! If you select the link, you'll be prompted to download a tool that claims to protect your account. But that download actually installs malware that lets cybercriminals remotely access your device. This malware can allow them to view your mailing address, bank account details, and other information that they can use right away to steal your identity!

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:

Verify bank alerts by logging in directly to your bank's official app or website, never through a link in an email.
If you're ever unsure whether a bank alert is real, contact your bank using the phone number on the back of your debit or credit card.
Always stop and think before you act! Cybercriminals rely on alarming messages to get your attention and force you to make fast decisions.

Time It Takes a Hacker to Brute Force Your Password in 2025
Hardware: 12 x RTX 5090 | Password hash: bcrypt(10)

Number of Characters	Number Only	Lowercase Letters	Upper and Lower Case Letters	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters	Numbers, Upper and Lowercase Letters, Symbols
4	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly	Instantly
5	Instantly	Instantly	57 minutes	2 hours	4 hours
6	Instantly	46 minutes	2 days	6 Days	2 weeks
7	Instantly	20 hours	4 months	1 year	2 years
8	Instantly	3 weeks	15 years	62 years	164 years
9	2 hours	2 years	791 years	3k years	11k years
10	1 day	40 years	41k years	238k years	803k years
11	1 week	1k years	2m years	14m years	56m years
12	3 months	27k years	111m years	917m years	3bn years
13	3 years	705k years	5bn years	56bn years	275bn years
14	28 years	18m years	300bn years	3tn years	19tn years
15	284 years	477m years	15tn years	218tn years	1qd years
16	2k years	12bn years	812tn years	13qd years	94qd years
17	28k years	322bn years	42qd years	840qd years	6qn years
18	284k years	8tn years	2qn years	52qn years	463qn years