Category Archives: cybersecurity
Ransomware Dundee: A Report on Cyber Crime Down Under
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Taking advice from the internet and using it in real-life situations is not usually a lifehack that I would advise; that being said, I am here to offer a bit of advice. If you ever open your mailbox and find a USB flash drive, please do not insert said drive into your computer unless you know who put it there and why they didn’t just deliver it to you directly. This may seem like common sense to most people, but residents of a Melbourne, Australia suburb did not seem to possess this rudimentary level of technological knowledge.
Police in Pakenham, Australia are currently investigating reports from numerous residents that mysterious USB drives have been appearing in mailboxes throughout the community. When inserted into a computer, the flash drive runs a program offering a free Netflix subscription. Once the user initiates the process of signing up for the service, ransomware installs itself onto the machine. For those unfamiliar with the technology, ransomware has become a relatively common method of predatory cyber activity. Ransomware works by encrypting files stored on the user’s computer, then charging the user a fee to unlock their personal files. The ransomware forces the user to pay the fee in Bitcoin so there is no trace as to where the funds are going to or who is receiving them.
So far, only three residents have stepped forward and admitted to being duped into installing the application, though police believe that others have been impacted and are too embarrassed to step forward. Over the past few years, large-scale organizations have been impacted by ransomware and have paid extreme amounts of money to unlock their files. One of the more popular targets of ransomware purveyors are healthcare organizations. One prominent example of this is an attack earlier this year on the Kansas Heart Hospital. Ransomware forced the hospital to pay over $17,000 (miniscule compared to the original request of $3.4 million) to unlock patient and personnel files and then demanded a second payment to unlock the rest of the files that were still being held captive. Experts claim that the ransomware problem will “get worse before it gets better.”
As students, and as humans in general, we love free stuff. Next time you come across a free flash drive in your mailbox, take a second to think of the potential costs that this “free” piece of technology may bring on you. Personally, I’d much rather pay the $10 for a new flash drive than run the risk of obliterating my computer’s integrity for free.
Washington Center Seminar Presentation – Tuesday, September 13th
CIS and the Top Secret Colonials would like to invite you to a presentation from the students who attended the Washington Center Seminar this past summer on Tuesday, September 13th at 3:00 pm in the Wheatley Atrium. President Howard and several administrators will be present in support of the students. Following the student presentation, President Howard will introduce RMU’s first Presidential Leadership Fellow, Chris Davis who will present at 4:00 pm. Chris Davis worked with the students this past summer at The Washington Center and was one of their favorite presenters. You will find his impressive bio here: Chris Davis Biography. You will earn SET credit for the two presentations.
Snacks will be provided.
The Washington Center National Security Seminar 2016
Welcome back RMU students!
This past May, the Top Secret Colonials attended a two-week seminar at the Washington Center in Washington, DC. Students analyzed and researched various topics pertaining to cybersecurity. The seminar also included discussions with members of the CIA, DHS, FBI, and NSA.
Take a sneak peek at the Washington Center National Security Seminar from the eyes of those who have attended with this video: TWC National Seminar
There will also be a presentation on Tuesday, September 13th at 3pm in the Wheatley Atrium providing a more in-depth look at the seminar. We look forward to seeing you there!
National Cyber Forensics Training Alliance (NCFTA) seeking IT Support Specialist
The National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA) brings public and private industry together to research and identify current and emerging cyber crime threats globally. “Our organization strives to achieve professional and technical excellence, build lasting professional relationships and make a difference in society. We hire employees who are passionate about what they do and we promote a culture of integrity and hard work.” For further information see http://www.ncfta.net.
As an IT Support Specialist, you will be the key contact for on-site and remote users for terminal problems and inquiries. You will be tasked with complying with all of the policies and procedures associated with IT Service Management. Departments will rely on you to help solve problems which are interfering with the timely completion of their work. You will ensure that help is given to these departments as quickly and efficiently as possible. The successful candidate will require an aptitude for working with applications/systems to undertake analysis, diagnosis and resolution of problems which may range from straightforward to more complicated technical issues.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Provides immediate assistance and problem resolution for service inquiries concerning utilization and information regarding all staff computer system applications, telephony and personal computers and mobile devices.
• Must have Prior experience in a Help Desk or other customer focused technical support environment
• Proficient in operation of Windows OS and standard Windows applications including, but not limited to, MS Office Apps, Web Browsers, and other general productivity applications.
• Proficient in hardware troubleshooting and break/fix.
• Proficient in computer networking and connectivity troubleshooting techniques.
• Knowledge of higher-level Windows-based OS maintenance tasks, including Group Policy and Windows Update tasks.
• Document symptoms, troubleshooting steps, and ultimate resolution for all issues.
• Organize and manage a stock of computers, peripherals and other IT-related devices.
• Configure new equipment and reconfigure returned equipment for re-use.
• Experience training users on software and hardware on site and providing hands on technical assistance
• KACE System Management Experience a plus
Qualifications:
Position Requirements: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and pass a security clearance
• Prior experience in Help Desk or other customer focused technical support environment
• Able to pass a background check
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills
• Detail oriented and follow-up skills are a must
• Need to have the ability to work well in a team environment
• Desire to learn new technology and broaden existing technical base
Application Instructions:
Email resume to HumanResources@ncfta.net
We thank all interested but only those being considered will be contacted
Security Presentation by Christopher Mellen, PNC – Tuesday, April 5th
Christopher Mellen, CIO with PNC Financial Services and former Director of Information Management within the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the Executive Office of the President of the United States (Whitehouse), will present in the Wheatley Atrium on Tuesday, April 5th from 3:00 – 4:30pm. The Top Secret Colonials are sponsoring the event and there will be pizza provided. PNC recruiters for interns and full-time positions will also be attending. Students attending will obtain SET credit for their participation.
Christopher Mellen Bio:
Chris currently leads the Strategic Security Initiatives group within the office of the Chief Information Security Officer with PNC Financial Services. Chris manages the overall strategic direction of the organization as well as operational management responsibility for Identity Access Management, Mainframe security, Attack Surface Management, and Applied Cryptography.
Prior to joining PNC, Chris was the Director of Information Risk Management within the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the Executive Office of the President of the United States. His directorate consisted of the Records Management Branch, Cyber Integrity (eDiscovery and investigations), Information Assurance and Security Operations.
Chris has worked as the Director of Professional Services with SAIC’s Incident Response, Computer Forensics and eDiscovery Service groups. He also created and managed the Professional Services Division for AccessData providing incident response, digital investigations and litigation support services. Additionally, Chris has served as a Manager with Guidance Software Professional Services, a Special Agent with the Department of Defense, Cyber Counterintelligence Activity, and a Computer Crime Specialist at the National White Collar Crime Center in Fairmont, WV.
Chris also spent 11 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marines, Chris served with the Military Police, Customs, the Criminal Investigation Division and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (Cyber Investigations and Operations).
Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Colorado Technical University and Master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Boston University.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Internships
Orrick’s Global Operation Center in Wheeling, WV has excellent opportunities for Technology Internships for students working towards their Associates or Bachelor’s degrees. The pay is $10.00/hour and 20-25 hours per week. The positions are located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The ColonialTrak page will expire 4/29/2016.
Applications Intern: Provide assistance with the technical support of firm-wide software applications including testing, documenting and trouble-shooting applications, communicating with internal customers and imaging desktops.
Applications Database Intern: Provide assistance with the technical support of firm-wide software applications including testing, documenting and trouble-shooting applications, communicating with internal customers, imaging desktops and infrastructure support including servers and database systems.
Qualifications:
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Proficiency with desktop operating systems and Microsoft Office.
• Understanding of networking concepts, database concepts and basic scripting and/or programming.
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and multitask assignments, and to approach problems with a sense of ownership, enthusiasm and innovation.
• Willingness to learn and grow in a professional environment.
• GPA of 3.2 or above.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Proficiency with desktop operating systems and Microsoft Office.
• Understanding of networking concepts, database concepts and basic scripting and/or programming.
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and multitask assignments, and to approach problems with a sense of ownership, enthusiasm and innovation.
• Willingness to learn and grow in a professional environment.
• GPA of 3.2 or above.
Application Instructions:
To submit your resume and cover letter for this position, please visit our Paralegal and Professional Staff listing at http://www.orrick.com/careers/.
CIS @ RMU 