As Chapman’s Chief Information Security Officer, I know summer on campus has its own rhythm: a little more breathing room, a chance to catch up, and maybe even a slightly less crowded calendar. At Chapman University, that seasonal slowdown is real. Unfortunately, it’s also something cybercriminals know how to use to their advantage. When campus activity eases up, attackers often look
As the CISO at Chapman, I often hear this understandable response when we notify someone that their credentials appeared in an external data breach: “But Chapman wasn’t breached.” That’s usually correct, and it can still present a real risk. When breaches occur elsewhere on the internet, email addresses and passwords are frequently exposed. If a password used on another site
Hello Chapman community, this is your CISO with a brief reminder on how to identify and prevent phishing and scams. Phishing tactics appear in both Chapman and personal accounts, including email, banking, and shopping. The following habits will help protect your work and personal information. Apply the STOP Method: A Quick Guide for the Chapman Community It’s 8:12 a.m.,
March Madness has arrived. Brackets will be tested, underdogs will advance, and dramatic finishes will dominate the highlights. But while the excitement unfolds on the court, cybercriminals are also stepping up their game, launching a full-court press on inboxes across higher education, including ours. Periods of heightened attention and activity are prime opportunities for scams
As Valentine’s Day approaches, many in our Chapman community look forward to celebrating with friends, partners, and loved ones. Unfortunately, this season also brings a significant spike in romance scams, schemes where cybercriminals exploit trust, emotions, and loneliness for financial gain. Reports from universities, national law enforcement experts, and global fraud prevention organizations all point
Happy New Year, Panthers! As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) here at Chapman University, January is a great time to refresh the habits that keep our community safe online. I’m guessing most of you are not like me and didn’t make any New Year’s cybersecurity resolutions. No worries, I made some for you. To kick off 2026, here are practical New Year’s Cybersecurity
December is here again, and while we’re busy with holiday cheer, finals, and festivities, cybercriminals are busy upgrading their toolkits. As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Chapman, my goal is to keep our community safe online throughout the season. Last year, we met Scammer Claus—the holiday trickster who lured victims with fake emails and festive scams. This year, Scammer Claus has
On Thanksgiving Eve, while the rest of Plymouth Rock Institute of Technology (PRIT) was bustling with students heading home and staff shutting down their offices, one employee lingered at their desk, catching up on emails. Among the usual clutter sat a message with the cheerful subject line: “Happy Thanksgiving!” It looked harmless enough, festive, even.
In today’s digital age, personal digital security is not just an individual responsibility but a collective one. At Chapman University, we understand that the security of our digital infrastructure is intrinsically linked to the security practices of each member of our community. When individuals protect their digital environments, they contribute to the overall security of
Cybercriminals are getting bolder, and few groups have gained as much notoriety as Scattered Spider. Known for their clever social engineering and relentless tactics, these hackers have been using email bombing (a flood of junk messages designed to overwhelm an inbox) as the first domino in a chain of attacks that ends with full control of a