Hi Mustangs,
Good cybersecurity isn’t just about spotting scams — it’s about building daily habits that keep you, your family, and the SMU community safe. Think of it as cyber hygiene: the simple routines that protect your digital life just like brushing your teeth protects your health.
Cyber Hygiene Habits
- Update your software. Patches fix security holes that attackers try to exploit.
- Use MFA. Multi-factor authentication stops most account takeovers cold.
- Back up your data. Keep a copy in the cloud or on an external drive so you’re protected against ransomware or device loss.
- Secure your home network. Change default router passwords and keep IoT devices updated.
These small steps add up to strong protection — at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
🎃 Week 4 Challenge: Cyber Fair — The Grand Finale!
Your challenge this week is simple: show up and celebrate with us!
Join the Cyber Fair for hands-on activities, live demos, food, Wellpower points, and your last chance to earn points and win other small prizes.
📅 October 29, Moody Atrium
⏰ 2–3:30 p.m.
✅ Check in at the event to earn points — your total points determine your raffle tier and the prizes you’ll be eligible to win!
🎁 Prize Tiers — Who Will You Be?
- Cyber Treats 🍬 (10+ points)
Sweet rewards for those who joined the fun.
Mini swag bags filled with notebooks, cozy socks, candy, and other cyber goodies - Ghoul Guards 🛡️ (30+ points)
Champions of privacy and phishing defense.
Prize bundles featuring Stanley cups, pickleball paddles, and mystery treats - Zero-Trust Zombies 🧟 (60+ points)
The elite tier of cyber heroes who did it all.
Grand prizes like Xbox controllers, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and extra vacation days
🏆 How It Works
Your total points determine your raffle tier — the higher your tier, the bigger the prizes you’re eligible for!
Winners will be randomly selected and emailed on Halloween with details on how to collect their prizes.
Make sure you’ve earned your points before October 31 — every activity counts!
🧩 Wordle of the Week
How to earn points:
- Play the puzzle: [Play the Week 4 Wordle]
- Take a screenshot of your solved puzzle and email it to oitsecurity@smu.edu with subject “Week 4 Wordle”
* One submission per person, per week.
🕸 Missed Last Week?
Catch up on past cyber tricks, challenges, and Wordles — see what you missed!
🏆 Cyber Heroes of the Week
Congrats to this week’s top point earners!
- Sophia Groth
- Patrick Costa
- Ricki Ward
- Christina George
- Sylvie Wilson
- Melissa Johnson
- Gabrielle Alovera
It’s the final week — keep submitting challenges and show up at the Cyber Fair to boost your score!
