SMU CSO Presents Insightful, Actionable Ways to “Hack Your Brain” for Cybersecurity

Hacking Your Brain for Better CybersecurityTo kick off October as Security Awareness Month, SMU’s very own Chief Security Officer, George Finney, hosted a presentation on Hacking Your Brain for Better Cybersecurity. George provided great insights on not just the latest cybersecurity trends, but also how simple actions we can do every day can build positive habits to protect ourselves and those around us.

We’re happy to let you know that we also recorded this session in case you missed it! Check it out now: Continue reading SMU CSO Presents Insightful, Actionable Ways to “Hack Your Brain” for Cybersecurity

Duo Two-Factor Authentication Facelift Coming in October

An example of the new Duo mobile app.With Duo being used every day by just about everyone here on The Hilltop, we want to keep you aware of any changes that are in the works. This includes a refreshed mobile application that will be released gradually by Duo over the next couple of weeks. Rest assured, the functionality of the application on both Android and iOS apps will remain unchanged. You also don’t have to do any reconfiguration of your account.

Again, the core functionality of Duo Mobile is not changing. You will continue to be able to: Continue reading Duo Two-Factor Authentication Facelift Coming in October

Quick Tip: Adding a New Device in Duo

In this installment of the OIT Quick Tip, I’ll show you how to add a new device to your Duo two-factor authentication service.

As you may have already heard, we are removing the option to use telephone calls and SMS (text messages) to authenticate with Duo in January. It is important to have another authentication method in place to prevent any interruption in service. Be sure to contact the IT Help Desk if you need any assistance or have any questions about this upcoming change.

Apple Releases Security Updates to Stop Spyware

iOS 14.8Just a day before Apple’s September event, Apple has released the iOS 14.8, iPadOS 14.8, macOS 11.6, and WatchOS 7.6.2 security updates. While the updates list what might be just basic improvements to CoreGraphics and WebKit, it actually stops the devices from “Processing a maliciously crafted PDF may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited,” according to the security note. This code execution is what allows spyware to run on your devices. Continue reading Apple Releases Security Updates to Stop Spyware

Future Changes in Duo Service

DuoDuo provides two-factor authentication for most SMU accounts. Verifying your identity with a second factor, like a mobile device, helps prevent others from using your SMU account to log in, even if they know your password.

Duo authentication can be accomplished through the Duo Mobile app, via a hardware token, using a telephone, or with SMS. However, security concerns with the telephone and SMS features are known to present a real risk to the security of your account. Therefore, SMU will be eliminating the landline and SMS options over the next several months. Continue reading Future Changes in Duo Service