The CyBears

I'm having a great time mixing it up at the 19th Annual National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition evening reception!

Congratulations to the 2023 Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award winners! 👏

I had so much fun meeting new friends - from the human to the avian variety - during STEM Night at a North ISD elementary school this week! Remember, everyone, including our feathered friends, are responsible for !

I'm having a blast interacting with these future STEM professionals at the 9th Annual in Washington, DC!

My daughter, Ada, asked me to pass along the following social media tips. Remember to watch your digital footprint, avoid suspicious links and messages from strangers, and take some time away from your devices to enjoy face-to-face time with your family and friends!

Have a great week, everyone!

Check out the following article about all of the tremendous resources available to you (and especially educators) that are found online. They also gave a shoutout to my friends at the CIAS and my family!

Cybersecurity in the Classroom: What Teachers Can Do Teachers can boost classroom cybersecurity with these resources, best practices, and more

I had a fantastic time at the WeTeach_CS Summit! Thanks to all of the educators that took time to meet me and learn about free cybersecurity resources available to them!

Woohoo! Nothing like a little fishing to kick off summer! But this reminds me of scams.

Remember, phishing is like a sneaky fisherman trying to trick you. Instead of a fishing rod, they use emails, messages or social media posts to bait you into giving away your personal information. They might ask you to click on a harmful link that can steal your personal data or trick you into sharing sensitive information. Here are three quick reminders to avoid getting hooked:

1. Fact Check the Source. Just like you inspect a fishing spot, examine the sender's email address or the profile of the person reaching out to you.

2. Guard Your Data. Never share sensitive details like passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers through email or direct messages. Legitimate organizations won't ask for this information online.

3. Think Before You Click. Hover your mouse over links to see where they lead before clicking on them. If something seems fishy, don't take the risk!

Hey, gamers! 🎮 Let's talk about how you can level up your cyber safety when playing online with the following few tips:

1. Choose the Right Den: Just as you'd choose a safe camping spot, pick trusted and reputable online game platforms. Stick to well-known sites and only download games from official sources.

2. Guard Your Personal Honey: Your personal information is as precious as honey (to your friendly neighborhood CyBear). Never share private details like your full name, address, phone number or school with anyone you meet in the game.

3. Level Up Your Privacy Settings: Adjust your privacy settings to control who can interact with you in the game. Limit communication to friends or approved players - and avoid public chats.

By following these tips, you can protect yourself from cyber threats and ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. Stay smart, be aware and keep on gaming responsibly!🐻

So thankful I had the opportunity to get a photo with members of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Stanford University team yesterday! They placed 1st in the 2023 and are now National Champions! 🏆🥇

Hanging out at the evening reception with some interesting new friends (hidden somewhere nearby)... remember, everyone is responsible for !

So excited to meet the top 10 teams of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition! These talented students are our nation's future professionals. I wish them the best as they thwart the Red Team's attacks this weekend!