IS Security SpiderBytes

Published Date(s): 10/1/2025
Title: October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Message: October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year the theme is “Stay Safe Online”. Throughout the month we will be communicating awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and secure online tips. Even more, we will hosting a number of SpiderSecure events, including a Cybersecurity Awareness Fair, the 2025 Capture the Flag event, and a month long SpiderSecure Scavenger Hunt.

The below tips will help you stay safe online and stay SpiderSecure!

-Use strong passwords and a password manager
-Enable multi-factor authentication
-Recognize and report scams
-Update your software

Stay cool, stay secure—because cybersecurity should be as smooth as soft-serve.
Website Link: https://www.staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month

Published Date(s): (10/2/2025 | 10/3/2025)
Title: SpiderSecure Scavenger Hunt Kickoff
Message: Information Services (IS) Security team is kicking off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a SpiderSecure scavenger hunt. Throughout the month there will be a number of SpiderSecure events and tips shared through Spiderbytes. Some will have codes attached to them, so be sure to read them all and collect the (4) codes.

Who: UR faculty, staff, students
What: SpiderSecure Scavenger Hunt
Where: Spiderbytes (via email)
When: Wednesday, October 2nd to Friday, October 31st
Why: To highlight SpiderSecure events and tips for October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
How: Look out for SpiderBytes from IS Security and collect all (4) embedded hexadecimal codes.

Prizes: The first student and first faculty or staff member to email all (4) codes to IS Security (infosec@richmond.edu) will each be awarded a special prize.
Website Link: https://is.richmond.edu/infosec/index.html

Published Date(s): Published every Tuesday starting on 10/7/2025 until 10/21/2025
Title: Signup for 2025 Capture the Flag event
Message: Are you interested or curious about cybersecurity? Then sign up for the 2025 Capture the Flag event. The four-day challenge runs from Friday, October 24th 4PM EST to Monday, October 27th 4 PM EST and can be played at your own pace.

Who? UR Faculty, Staff, & Students
What? 2025 Capture the Flag event & Win Prizes
Where? Online
When? Friday, October 24th 4 PM EST to Monday, October 27th 4 PM EST
How? With a team up up to (4) players, a laptop, internet, and at your own pace

Prizes TBD and will be awarded to the categories below.

-First Place Student Team
-First Place Faculty/Staff
Website Link: https://mctf.io/uofrichmond

Published Date(s): 10/17/2025 - Publish w/ Code| 10/22/2025
Title: Cybersecurity Awareness Fair
Message: Come join us at the HDC lobby area on Wednesday, October 22nd, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM to celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! We will provide cybersecurity recommendations and tools to help you secure your digital life as well as have our popular password strength testing station. Additionally, we will be sharing information on how you and your friends can compete in the 2025 Capture the Flag event. Stop by our booth to get some security stickers and candy! Bring a friend, learn something new, and keep being Spider Secure!

Location: Heilman Dining Center (HDC) Lobby
Website Link: https://is.richmond.edu/infosec/events/index.html

Published Date(s): 10/24/2025
Title: Ready, Set, Capture the Flag Event
Message: Today is the day to get ready, set, and capture some flags! The 2025 Capture the Flag event begins at 4PM today. You and your team (up to a total of 4 members) can begin solving and capturing flags. If you have not signed up yet, you can register at any point during the event. The first-place student team and the first-place faculty/staff team will each receive individual Spider Secure t-shirts as well as a security swag bag in recognition. All faculty, staff, and students who participate and complete at least one challenge will receive a Certification of Completion and be eligible to be entered into a raffle to win some cybersecurity goodies. Good luck this weekend and have fun!

Website Link: https://is.richmond.edu/infosec/events/2025-capture-the-flag-ctf.html

Published Date(s): 11/5/2025 | 11/7/2025
Title: Travel & Security (Optional Training)
Message: Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, protecting your devices and online privacy is essential. The Travel & Security training, available through Workday Learning, provides practical tips to help you stay secure on the go. Through the SpiderSecure training video, you’ll learn simple but powerful steps to safeguard your data — from creating strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication to backing up your files and using a VPN on public Wi-Fi.

This short, optional course is a great way to build your security awareness and travel with confidence.

Remember: Travel smart, travel secure, and stay Spider Secure!
Website Link: https://is.richmond.edu/infosec/cybersecurity-awareness-education/traveltech.html