The Cyber Mindset
Essential cybersecurity practices for everyday protection
CCE ONLINE
1
3
Instagram
Follow @gcu.cce
4
YouTube
Subscribe @gcu-cce
What does the GCU Cyber Center of Excellence offer?
Student Resources
Training opportunities and learning materials, Hacknet
Industry Connections
Partnerships with cybersecurity organizations
Hands-on Labs
Practical experience in secure environments
Cyber Awareness
Cyber Education for all skill levels
Cybersecurity Landscape
THE CYBER HATS
1
White Hat
  • Ethical hackers
  • Test systems to find vulnerabilities
  • Help secure before attacks
2
Grey Hat
  • Sometimes violate laws
  • No malicious intent
  • Often just curious
3
Black Hat
  • Cybercriminals
  • Malicious intent
  • Exploit vulnerabilities for gain
Asking ChatGPT: Top 4 Security Tips
Use Strong, Unique Passwords (and a Password Manager)
  • Avoid reusing passwords across sites.
  • Use long, complex passwords (or passphrases) and passkeys.
Keep Devices and Software Updated
  • Enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, antivirus, and apps.
  • Many breaches happen due to known vulnerabilities that haven’t been patched.
Beware of Phishing Scams
  • Don’t click on suspicious links in emails, texts, or messages.
  • Verify sender identities—hover over links, check spelling, and don’t rush.
  • When in doubt, go directly to the site instead of clicking the link.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Always enable MFA—especially on email, banking, and cloud storage accounts.
  • Use authenticator apps (like Google Authenticator or Authy) instead of SMS when possible.
More Critical Security Practices
Limit What You Share Online
  • Think twice before posting personal information (birthdays, locations, vacation plans).
  • Cybercriminals can use social media data for social engineering attacks or identity theft.
  • Search yourself online often!
Back Up Regularly
  • Use both local (external hard drive) and cloud backups.
  • Enable automatic backups for important documents and media.
  • This protects against ransomware, accidental deletion, or device loss.
Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network
  • Change default router username and password.
TikTok app Security Awareness
PASSWORDS!
Nord's Top 200 Passwords
Password Strength Visualization
Characters
Minimum password length
Experts recommend at least 12-16 characters. Every additional character exponentially increases the time needed to crack your password. Short passwords (under 8 characters) can be broken in seconds by modern hardware.
Elements
Upper, lower, numbers, symbols
Combining different character types creates complexity. Including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols (like !@#$%) makes passwords significantly harder to guess or crack through brute force methods.
Protection
Strong passwords block most attacks
A properly constructed password defends against dictionary attacks, brute force attempts, and common password lists. Combined with multi-factor authentication, strong unique passwords provide your first and most critical line of defense against unauthorized access.
Hands-on time!
1
Get your device
Phone, tablet, or laptop
2
Open camera or browser
Ready to scan or type URL
3
Follow instructions
Complete interactive exercises
Scan This QR Code
Check Your Breach Status: Have I Been Pwned?
Green Result
Your data appears secure
Red Result
Your data has been compromised
Take Action
Change affected passwords immediately
Free Password Tools
Password Management Solutions
Password Managers
1Password, Dashlane, Keeper, Buttercup
2FA Software
Authy, Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator
MFA Hardware
YubiKey, Titan Security Key
New passwordless authentication
Let's take a Quiz!
CYBER: HOW TO?
Search yourself
Use "Google Fu" techniques
Use exact phrases
Put your name in quotes: "Joe Urbz"
Review results
Check what information is public; anything wrong?
Clean up
Remove unwanted personal info
Digital Footprint Management
1
Privacy Settings
Adjust on all platforms
Content Audit
Review past posts
3
Identity Monitoring
Track mentions regularly
4
Data Brokers
Opt out from listings
Cyber Hygiene Reminders!
System Updates
Update systems and phones frequently
User Accounts
Don't use Admin as default
Password Management
Use random passwords and managers
Authentication
Enable 2FA/MFA with apps like Authy
Thank You! Any questions?