‘Tis the Season to Stay Cyber-Smart! Are You Prepared?
As winter settles in and the holiday season ramps up, it’s not just festive messages and cheerful greetings filling our inboxes. Today’s digital world is more sophisticated than ever — with artificial intelligence capable of mimicking voices, faces, and even emotions. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on how deepfakes and AI-driven scams can blur the line between what’s genuine and what’s not.
From convincing videos of public figures to scam calls using cloned voices or misleading images circulating online, staying cautious is essential. Don’t assume something is real just because it looks or sounds familiar. Pause, verify, and think critically before you click, share, or respond. A moment of awareness is your strongest defense this holiday season.
Throughout the week, we’ll break down what to watch for, how to safeguard your information, and how you can help others stay protected during the winter holidays.
Cybersecurity Meets Holiday Cheer at the DTS All-Staff!
Join us at the Cybersecurity Awareness Booth during the DTS All-Staff event on December 16, 2025.
Give the prize wheel a spin, pick up festive swag, and learn practical tips to stay safe online — all while enjoying the season’s celebrations.
Why It Matters
Cybersecurity isn’t just the job of IT teams — it’s a shared responsibility across our entire campus. As AI reshapes the digital landscape, staying informed and aware is more important than ever. Whether you’re spotting a suspicious email or double-checking the source of a video, your vigilance helps safeguard our community.
Let’s work together to build a safer, smarter digital campus — one thoughtful click, one informed conversation, and one secure action at a time.
Together, Bruins can help prevent cyberattacks this holiday season!
Are you Holiday Cyber-safe?
Tis' the season for scams. Test your knowledge with these Holiday-themed Cybersecurity Questions!
To participate, you must complete the quiz on this page and show your completion results to a GRC team member at the DTS All-Staff event. Once your quiz completion is verified, you’ll earn a chance to spin the prize wheel.
One quiz completion per person.
This opportunity is available only on December 16, 2025.
September 29, 2025
A Practical Guide to Protect Against Phishing
Ransomware attacks can lock you out of your files, your device or even threaten to publish sensitive data unless a ransom is paid. These attacks don’t just target large corporations — students, faculty and staff are all potential victims. The good news? With awareness and preparation, you can greatly reduce your risk.
October 6, 2025
Ransomware Prevention
Ransomware attacks can lock you out of your files, your device or even threaten to publish sensitive data unless a ransom is paid. These attacks don’t just target large corporations — students, faculty and staff are all potential victims. The good news? With awareness and preparation, you can greatly reduce your risk.
October 13, 2025
A Guide to Defeat Social Engineers
Social engineering attacks are scams that target people, not machines. Instead of breaking through firewalls, attackers exploit human psychology, using trust, fear or urgency to trick their victims into opening the door. They often start as something routine, and the best isn’t software — it’s awareness.
October 20, 2025
Understanding Insider Threats
When people think of cyberattacks, they often imagine shadowy hackers breaking in from the outside. But some of the most damaging threats actually come from within. Insider threats — whether accidental, careless, or intentional — can expose sensitive data, disrupt operations and put the entire UCLA community at risk.
October 27, 2025
DDoS Attacks Explained
Imagine 1,000 prank callers dialing your phone at the same time. You’d never hear from the people who really needed to reach you. That’s essentially how a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack works. Instead of phone lines, attackers target websites or online services, hijacking devices and commanding them to flood a site with fake requests.
Stay Connected
Bookmark this page, follow us on LinkedIn, join us on Slack for weekly cybersecurity tips and share information with your friends, family and colleagues to help them stay safe online.
