Part one: IT pets lending a helping paw during Cybersecurity Awareness Month
From spotting suspicious behavior to refusing to trust strangers, pets may know more about cybersecurity than you’d think. This October, it was all paws on deck as several IT staff’s pets helped promote Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we shared security-inspired wisdom on the Rutgers IT Facebook and X accounts. Check out some cyber tips paired with the charming personalities of the animals behind them.
Meet Moose and Goose, pets of Mike DiLalo, System Administrator
“Moose (the brown one) often stands on two legs just to get a better look at stuff. She also figured out how to hold one end of a metal wire toy while she chases the other which results in her just spinning in circles until she gets dizzy.”
“Goose has no fear whatsoever. He has no qualms climbing stuff he’s not supposed to or playing dead rather than getting out of bed or acknowledging us.”
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam
Offers that claim to give you something in exchange for personal information are often scams. If it seems too good to be true, like free pizza for a year, don’t share your login credentials, financial details, or personal information.
Meet Gene, pet of April Rastaetter, Telecommunications Analyst
“Gene is a sweet orange tabby who just wants to be with his people. When he sees me working at home, he usually would prefer to be on my lap. However, sometimes, if I give him his own little computer space (aka put my laptop on the charger for a bit) he will take charge and mirror me while I’m on my desktop computer. I think it also keeps him warm!”
Hit update. Stay protected.
Software updates mean new features, better performance, and security fixes that keep your device protected from vulnerabilities and malware. Make sure the update is from an official source, like Apple’s App Store, Google Play, or the software manufacturer instead of some random website.
Meet Chuwi, pet of Javier Estrada, Sr. Voice Collaboration Engineer
“There’s a lot to say about this fella! He’s a 170-pound Rottweiler-hound mix who still thinks he never topped 50 pounds. When he gets the zoomies, the whole house shakes. He came to us at four weeks old back in 2020. Because he was so tiny back then, we named him “Chuwi”—a play on “Chewie” and a Quechua word that means “little bean.” In that photo, he’s actually watching over my wife, the absolute love of his life. He’ll happily spend hours just following her around and gazing at her.”
Don’t let the scammers sniff out your passwords
Just like your favorite pup can detect hidden treats, cybercriminals can easily guess passwords build on predictable patterns. Instead of using common words, your name, birthday, interests or other easily guessed information, construct a password that’s hard to guess, but easy to remember.
Check back in the Rutgers IT newsroom later this week for more advice from our second set of four-legged cybersecurity experts.
