Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025
Each October, USNH recognizes National Cyber Security Awareness Month by offering events and resources about information protection and data security risks. ET&S is excited to announce a series of events and webinars designed to educate and engage our community on the critical importance of cybersecurity! See below for more information about the special events that will be happening throughout October.
Webinar Wednesdays
Each Wednesday in October, we will host live online presentations by cybersecurity professionals covering a range of topics. Please see the webinars below for the registration links.
Week 1 (October 8th 12pm-1pm)
Presenter: David Yasenchock, Assistant Professor of Practice, Plymouth State University
Army Colonel (Ret.), Dr. Yasenchock brings an illustrious career of more than three decades in military, academic, and cybersecurity leadership, including service as Director of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance for the University System of New Hampshire. His teaching background includes appointments at the University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, and Southern New Hampshire University, where he is known for blending technical rigor with real-world insight.
Presentation: Plymouth State Cybersecurity Program
- Join us for an inside look at Plymouth State University’s new Cybersecurity program, that launched this fall. Assistant Professor David Yasenchock will share the vision behind the program, highlight the hands-on learning opportunities available through the new cybersecurity lab, and discuss how students can prepare for careers in one of today’s fastest-growing fields
- Registration link: Webinar Registration: Plymouth State University Cybersecurity Program
Week 2 (October 15th 11am-12pm)
Presenter: Chris Garcia, Cybersecurity Operations Analyst, University System of New Hampshire
- Christopher Garcia is a Cyber Security Analyst at the University of New Hampshire, where he has worked in technology roles for more than six years. His experience spans cybersecurity operations, IT help desk leadership, and academic internships in Washington, D.C. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management at UNH, building on his Bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security.
Presentation: Cybersecurity 101 Tips and Tricks
- Staying safe online doesn’t have to be complicated. In this session, we’ll cover simple, practical habits that make a big difference in protecting your accounts, devices, and data. Whether you’re new to cybersecurity or just looking for a quick refresher, you’ll walk away with easy-to-use tips you can start applying right away.
- Registration link: Webinar Registration: Cybersecurity 101 - Tips and Tricks
Week 3 (October 22nd 11am-12pm)
Presenter: Lance Hayden, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Keene State College
- Lance recently joined the faculty at Keene State College. He has over thirty years of career experience in cybersecurity and privacy in government, industry, and academia. Lance started his cybersecurity journey as an Operations Officer with the CIA. He has held operational and leadership roles in large companies and startups, and professorships at KSC and UT Austin. As a professional, author, and public speaker, Lance specializes in program strategy, compliance, risk management, and security awareness. In his most recent corporate role, Lance helped create and lead the company’s Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence program.
Presentation: Artificial Intelligence: Building Safe and Effective Adoption Strategies
- Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) is proving one of the most potentially disruptive technologies in history. The development of generative AI tools from OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, and others introduced a new era of AI development and applications. AI is a source of both fear and excitement, creating novel challenges and global races to dominate the space. In this presentation, I will outline the opportunities and concerns that people and organizations must navigate when using AI. I will discuss strategies for successfully adopting AI safely, responsibly, and productively, including the risks of not embracing AI in the new global landscape.
- Registration link: Webinar Registration: Artificial Intelligence: Building Safe and Effective Adoption Strategies
Week 4 (October 29th 11am-12pm)
Presenter: Matthew Reed, Lead Cybersecurity Engineer, University System of New Hampshire
- Matthew Reed is a Cyber Security Engineer at the University System of New Hampshire, where he has worked for the past three years managing endpoint vulnerability management and supporting the university’s cyber defense initiatives. He also serves in the Army National Guard, focusing on cyber intelligence, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Cyber Security at UMass Lowell.
Presentation: Deep Fake Social Engineering
- Advances in artificial intelligence are making it easier than ever for attackers to create convincing fake audio and video. This presentation will explore how deepfake technology is being used in social engineering attacks, from impersonating executives to tricking employees, to manipulating voices and faces in real time. The session will include a demo showing just how realistic these fakes can be, and what organizations can do to prepare and protect themselves.
Registration link: Webinar Registration Link: Deep Fake Social Engineering
Stay tuned for more announcements, and make sure to mark your calendars for these exciting events! Let’s make Cybersecurity Awareness Month a time to learn, engage, and strengthen our defenses.
The Path to a Cybersecurity Career
October 4th|11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tom Nudd, Chief Information Security Officer, will provide an in-depth look at careers in Cybersecurity. Participants will learn about the different career paths in IT security and the kind of degree programs and qualifications required. This is a great webinar for students and any employee trying to change careers into Cybersecurity.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
ICS/OT Cybersecurity: Malware Threats Examined & Explained
October 5th|12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join Dragos ICS/OT experts, Sam Hanson and Markus Mueller, as they discuss the background on major operational technology (OT) cybersecurity threats, the latest research on the PIPEDREAM malware and a PLC password cracker, and how to significantly reduce the likelihood or impact of opportunistic IT-focused events.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Security Challenges in Advanced Manufacturing
October 6th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Qiaoyan Yu, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will provide an overview of cybersecurity challenges in Advanced Manufacturing. This talk will introduce the emerging security attacks in the manufacturing environment. Selective examples will be used to demonstrate the physical attacks, which are conducted remotely or locally. Existing countermeasures will be introduced as well to address the security changes. This is a high-level introduction for audiences at all levels of the University.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Phishing Attacks and How to Protect Yourself
October 11th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Joshua Annis, Cybersecurity Operations Engineer, will provide an in-depth look at phishing attacks. This is a high-level introduction for audiences at all levels of the University.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Wi-Fi Security
October 12th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Matthew Reed, Cybersecurity Operations Engineer, will provide general information and tips on Wi-Fi Security. This is a high-level introduction for audiences at all levels of the University.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Splunk Boss of the SOC
October 13th|11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Splunk will offer an engaging capture the flag style security event that utilizes Splunk Enterprise in conjunction with Splunk Enterprise Security. This event is for individuals who have used Splunk and would like to utilize its capabilities to assist in threat hunting within a fun and safe virtual environment where Splunk will assist in detecting threats.
Where: This event will be conducted online via Zoom. Register here to reserve a spot!
Software Obfuscation and Reverse Engineering
October 14th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Dongpeng Xu, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, will provide an in-depth talk about software obfuscation and reverse engineering techniques. Software obfuscation hides a specific program implementation from automated or human-assisted analysis. On the bright side, this method helps protect proprietary software; on the dark side, it also facilitates hiding malware. This talk will cover the basics of software obfuscation, its recent development, and the attacking methods to break it. This presentation will be appropriate for audiences at all levels of the university.
Where: This event will be conducted online via Zoom. Register here to reserve a spot!
Women in Hardware and Systems Security Workshop (WISE)
October 14th|8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The WISE workshop aims to attract more women to join the field of hardware and systems security (HSS) and provide a forum for the women in HSS to support each other. The workshop program includes keynote and visionary talks, panel discussion, oral presentations, hardware demos, as well as mini-tutorials.
Where: This event will be conducted in-person. Find more WISE workshop information here or contact qiaoyan.yu@unh.edu to learn more.
Disinformation Campaigns
October 18th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Dr. David Yasenchock, Director of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance, will provide an overview of current trends with Disinformation Campaigns. This is a high-level introduction for audiences at all levels of the University.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
See Yourself in Cyber
October 19th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CISA, the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, will provide a presentation aligned with this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign theme — “See Yourself in Cyber” — which demonstrates that while cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, ultimately, it’s really all about people. We will focus on the “people” part of cybersecurity, providing information and resources to help educate CISA partners and the public, and ensure all individuals and organizations make smart decisions whether on the job, at home or at school – now and in the future.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Automotive Network Security
October 20th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nicholas Ilyadis, Senior Director of Product Planning at Achronix, will provide an in-depth discussion of automotive network security. The automobile industry continues to integrate more processing and communication capabilities into vehicles. In today's automobiles, 40% of the cost is electrical and electronic, amounting to a small network and data center. The automobile is evolving into a mobile data processing system in the wild, ranging from theft to data exfiltration. This talk will cover the evolution of the connected car, its use cases, threat vectors, and mitigation approaches, in addition to what further development is needed to protect the connected car in the future.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Personal Cybersecurity at Home
October 25th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
David Blezard, Senior Director of Enterprise IT Systems, will discuss personal cybersecurity and how to protect yourself at home. There are threats to finances, data, and reputation that can impact you personally. Learn about the risks and the simple steps you can take to reduce your risks of becoming a victim of cybercrime. This presentation will be appropriate for all students and staff across USNH.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Cybersecurity Policies in the Workplace: Expectations and Challenges
October 26th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ever wonder why we have certain cybersecurity policies, or why policies may not be followed? Director of our M.S. Cybersecurity Policy & Risk Management program, Prof. Maeve Dion discusses expectations and responsibilities from both the employer and employee points of view. For students or employees wanting to better understand workplace cybersecurity, and for employers wanting to engender a positive cybersecurity culture within their organizations, this session highlights important considerations and recommendations for improvement.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
Cybersecurity Threats and Impacts on Higher Education
October 27th|11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cybersecurity challenges face all types of organizations. The threats we see impacting the private sector are similar to the threats that the MS-ISAC has seen impacting the Education sector. These threat actors are not only after money, personal information and organization secrets, but they are also looking to damage your organization’s reputation. While no single organization can prevent these threat actors from targeting and infiltrating your network, the resources provided at no-cost by the MS-ISAC can help mitigate these risks. Resources ranging from actionable intelligence and passive monitoring of your public information, to actively blocking malicious connections from establishing, the MS-ISAC provides no-cost resources to over 13,000 organizations across the United States. During this presentation, Elijah Cedeno and Michael Woodward will discuss the current threats impacting the Public Higher Education & K-12 Schools and discuss some of the services the MS-ISAC has to offer at no cost.
Where: Register here for the Zoom Webinar.
