UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI

10/30/2026

🔒 Cybersecurity Tip: Log Out and Stay Secure! 💻

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” protecting your personal information means more than having a strong password. It’s also important to know when to log out of your accounts!

Leaving accounts open on shared or public computers can expose your personal information and give others access to sensitive data. Here’s how to stay protected:

🚪 Always Log Out: Sign out of your email, social media, banking, and other accounts when you’re finished using them.

💻 Be Careful on Shared Devices: Never leave your accounts open on library, classroom, or other public computers.

🔑 Don’t Rely on Closing the Browser: Closing a tab or window doesn’t always sign you out of your account. Make sure to select the official log-out option.

🚨 Avoid Saving Passwords on Public Devices: Never allow shared computers to save your login credentials, and avoid selecting “Remember Me” on devices you don’t own.

✅ Best Practice: After logging out, close the browser and double-check that your account is no longer accessible before walking away.

A few extra seconds can help prevent unauthorized access and keep your personal information safe! 🛡️

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe!



University of West Florida

10/30/2026

Great to have the leadership teams from the National Cyber Range Complex (NCRC) (https://www.trmc.osd.mil/ncrc.html) and the UWF Office of Military Services visit our center this week! We appreciate the insightful discussions and look forward to partnering on future initiatives. 🤝✨

University of West Florida

10/30/2026

🔑 Cybersecurity Tip: Strong Passwords, Stronger Protection! 🔐

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” one of the most important steps you can take to protect your personal information is creating strong, unique passwords for your accounts!

Weak or reused passwords can make it easier for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to your accounts. Here’s how to strengthen your password security:

🔒 Make It Long: Use long passwords or passphrases that are difficult to guess. Longer passwords are generally harder to crack.

🔑 Keep Them Unique: Never reuse the same password across multiple accounts. If one account is compromised, unique passwords help prevent attackers from accessing your other accounts.

🔢 Mix It Up: Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols when appropriate to make your passwords harder to guess.

🛡️ Use a Password Manager: A trusted password manager can generate and securely store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.

🚨 Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: Add another layer of protection by requiring a second verification step when signing in.

✅ Best Practice: Never share your passwords, and avoid using easily guessed information like your name, birthday, or favorite sports team.

Remember: One password shouldn’t unlock everything! Taking a few minutes to strengthen your passwords can make a big difference in keeping your information secure.

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe! 💻🔐



University of West Florida

10/29/2026

📱 Cybersecurity Tip: Think Before You Share! 🔒

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” remember that protecting your information doesn’t stop at strong passwords and secure devices. What you share online can also affect your cybersecurity!

Cybercriminals can use information from social media to impersonate you, target you with scams, or attempt to gain access to your accounts. Here’s what you should keep in mind before posting:

📍 Protect Your Location: Avoid sharing your real-time location or posting details that reveal when you’re away from home.

🔑 Keep Personal Details Private: Never post sensitive information, such as your home address, phone number, financial details, or account credentials.

🎂 Be Careful With Personal Milestones: Details like your birthday, school, or other personal information may help someone guess security questions or impersonate you.

🔍 Review Your Privacy Settings: Check who can see your posts, personal details, and friend lists.

✅ Best Practice: Before sharing a post, photo, or update, ask yourself whether the information could be used to identify you, locate you, or compromise your accounts.

Think before you post! A little extra caution can help keep your personal information out of the wrong hands. 🛡️

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe!



University of West Florida

10/28/2026

Connar McCasland explores Meta’s Muse app and the privacy concerns surrounding AI tools that can access personal information. While AI offers convenience, it’s important to understand how these technologies may collect, access, and use your data.

As AI continues to evolve, staying informed is essential to keeping your personal information secure!



University of West Florida WEAR ABC 3 News, Pensacola

In this WEAR-TV interview, Connar McCasland discusses the Meta Muse...

10/28/2026

🔐 Cybersecurity Tip: Lock Your Devices! 💻

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” one simple habit can help protect your personal information: locking your devices whenever you’re not using them!

Whether you’re at home, in the classroom, or on the go, an unsecured device can leave your information vulnerable if it’s lost, stolen, or accessed by someone else. Here’s how to keep your devices protected:

🔑 Use a Strong Passcode: Create a unique PIN or password that’s difficult for others to guess.

👆 Enable Biometrics: Use fingerprint recognition or facial recognition when available for an extra layer of convenience and security.

⏱️ Set an Automatic Screen Lock: Configure your phone, tablet, and computer to lock automatically after a short period of inactivity.

🚨 Lock Before You Walk Away: Even if you’re stepping away for just a moment, make sure your screen is secured.

✅ Best Practice: Never leave your devices unlocked in public spaces, and avoid sharing your passcode with others.

A quick screen lock can go a long way toward protecting your personal information from unwanted access! 🛡️

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe!



University of West Florida

10/27/2026

The University of West Florida’s Office of Military Services, in partnership with the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership and the Center for Cybersecurity and AI, will host the second annual Leadership in the Age of AI conference followed by a UWF Veterans Day Observance on F...

10/27/2026

📶 Cybersecurity Tip: Think Before You Connect! 🔒

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” protecting your personal information starts with being mindful of the networks you use. Public Wi-Fi may be convenient, but it can pose security risks if you’re not careful!

Here’s how to stay safe when connecting to public networks:

⚠️ Avoid Sensitive Transactions: Save online banking, shopping, and other activities involving sensitive information for a trusted network.

🔍 Verify the Network: Confirm the official network name with the business or organization before connecting. Cybercriminals sometimes create fake hotspots to trick users.

🔐 Use a VPN: A reputable virtual private network (VPN) can add another layer of protection when using public Wi-Fi.

📱 Turn Off Automatic Connections: Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections to prevent your device from joining unfamiliar networks without your knowledge.

✅ Best Practice: If you must access sensitive information while using public Wi-Fi, use a trusted VPN or switch to your mobile data connection whenever possible.

Staying connected shouldn’t mean putting your information at risk! Take a moment to check your connection before browsing.

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe! 💻🛡️



University of West Florida

10/26/2026

The University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity and AI, or CCAI, will help lead a national effort to measure the workforce, economic and mission impact of cybersecurity education through its role as the South Regional Hub for the newly established Economic Assessment National Center, or EANC...

10/24/2026

🛡️ Cybersecurity Tip: Verify Before You Trust! 🔍

As we continue Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the 2026 theme “Securing the Next 250,” it’s important to remember that not every request for your personal information is legitimate—even if it appears to come from someone you know!

Cybercriminals can impersonate friends, coworkers, and trusted organizations to gain access to sensitive information. Here’s how to protect yourself:

📩 Question Unexpected Requests: Be cautious of messages asking for passwords, verification codes, financial information, or other personal details.

🔎 Verify the Sender: Check email addresses and phone numbers carefully. If something seems unusual, contact the person directly using a trusted method.

🚨 Watch for Urgency: Messages demanding immediate action or threatening consequences may be attempts to pressure you into making a mistake.

🔗 Avoid Suspicious Links: Don’t click unexpected links or open unfamiliar attachments before verifying that they’re legitimate.

✅ Best Practice: If a request seems suspicious, pause and confirm it through a separate, trusted communication channel. Never share passwords or multi-factor authentication codes with someone who asks for them.

Remember: Trust, but verify! Taking a moment to double-check an unexpected request can help protect your identity, accounts, and personal information. 🔐

Follow the UWF Center for Cybersecurity and AI all month for more actionable tips and best practices to help you stay cyber safe!

University of West Florida