Florida State University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) is joining with 11 other Florida universities to promote online safety through a virtual competition called Cyberween. The event, previously known as the Cyber Bowl, will run from October 20 to October 31 and aims to assess how well participants can respond to cyberthreats.
“This year’s Cyberween promises to be incredibly exciting,” said Bill Hunkapiller, FSU’s chief information security officer. “One of our key goals is to raise awareness about the risks people face in today’s digital landscape.”
The competition features a virtual haunted house where players face five different cybersecurity scenarios, such as phishing emails and fraudulent logins. According to Hunkapiller, as technology advances in cybersecurity, criminals are increasingly using social engineering tactics. “As the cybersecurity industry bolsters its defenses with advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, many bad actors are turning to social engineering tactics,” he said. “Users should be extra vigilant about the authenticity of communications, including links, text messages and phone calls.”
The university with the highest participation among current students and employees will be named Cybersecurity Champion at the end of the event. While anyone can participate in Cyberween, only current FSU students, faculty, and staff are eligible for prizes. Participants have a chance to win one of two $500 tuition scholarships or tickets to see FSU play Virginia Tech at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 15.
Cyberween coincides with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month each October—a national effort by government and industry partners to educate the public about online safety.
In addition to the game, ITS will offer several training sessions throughout October. These include “Digital Native or Digital Naïve? Raising a Savvy Cyber Generation” presented by Ben Halpert on October 21; “Generative AI with CrowdStrike” on October 23; and “Hurricane Preparedness with FSU Emergency Management” on October 28.
More details about these initiatives are available at https://its.fsu.edu/cybersecurity or https://its.fsu.edu/cyberween.
