Monthly Archives: October 2026

Cyber Month Week 4: Build your cyber security community

Welcome to Week 4 of Cyber Security Awareness Month at Fleming College! This week, we are focusing on Building Your Cyber Security Community. Keep your good cyber security habits going after Cyber Month and help others become a stronger first line of defence. Share what you’ve learned, talk to loved ones about online threats, and report scams and fraud to help keep our community safe.

Protecting kids & supporting older adults is easier when we look out for each other. Teaching kids good digital habits early and helping seniors spot online threats makes a big difference.

✅ Beware of the ClickFix!:  A website should never ask you to open Windows Run, PowerShell, Terminal or Command Prompt and paste a command in order to prove you’re human or fix a browser problem.  Watch and learn more about ClickFix scams.
✅ Get Cyber Safe Agency: Help teach the next generation with the Get Cyber Safe Agency – Workbook for kids.
✅ Talking to Children: Learn Cyber security for kids: How parents can talk with their children.
✅ Protecting Seniors: Read How to help the older adult in your life get cyber safe and review common scams older adults should watch out for.
✅ WATCH: 5 steps for keeping kids Cyber Safe

Reporting Scams & Cyber Careers Don’t just delete suspicious messages—reporting them helps stop scammers and protects others across Canada.

✅ Report Scam Texts (7726): Received a suspicious text? Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) on your mobile device. Watch this Video – reporting text messages to 7726 to see how.
✅ Cyber Careers: Explore Careers in the cyber space: Exploring where your skills could take you to see how your skills fit into this fast-growing field.

Get Involved & Win Prize Alert 

Student Prize Alert 🎁 Can you spot the Phish? Keep an eye on your inbox and report a phishfor your chance to be included in our draw to win 1 of 4 $50 Amazon gift cards.Prize Alert 🎁 Share a cyber security tip or resource with a friend or family member this week! Email a brief note on how you helped someone in your community stay cyber safe to cyber-month@flemingcollege.ca for your chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.
Prize Alert 🎁 Take a screenshot showing you used the hashtag #CyberMonth2026 in a social media post. Email it to cyber-month@flemingcollege.ca for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Did You Know? 

✅ You can Report a Security Incident  If you suspect a security such as your Fleming account or password has been compromised.
✅ Power in Numbers: Forwarding spam texts to 7726 helps wireless providers block malicious senders for everyone.
✅ Reporting Fraud: If you or a family member experience fraud or identity theft, report it directly to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).
✅ Keep It Going: Cyber Security Awareness Month may be winding down, but staying safe online is a year-round habit! Use #CyberMonth2026 and #GetCyberSafe to keep sharing tips.

Information Update: Cyber Month Week 3: Protect your information

Welcome to Week 3 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month at Fleming College! This week, we are focusing on Protecting Your Information.

Simple habits keep your personal data and financial information secure whether you are banking, shopping, filing taxes, or using public networks.

Safe Online Banking and Financial Security

Financial scams rely on phishing (email), vishing (voice calls), and smishing (text messages) to trick you into revealing sensitive account details or financial credentials.

✅ Learn how Canadian financial institutions are helping customers bank on cyber security and spot digital fraud.

✅ Review key tips on how to stay cyber secure when managing sensitive transactions or filing taxes online.

✅ Learn to identify the 7 Red Flags of Phishing to help you identify suspicious emails, texts, and phone calls. 

✅ Learn how you can stay cyber secure when downloading and using apps.

Smart & Confident Online Shopping

Online retail scams often use counterfeit websites, fake ads, or insecure checkout systems to steal payment information. Read Get Cyber Safe’s guides to avoid online shopping scams and shop online with confidence.

✅  How to avoid becoming the victim of an online shopping scam
✅  How to spot an unsafe online store
✅  How to protect your data in an online store

✅ Watch: Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft

Always verify that a website uses secure encryption; the URL/web address should start with https://, before entering credit card details or personal addresses.

Device Security

We get it — there’s nothing more annoying than stopping what you’re doing for a software update.  But trust us, it has its benefits. Staying updated is one of the easiest ways to protect your devices if you remember the most important rule:  TURN AUTOMATIC UPDATES ON! Antivirus software is still one of the best ways to secure yourself against cyber threats.
✅ Keep your software up to date.
✅ Learn how to: Secure your smart devices.

✅ Choose antivirus software that works for you.

✅ Enable the local firewall for Windows or macOS.

Public Wi-Fi Risks

Unsecured public Wi-Fi networks allow local network traffic snooping. Taking basic steps to secure your connection protects your personal data from interception.

✅ Only Use Trusted Networks: Avoid logging into sensitive banking or college accounts on public or untrusted Wi-Fi services. Use your phone’s personal hotspot or a personal Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection instead.

✅ Use Fleming’s virtual private network (VPN) to secure your connection to Fleming College resources!

✅ Maintain Antivirus Protection: Ensure your personal devices run active antivirus/antimalware software and keep it up to date.

Get Involved & Win

Prize Alert 🎁 Take a screenshot showing you have antivirus software installed on your device. Email it to cyber-month@flemingcollege.ca for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Prize Alert 🎁 Take a screenshot showing you have automatic OS updates enabled on your device. Email it to cyber-month@flemingcollege.ca for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Did You Know?

✅  Public Wi-Fi Safeguards: If you must use public Wi-Fi, verify the exact network name with staff at the location to avoid connecting to fraudulent “rogue” hotspots set up by attackers.

✅  Reporting Financial Scams: If you suspect your financial accounts have been compromised, contact your financial institution immediately using the phone number listed on the back of your card.

✅ Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes free with Windows 10 & 11, and there is also a paid subscription version available for Mac, iOS and Android devices.

Cyber Month Week 2: Strengthen your defences

Welcome to Week 2 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month at Fleming College! This week, we are focusing on Strengthening Your Defences.

Your accounts are only as secure as the doors guarding them. Using strong passphrases, password management tools, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) ensures that your digital identity remains safe.

Passphrase & Password Management Basics

Reusing simple passwords across accounts leaves you vulnerable to account breaches, including account takeover. Switching to long, unique passphrases and using a password manager keeps your credentials secure without the memory overload.

✅ Learn 5 ways to evaluate your password strength.
✅ See how a password manager saves you time while protecting your accounts.
✅ Consider evolving to a passphrase! See why passphrases work better.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Upgrades

MFA adds a critical second layer of defence beyond just a password.

✅ Add a 2nd MFA Factor: We strongly encourage all users to add additional MFA methods to your profile.  Here is how to add Microsoft Authenticator for MFA.
✅ Important Authentication Shift: Microsoft will be ending MFA verification by SMS text and voice calls by February 1st, 2027. Transitioning to an authenticator app now ensures seamless access.
✅ Self-Service Password Reset: Set up or update your profile with the Self Service Password Reset (SSPR) service so you can safely regain account access anytime.
✅ Need a refresher on MFA?  Check out this short video!

Get Involved & Win

Student Prize Alert 🎁 Can you spot the Phish?  Keep an eye on your inbox and report a phish for your chance to be included in our draw to win 1 of 4 $50 Amazon gift cards.
Staff Prize Alert 🎁 – Not using 1Password? Request an invitation and start using 1Password for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the month! 

Did You Know?

✅ Classroom & Library Exemption: On-campus desktop computers (in classrooms, the LRC, and the library) are exempt from MFA. If you lose access to your MFA device, you can log in on campus to manage your account.
✅ That Fleming College has a Password Standard: Fleming maintains an official Password and Passphrase Protection Standard (US-101) to keep organizational data secure.
✅ You can print securely using Find-Me printing?

Fleming Staff

1Password & Secure Sharing at Fleming – Fleming provides tools to help you manage passwords and securely share sensitive data:

✅ 1Password: Free for all Fleming employees to generate and store complex passwords. You can also use 1Password to store one-time password (OTP) codes for shared accounts and monitor compromised credentials using WatchTower.
✅ Onetime Secret: Need to send a password or sensitive text? Use the Onetime Secret service to create secure, self-destructing links.

Cyber Month Week 1: Spot the trap before you click

Welcome to Week 1 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month at Fleming College! This week, we are focusing on Recognizing Cyber Threats.

Cybercriminals constantly refine their tactics, especially with Artificial Intelligence making scams more convincing than ever. Staying safe starts with knowing what to look out for.

Phishing

Phishing messages try to trick you into acting before you think. Spotting the signs early keeps your credentials and personal information safe.

✅ Learn the 7 red flags of phishing to help you identify suspicious emails, texts, and phone calls.

✅ Job opportunities and postings for on-campus student work are only ever posted to the Evolve Applicant Portal maintained by the Fleming College Human Resources department. Fleming College never sends mass communications about specific job postings. Refer to the Fleming College Career Services page for assistance with student employment at the College or elsewhere.

✅ Grants or bursaries notices will only be sent by our Financial Aid office (FinAid@flemingcollege.ca) or Advancement & External Relations department (alumni@flemingcollege.ca).

✅ Want a more interactive experience? Check this Fleming article out!

AI & Social Engineering

Generative AI tools make it easy for attackers to create hyper-realistic scam emails, deepfake audio, and personalized social engineering messages without typical grammar errors.

✅ Check out 9 ways to spot AI content online to sharpen your eye for machine-generated media.

✅ How cyber criminals are using artificial intelligence (AI) for online threats.

What to Do About a Suspicious Message

If something in your inbox feels off, don’t click links, open attachments, or reply.  Remember:  When in doubt, throw it out!

✅ Verify: Contact the sender directly using a known, trusted phone number or email address; don’t hit reply.

✅ Report: Use Outlook and Report a Phish.

Get Involved & Win

Prize Alert 🎁 Take the Get Cyber Safe Checkup – Complete the Get Cyber Safe Checkup and email a screenshot of your results to cyber-month@flemingcollege.ca for your chance to win a  $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Student Prize Alert 🎁 Can you spot the Phish?  Keep an eye on your inbox and report a phish for your chance to be included in our draw to win 1 of 4 $50 Amazon gift cards.

Staff Prize Alert 🎁 Sign up for our voluntary Cybersecurity Awareness Training and, once completed, you will be included in our draw to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Did you know?

✅ You can Report a Security Incident  If you suspect your Fleming account or password has been compromised.

✅ Microsoft Defender Antivirus comes free with Windows 11, and there is also a paid subscription version available for macOS, iOS and Android devices.

✅ Text Message Scams (Smishing): You can report scam text messages in Canada by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM) on your mobile device.

✅ Phishing Reporting: Reporting suspicious emails helps protect everyone by providing information that helps improve detection and blocking technology.

New Service Launch: Webex Events – Lunch & Learn

ITS is excited to share that we have a new events platform that will support, in-person, virtual & hybrid events at the same time.

Join our upcoming Webex Events Training Session and discover how to take full advantage of the platform’s capabilities to create engaging and professional experiences for your attendees.

In this interactive session, we’ll cover:

✅ Everything you need to know to get started with Webex Events

Session Information:

📅 Date: October 15th, 2026

🕒 Time: 12:00 pm -1:00 pm

📍 Location: Online via Webex – link to follow

Whether you’re hosting your first event or are a seasoned organizer, this training will provide valuable tips and techniques to take your event to the next level!

If you know someone that you think should attend, please share with your team.

Reserve your spot today

We hope you’ll join us!

Information Update: Cyber Security Awareness Month is back this October

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Cyber Security Awareness Month is back this October. As an official Get Cyber Safe champion, Fleming College is focusing on a simple truth this year: Your best defence is you.
Small habits (updating devices, spotting suspicious messages, and locking down credentials) are our strongest defence against evolving digital threats.
 

What’s Ahead This October

  • Week 1: Recognize Cyber Threats | Phishing, the 7 red flags of fake messages, and AI-driven social engineering.
  • Week 2: Strengthen Your Defences | Passphrases, 1Password, MFA setups, and upcoming authentication changes.
  • Week 3: Protect Your Information | Safe online banking, avoiding shopping scams, public Wi-Fi risks, and VPN best practices.
  • Week 4: Build Your Cyber Community | Cyber safety for kids and seniors, reporting scam texts (7726), and cyber careers.

Get Involved & Win

✅ We’re hosting challenges throughout the month to test your cyber fitness.
✅ Promote Cyber Month on your own personal social media channels – use #CyberMonth2026 #GetCyberSafe
✅ Follow cyber security best practices at work and at home
✅ Talk about cyber security with friends and family – here are resources to help you (simply choose a topic!)
Student Prize Alert 🎁 – Take our Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Students, once completed you will be included in our draw to win 1 of 3 $50 Amazon gift cards.  NOTE:  The training will be reflected on you Co-Curricular Record(CCR).

Did You Know?

✅ MFA Alert – Using SMS (your phone number) as a multi-factor method will no longer work as of February 2027.  We strongly encourage all users to add additional MFA methods to your profile.  Here is how to add Microsoft Authenticator for MFA.
Updates Block Malware: Patching your apps and operating system closes the security gaps ransomware targets most.
Public Wi-Fi Risks: Unsecured Wi-Fi allows local network snooping. If you don’t need a password to connect, it’s not a secure Wi-Fi connection. If you’re unsure, confirm the network with business staff.
⚠️ Join the Cyber Security Ontario, Cyber Security Town Hall on October 2, 2026 at 11AM. Register here!
✅ Follow @GetCyberSafe on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for tips on cyber security to help you step up your defences!