Cyber Threats Discussed at CIU

Cyprus International University (CIU) hosted a conference titled “Preventing Cyber Threats: Strategies for a Secure Environment” to raise awareness about the growing risks in the digital world. The keynote speaker, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mary Agoyi, Head of the Information Technologies Department at CIU’s School of Applied Sciences, emphasized the importance of developing awareness against cyber threats to create a secure work environment.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agoyi highlighted that cyber threats today appear in many different forms and stressed the need for vigilance. She explained that malicious software such as malware, spyware, and phishing poses serious potential risks to information systems. Cyberattacks, she said, are intentional acts carried out to gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or data, to cause damage, or to disrupt services.

She pointed out that the most common types of cyberattacks include ransomware, phishing, malware, social engineering, and supply chain attacks, and underscored the importance of being extremely cautious in the face of such threats.

To ensure both personal and institutional security, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agoyi recommended several precautions:
•    Avoid using the same password across different platforms
•    Use strong and complex passwords
•    Enable two-factor authentication
•    Avoid accessing personal applications (e.g., WhatsApp) from public computers

She also warned that unexpected antivirus alerts, sudden device slowdowns or crashes, webcams or microphones activating on their own, installation of unknown software, or deletion of existing files may indicate unauthorized access to a device. In such cases, users should promptly report the issue to the relevant authorities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Agoyi concluded by stating that not using technology is no longer an option, and that using it consciously and securely is critically important at both individual and organizational levels.