Ask what keeps him up at night about artificial intelligence and you won鈥檛 get a single answer.

The University鈥檚 senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer is tracking several threads at once: how AI can reshape higher education, why the job market isn鈥檛 collapsing the way headlines suggest, what it will take to rebuild trust in online content, the need for regulation and where the University鈥檚 massive stores of data fit into all of it.

Rubin shared some of his recent thinking as a panelist at a Maxwell School fireside chat on digital transformation and AI in New York state. Here are four takeaways.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how governments operate, how universities teach and how public institutions make decisions.

That was the central message of a recent fireside chat hosted by the . Dean moderated the conversation which brought together two leaders working at the forefront of AI adoption: , commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), and , 性视界 University鈥檚 senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

鈥淭he question before us is not whether AI will transform public life,鈥� Van Slyke said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 whether our institutions are ready to lead that transformation thoughtfully, equitably and effectively.鈥�

Personalizing Learning and Expanding Access

Rubin opened the March 26 event with a claim about the stakes for higher education: AI, he said, has the potential to transform how universities teach in ways not seen in 200 years. 鈥淭he idea of a professor standing in front of a room, lecturing鈥攁nd students taking notes and then being assessed through projects, papers and exams鈥攖hat model has not shifted,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat AI allows you to do is personalize learning.鈥�

Personalization at scale has long been a challenge because no instructor can simultaneously tailor a course to every student鈥檚 pace and needs, he said. AI changes that equation.

Rubin shared how 性视界 has deployed more than 30,000 AI licenses across campus to drive equitable access and data security. Some students had already purchased AI tools on their own, while others could not afford them, he pointed out. Faculty and staff also needed a secure environment for uploading sensitive documents without routing data through commercial platforms.

Rubin also highlighted a less-discussed dimension of the University鈥檚 AI work: a private wireless network, built in partnership with JMA Wireless, that supports thermal sensors in academic buildings across campus. The sensors detect occupancy without capturing identifying information, allowing the University to optimize janitorial services, plan building capacity and, eventually, adjust heating and cooling based on actual use patterns.

A Measured Approach to Government AI

Moy noted that the state鈥檚 deliberate pace of technology adoption is a necessary safeguard rather than a liability. 鈥淚 would contend that it鈥檚 important that government is risk-averse,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he information that we hold is really important鈥擬edicaid data, health data, testing information. The importance of that stewardship becomes paramount.鈥�

Her office oversees roughly 30 million square feet of state real estate, manages 1,500 procurement contracts valued at $44 billion and administers a design and construction portfolio of approximately $5.7 billion. Moy described the agency鈥檚 AI strategy as a measured approach. It involves first identifying low-risk, high-value applications, then building the data infrastructure to support them, and ensuring legal and operational frameworks are in place before scaling.

Moy said one of OGS鈥檚 most tangible AI investments is in procurement search. Agencies and municipalities navigating the state鈥檚 contract catalog often struggle to find what they need, undermining the efficiency those contracts are designed to provide. Moy said AI-assisted search is a logical starting point: low risk, no job displacement and an immediate opportunity to test what the technology can do.

The agency is also piloting AI-powered document summarization tools for bid documents and contract histories which are reported to save up to three hours per day.

Moy noted that backlogs present another opportunity, as they are a universal challenge across the public sector. She explained that while AI could help alleviate some of those challenges, agencies must be cautious; they cannot hand out productivity tools to every worker without first creating the right frameworks.

Jobs, Regulation and What Comes Next

Both speakers addressed audience concerns about AI鈥檚 impact on jobs鈥攁 topic that has gained urgency in New York following Governor Kathy Hochul鈥檚 , which is tasked with studying AI鈥檚 effects on the labor market.

Rubin cited research suggesting that less than 1% of the 1.2 million layoffs recorded in 2025 were directly attributable to AI, arguing that economic factors and structural business decisions are doing more to reshape the workforce than the technology itself. He expressed confidence that AI will ultimately create more jobs than it displaces, though he acknowledged that every job will change.

鈥淚f you don’t know how to incorporate AI into your domain and discipline, you will be at a disadvantage,鈥� he said. 鈥淪tudents need to have the tools and the classes.鈥�

Moy recalled the dot-com era and the transformation of publishing that upended models at institutions like the Brooklyn Public Library, where she once served as chief strategy officer. The fear and exuberance that accompanied those transitions, she said, mirrors what society is experiencing today.

鈥淲e want to make sure that we鈥檙e thinking about it ethically, that we鈥檙e balancing it according to public need,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e having active conversations about those trade-offs.鈥�

Both panelists returned repeatedly to the theme of transparency in AI systems, government data and institutional communications.

Rubin pointed to Anthropic鈥檚 practice of publishing system prompts as a model for responsible AI deployment and noted that 性视界 recently launched an AI-powered course search tool, called , that similarly makes its operating parameters visible. He also raised the challenge of AI-generated media and the difficulty of distinguishing real content from fabricated content online.

An Open and Ongoing Dialogue

The conversation drew questions from the audience.

A first-year Maxwell student and member of the University’s United AI club asked what precedent a recent court ruling holding social media platforms liable for algorithmic harm to minors sets for the future of AI regulation and whether platforms like ChatGPT should face similar oversight.

Rubin was direct: 鈥淲e made the mistake with social media. These companies should have an obligation to have guardrails.鈥�

Moy pointed to Hochul鈥檚 recent policy proposals targeting addictive technology, including requirements for more restrictive default settings on children鈥檚 accounts. She acknowledged that government is often a step behind rapid technological change, but argued that intervention becomes necessary when innovation results in public harm.

A second student raised concerns about AI鈥檚 potential to enable fraud, including falsified documents and biased algorithms.

鈥淭hese are very real questions,鈥� she said, emphasizing that OGS is working to understand its uses and risks. She argued that the answer isn鈥檛 avoiding AI but understanding it well enough to spot its misuse. 鈥淚f we don’t understand it, we will fall behind.鈥�

Rubin agreed, framing the detection challenge as both technological and philosophical: As AI becomes embedded in everything from autocomplete to document editing, defining what counts as 鈥淎I-generated鈥� becomes increasingly difficult. 鈥淢y gut is almost every piece of content out there will have some AI piece to it, assisting us,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 a technology challenge and a societal challenge.鈥�

Van Slyke closed by noting that Maxwell鈥檚 role in preparing students for public service has always meant equipping them not just with technical knowledge, but with the ability to navigate the policy, governance and ethical dimensions that accompany it.

鈥淭he question is not what will AI do to our institutions,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s what will we choose to do with it.鈥�

In continuing to explore tools to further foster an inclusive campus environment, the University’s (ITS) division, in partnership with the , has announced a pilot launch of , an innovative real-time American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation service. Sign-Speak is available to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to test until Dec. 16, 2025.

厂颈驳苍鈥慡辫别补办 aims to bridge communication gaps for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing individuals, ensuring seamless interactions across campus. Deaf-owned and developed by a team of passionate innovators in close partnership with the Deaf community, 厂颈驳苍鈥慡辫别补办 leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret ASL into spoken or written English, and vice versa.

Users can access the service through a simple camera interface on their smartphones, tablets or computers, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. This accessibility tool is designed to support a variety of campus activities, including lectures, meetings, social events and everyday conversations.

The introduction of 厂颈驳苍鈥慡辫别补办 aligns with the University’s ongoing commitment to digital accessibility. By integrating this service into daily campus life, the University continues to set a standard for accessibility in higher education.

鈥淎s a Deaf person, Sign Speak is a great tool that I wished existed when I was an undergraduate,鈥� says Corinne Sartori, accessibility specialist with Libraries Information & Technology. 鈥淚 recall struggling to participate in clubs and social settings because of the lack of tools available to me to communicate with peers and my hearing friends. Isolation due to lack of language access is a common occurrence amongst our community. Sign-Speak gives users the ability to have an interpreter on their phone at no cost to the user wherever they go and whatever they are doing. It allows equal access to participate in the same communities as those with hearing. I am excited to share this tool with others in hopes of making the University more inclusive in everyday life.鈥�

鈥淪ign-Speak is the breakthrough in AI-powered ASL interpretation we’ve long been waiting for,鈥� says Christian Jones, senior digital accessibility specialist with ITS, 鈥渆mpowering individuals to engage in everyday experiences independently while enhancing communication across our community. What makes it even more significant is that it’s developed by and with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, ensuring authentic representation at every level.鈥�

鈥溞允咏� University is committed to fostering a campus that welcomes and supports all students, faculty, and staff,鈥� says Eric Sedore, associate vice president for information technology and chief technology officer. 鈥淪ign-Speak represents exactly the kind of innovative tool that advances that mission, and I鈥檓 excited to see our community take advantage of this new technology.鈥�

How Do I Use Sign-Speak?

Students, faculty, staff and visitors are encouraged to explore 厂颈驳苍鈥慡辫别补办 during this trial period. Participation is essential and usage data will help ITS assess the demand for this service and determine whether it can be offered as a permanent campus resource.

All you need is a device with a camera and an internet or cellular connection. Open Sign-Speak on your device, choose whether you want to sign, speak or type, and the app will translate your communication in real time. You can use it on your computer, tablet or phone.

For more information about the pilot of Sign-Speak and guidance for using the tool, visit or contact the Digital Accessibility Services team at accessibleIT@syr.edu.

性视界 University today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Anthropic, the artificial intelligence (AI) research and safety company, to provide every student, faculty and staff member with access to Claude for Education, Anthropic鈥檚 cutting-edge artificial intelligence designed specifically for academic environments. With this collaboration, 性视界 becomes one of the first universities in the United States to deliver institution-wide access to Claude, underscoring its position as the most digitally connected campus in the nation.

This partnership builds on 性视界鈥檚 long-standing leadership in digital innovation. From being one of the earliest adopters of campus fiber networking to its partnership with JMA Wireless to power a private 5G network and transform the JMA Wireless Dome into the most connected collegiate stadium in the country, 性视界 has consistently invested in future-ready digital infrastructure and resources.

鈥淓xpanding access to Claude for all members of our community is another step in making 性视界 University the most digitally connected campus in America,鈥� says Jeff Rubin, senior vice president and chief digital officer. 鈥淏y equipping every student, faculty member and staff member with Claude, we鈥檙e not only fueling innovation, but also preparing our community to navigate, critique and co-create with AI in real-world contexts.鈥�

With Claude, 性视界 students, faculty and staff will have access to advanced AI tools that support academic research, streamline administrative tasks, foster creativity and enable innovative teaching and learning.

鈥淕enerative AI is already reshaping how we think, work and learn,鈥� says Lois Agnew, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer. 鈥淏y making Claude available to everyone at 性视界, we are providing a safe, trusted, ethical and powerful platform that empowers students, faculty and staff to harness AI鈥檚 potential鈥攊n the classroom, the lab or in other scholarly and creative pursuits.鈥�

Anthropic says this partnership is a model for higher education.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to partner with 性视界 University to bring Claude for Education to their entire University community. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preparing students with the AI fluency skills they鈥檒l need while maintaining academic integrity and critical thinking at the core of education,鈥� says Johanna Bowman, Anthropic education partnerships lead.

For community members already using Claude, they will experience:

• enhanced usage limits designed for academic work and research;
• collaborative learning through shareable Projects for group work and peer review;
• advanced capabilities including processing 500+ page documents;
• access to academic integrity tools with Learning Mode that guides discovery;
• Claude鈥檚 latest models for different academic needs; and
• a privacy-first design, as Claude for Education does not train on student or educator data, ensuring academic work remains private and secure.

The Information Technology Services team will support the rollout of this new tool, ensuring the technology is easily accessible and educating the community on responsible use across disciplines. All students, faculty and staff can request access to Claude starting Wednesday, Sept. 24, by visiting . Training resources and workshops will be offered to help users maximize the platform.

Not too long ago, generative artificial intelligence (AI) might鈥檝e sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie. Now it鈥檚 here, and it鈥檚 ready to help you write emails, schedule meetings and even create presentations.

In a recent , Technology Transformation Specialist Shannon Glennon shared tips and use cases for faculty and staff who may be curious, but cautious, about incorporating generative AI tools into their day-to-day workflows.

Here are five easy ways to start using generative AI to work smarter, not harder鈥攏o technology degree required.

1. Compose Emails With Professionalism and Poise

Whether you’re reaching out to a colleague or following up with a student, like Microsoft Copilot can help you draft professional, polished emails in seconds.

鈥淪tart with what you鈥檙e looking to create,鈥� Glennon says. 鈥淏e specific, provide context and don鈥檛 be afraid to refine your prompt if you don鈥檛 get the results you鈥檙e looking for.鈥�

Pro tip: Try sharing a few of your past emails with the AI tool you鈥檙e using so it can learn your tone and style.

2. Let AI Be Your Personal Assistant

Tired of the back-and-forth of scheduling meetings? With a Microsoft Copilot Work license (ask your IT team for more details), Copilot can easily check Outlook calendars, propose time slots and even send invites since the tool is part of the Microsoft 365 suite. This creates more time for you to focus on other important tasks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like having a scheduling sidekick who鈥檚 always hyper-attuned to your team鈥檚 availability,鈥� says Glennon.

3. Create Docs, Decks and Forms in a Flash

Need a PowerPoint for an upcoming presentation or a form to collect student feedback? Copilot can help you generate PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, Excel sheets, Microsoft Forms and more.

鈥淵ou can create a presentation from scratch or summarize a meeting transcript into a Word doc for future reference鈥攊t鈥檚 all about saving time,鈥� Glennon says.

Pro tip: With a Microsoft Copilot Work license, obtaining meeting transcripts will be easier when you use Teams instead of Zoom, due to integration across M365 apps.

4. Summarize Longer, More Complex Source Material Into Concise Bullet Points

Want to capture the gist of the University鈥檚 but you’re stretched for time to read 5,000-plus words? AI can help you summarize long texts (think: research papers, academic articles, policies, reports) into concise, digestible summaries. You can even have fun with it: Try having a document summarized in the style of your favorite baseball announcer or Yoda.

Pro-tip: AI is still known to return incorrect information and hallucinate occasionally, so always check its work.

5. Add Some Visual Flair

Need an image for a presentation or social media post? AI tools can generate custom visuals in seconds鈥攏o design skills required.

鈥淎I-generated images are great for making your content pop,鈥� Glennon says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an easy way to add visual interest to reports and presentations.鈥�

Ready to give it a try? Just remember that any University-owned data should only be entered after logging in to ,听using your syr.edu or g.syr.edu credentials.

As Glennon put it: 鈥淕enerative AI isn鈥檛 just a trend, it鈥檚 a tool. And like any tool, it鈥檚 all about how you use it.鈥�

Bonus: Stay in the Loop With ITS Resources

You can subscribe to the for periodic tips, demos and updates. Don鈥檛 forget to check out the or register for an upcoming session:

• Aug. 12: Orange Access: Modernizing Identity Management

At the intersection of curiosity and technology sits the , a thought-provoking environment where members of the University community can come together to work on creative artistic projects while sharing interests, ideas and technological knowledge.

It鈥檚 a space with state-of-the-art equipment where creativity thrives and where ideas become reality, and since January, the first floor of the Marshall Square Mall has become the MakerSpace鈥檚 new home on campus.

鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely this misconception about MakerSpace that it is just 3D printing, but this place is so much more than that,鈥� says Mike d’Amore, a MakerSpace student supervisor and second-year graduate student in data science in the School of Information Studies. 鈥淚t’s a free-flowing, creative spot and there are always cool projects being made. One of my favorites was this cool, see-through, futuristic body of a guitar we made that played nicely on one of our amps.鈥�

From embroidering and laser engraving to soldering electronics and recording music using the space鈥檚 myriad instruments, the experienced, the occasional dabbler and the amateur can try their hand at the tools and equipment to bring their ideas to life.

鈥淚f you can visualize it, you can build it here at MakerSpace. There is no limit to what we can create,鈥� says John Mangicaro, MakerSpace鈥檚 technical lab manager and a 45-year member of the University community. 鈥淲e encourage students to come in, share their vision and we鈥檒l find a way to make it work. Within half an hour of being here, you can learn how do to everything we do.鈥�

Among the resources available at MakerSpace are the following:

• Several types of the latest 3D printers
• A 3D printing area
• Full color printers
• Embroidery and sewing equipment
• A laser engraving area
• Vinyl cutting and printing
• Dye sublimation and direct-to-garment machines that can produce stickers or T-shirts
• Soldering, electronics and other tools
• Creative software (Adobe Suite, Blender, Bambu Labs, Fusion 360, Inventor, Pro Tools, Simplify3D and Solidworks)
• A dedicated classroom area for faculty members
• A music studio, complete with an acoustic, bass and electric guitar, electronic drum set, keyboard, microphones and other musical instruments for live performances, and a recording room with ProTools Mixing Software to capture those performances.

MakerSpace is entirely student-driven, and the new location is an evolved version of the former space, says Mangicaro.

Student workers like d鈥橝more, Matt Lustrino 鈥�25 and Zoe Power 鈥�28 make sure the facility runs smoothly. They strive to provide a seamless experience for the campus community, tracking every project, organizing and cleaning up the different creative spaces and following up with progress reports at the end of each shift.

鈥淚鈥檝e been a maker for some time as a hobby, doing soldering, 3D printing and music projects, so to find an environment on campus like MakerSpace that had all of those elements, it was the perfect fit for a job,鈥� says Lustrino, who is studying information management and technology in the iSchool with a concentration in cybersecurity.

鈥淢akerSpace is such a cool place. The potential for what we can create here is limitless. It鈥檚 also a great environment for meeting other creative people,鈥� says Power, who is studying geology in the .

MakerSpace has evolved into an essential campus resource, one that impacts students, faculty and staff members. Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, MakerSpace tracked roughly 1,900 jobs per calendar year. Last year, that figure rose to 3,400 work orders. So far this year, MakerSpace has finished more than 550 projects and is on-pace for a record-setting year.

The move to the new location has also helped with visibility and awareness. In just their first two weeks in the new space, Mangicaro says the number of projects being handled was up 60% compared to the same time frame last year.

鈥淚’m a terminal tinkerer. I love fixing and building things, I love people and I love working with the creative students here. This place is truly special,鈥� says Mangicaro, who built the first iteration of MakerSpace 12 years ago in the Kimmel Hall Computer Lab.

The campus community is invited to an , from 3 to 5 p.m. MakerSpace鈥檚 resources are available to members of the campus community with a valid SU I.D. The academic year hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The (ITS) team has received reports of a scam targeting international students. Attackers are impersonating government agencies (such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) via email and phone calls, falsely claiming there are visa or immigration issues. Victims are pressured to stay silent and make urgent payments to the scammers鈥攐ften using gift cards.

ITS offers up the following advice should you receive one of these calls or emails:

• Government agencies and legitimate businesses will NEVER demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers;
• If you receive a threatening email or call, do not respond鈥攊mmediately report it to the ITS Helpdesk (315.443.2677) for assistance;
• Verify any requests by contacting the agency directly using official contact details.

Information Technology Services (ITS) has announced the appointment of Andrew Joncas as the division鈥檚 first assistant vice president for enterprise data and artificial intelligence (AI). Joncas will report to Jeff Rubin, senior vice president for digital transformation and chief digital officer.

Joncas is a visionary technology leader with over 25 years of experience in designing and implementing transformative IT and data strategies. During his tenure at the University, he has managed multimillion-dollar technology portfolios, driven AI-powered innovations and optimized data infrastructure to support academic and research excellence.

鈥淎ndrew brings deep technical knowledge and hands-on experience that perfectly aligns with this position,鈥� Rubin says. 鈥淗is expertise in AI and data innovation will help drive forward our university’s strategic goals in enterprise data management, enhancing both academic programs and operational capabilities.鈥�

In his new role, Joncas will lead the strategic direction and operational execution of the University鈥檚 enterprise data and AI initiatives, including data access, governance, reporting and analysis.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to step into this new role and explore how we can harness the power of university data and artificial intelligence,鈥� Joncas says. 鈥淭ogether, we have a unique opportunity to drive innovation and create transformative solutions for the entire University community.”

ITS will begin the search for Joncas鈥檚 successor as assistant vice president for infrastructure this month. In the interim, the ITS Infrastructure and Networking teams will report to Eric Sedore, associate vice president for information technology and chief technology officer.

The Information Security team within has detected an increase in sophisticated phishing attacks targeting the University community. These phishing emails look real and often originate from compromised accounts at other universities. Attackers exploit recipients鈥� trust and use convincing tactics to steal account credentials.

Here is how these attacks typically work and how you can protect yourself.

How The Attacks Work

• Spoofed emails: Attackers send emails that seem to originate from trusted peers or partners at other universities.
• Fake document links: The emails contain links you are expected to click on. Recent attacks have used the pretext that a document that needs to be shared is encrypted and, in order to decrypt it, you must log in to the link.
• Fraudulent validation: If recipients email the sender for confirmation because they are suspicious, attackers respond with reassuring but fake replies.
• Credential theft: Trusting the response, recipients enter their credentials into a counterfeit Microsoft login page at the other end of the link.
• MFA exploitation: The attackers harvest the credentials and use them to trigger a legitimate Microsoft multi-factor authentication (MFA) request, which victims will see in the Microsoft Authenticator app. Bad actors email their victims the two-digit code to enter into the app. If the victim enters it, the bad actors gain complete access to their accounts. If the victims use SMS as their MFA method, the bad actors will send an email trying to get the victim to send them the provided code.
• Account misuse: Attackers use compromised accounts to attempt changes to payroll direct deposit information and/or to launch further attacks from the victim鈥檚 email account.

Protect Yourself

• Be cautious of unexpected emails: Avoid clicking on links or providing information unless you are certain of the sender鈥檚 legitimacy.
• Validate by phone, not email: If you suspect a phishing attempt, verify directly by calling the sender. Never rely on email validation for suspicious requests.
• Beware of fraudulent MFA prompts: Be cautious of unusual MFA prompts or requests. Never enter codes from unknown sources. Microsoft MFA will never send the two-digit code via email. Any email claiming to provide such a code is fraudulent. If you use SMS as an MFA method, nobody will ever ask you for the code via text or email.
• Report phishing attempts immediately: You can use Outlook鈥檚 鈥淩eport Message鈥� feature to flag suspicious emails.

Stay alert and reach out to the IT Security team (infosec@syr.edu) with any questions or concerns. Your vigilance is vital to keeping our community safe.

性视界 University will transition from Microsoft A3 licenses to Microsoft A5 licenses as the result of a new agreement between the two organizations. Information Technology Services (ITS) announced the change as part of the division鈥檚 ongoing commitment to providing the best tools and resources to enhance productivity, security and overall experience.

There is no action required on the part of users to update their licensing. Immediate benefits of this change will include:

Advanced Analytics and Insights:听With the A5 license, users will have access to advanced analytics tools such as Power BI Pro, which can help create detailed reports, visualize data and gain deeper insights. These tools are designed to foster informed decision-making and improve productivity.

Improved Communication and Collaboration:听The A5 license includes advanced communications functionality in Microsoft Teams including dial-in conferencing for all meetings. This will enhance users鈥� ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, students and external partners, whether on campus or remotely.

Enhanced Security:听The A5 license includes advanced security features that are not available in the A3 license. These features include advanced threat protection, information protection and identity management capabilities. This means better protection against cyber threats, data breaches and unauthorized access, ensuring that our University鈥檚 data and your personal information are more secure.

Comprehensive Compliance Solutions:听The A5 license provides advanced compliance solutions that help ensure our University meets regulatory requirements. This includes tools for data loss prevention, eDiscovery and advanced auditing capabilities. These features will help maintain compliance with various regulations and protect sensitive information.

If you have questions about this or any other technology-related topic, please contact the ITS Service Center at听help@syr.edu听or 315.443.2677.

To strengthen campus cybersecurity, Information Technology Services (ITS) is updating the process for reporting suspected phishing emails. Going forward, all phishing emails should be reported using Microsoft Outlook鈥檚 鈥淩eport Message鈥� feature.

This new method is faster and easier, ensuring that potential threats are quickly flagged for our information security team to address. By making it simpler to report suspicious emails, we can better protect our campus community from phishing attacks.

For step-by-step instructions on how to use the Report Message feature, please . If you have any questions, please contact the ITS Security Department at infosec@syr.edu.

Andrew McClurg, with (ITS), is often asked how people can stay safe online to protect against scams and hackers. He breaks it down to some basic points to remember.

鈥淚 always focus on four main things: passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), keeping software updated and knowing how to spot phishing emails and how to report them,鈥� says McClurg, an IT analyst with the Information Security (InfoSec) team.

SU News caught up with McClurg for a Q&A on the best tips during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Established in 2004 by Congress and the White House, the initiative raises awareness about cybersecurity’s importance and ensures people have the resources to be safer and more secure online.

For the University, InfoSec team members do everything they can to keep your experience online as safe as possible. As part of securing users and their data, the University has firewalls in place; these are security systems that monitor and control network traffic to protect a computer or network from cyberattacks. The challenge, however, is that hackers are getting smarter than ever. To stay safe online, you need to be your own human firewall.

What does that look like exactly? McClurg explains.

What can we do to keep our passwords safe?

• Make sure all your passwords are unique across your accounts.
• Create complex passwords.
• Use long memorable phrases or song lyrics with numbers and special characters.
• Never share your passwords with others. ITS staff will never ask for or need your password to assist you.
• Setup a password manager to keep track of and monitor your passwords. This will suggest strong passwords, alert you to passwords that have appeared in data leaks and flag passwords used across accounts.

Why should we enable MFA?

MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code or login approval request sent to your mobile device or email, in addition to your password. MFA requests could also require a biometric component, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition. The University requires the Microsoft Authenticator.听Something important to keep in mind is that you should never share your MFA codes with others and ITS staff will never ask for or need your MFA code to assist you.

Want to learn more about MFA? Visit our .

How do software updates play a role in keeping devices secure?

In addition to new features and general maintenance, software updates often include security patches that close vulnerabilities that bad actors might use to install malware, steal data or launch other types of attacks. It is recommended to keep your systems updated to strengthen your security posture. Often operating systems (e.g. Windows, macOS, Android, iOS) and some software offer automatic updates to make this process easier for the user.

What is a phishing email and what should I do if I receive one?

Phishing emails are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information. You should be wary of unexpected emails, especially if they ask for personal information, create a sense of urgency or contain suspicious links/attachments.

If you receive a suspicious email, be sure to consider the following:

• Does the URL look right?
  • On your smartphone or tablet, press the link and hold down until a dialog box appears containing the URL.
  • On your computer, hover over the link with your mouse. The URL will usually appear in the lower-left corner of your window.
• Does the login screen look right?听Do not enter your NetID and password unless you are certain it is safe.
• Are you expecting the document or link?听Be suspicious of unexpected emails sharing documents and links. If you are not sure, contact the sender (preferably via text message, phone or an alternative email address) and ask if they shared a document with you.
• Do you know the person sharing it?听Consider the message suspicious if you do not know the person the message is from. Be aware, though, that phishers often use compromised accounts to send their messages, and they can also forge the sending address. If you feel at all unsure, call the person and ask if they shared a document or link with you.
• Can you tell what the document is? Is it clear to you from the document title and message what the document is and why the sender is sharing it with you? Phishers often send vague messages that just say a document has been shared with you. They rely on your curiosity. Do not open suspicious shared documents just to see what they are.
• Beware of flattery. Customized emails that compliment research and ask you to look at a shared document or link related to it. If it looks suspicious, do not log in.
• Be suspicious of emails offering deals that seem too good to be true. For example, remote work that pays exceptionally well for little time investment or offers of heavily discounted or even free technology hardware, tools and musical instruments. A favorite of the security team is the free baby grand Yamaha piano, which appears several times each year.

You can report suspicious emails by using the Report Phishing function within Microsoft Outlook. This will alert the security team who will take the appropriate actions to remediate the incident, which may include deleting the email from all inboxes, locking accounts if sent from a 性视界 account and blocking the sender. Additionally, for the latest list of phishing emails that have recently circulated throughout the 性视界 University community, visit the .

The MySlice portal and all of the services accessed through the portal will be unavailable from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 28. This outage includes MySlice, the human capital management system, the campus solutions system and the financials system.

During the downtime, MySlice and all applications that are accessed only through MySlice will be unavailable. For a complete list of applications that will be unavailable during the downtime, please visit the .

For questions about this or any other technology-related topic, please contact the Information Technology Service Center at help@syr.edu or 315.443.2677.

Several members of the University community, including faculty, staff and students, have notified Information Technology Services (ITS) that they recently received sextortion scam emails. It is important to know how to respond if you receive such an email.听

What Is Sextortion?听

Sextortion is a type of cybercrime in which the attacker claims to have access to intimate or compromising information about you, such as photos or videos. The sender will often demand payment, typically in cryptocurrency, in exchange for not releasing this information. To make their threats seem more real, they might include personal details such as your phone number, address or even the names of friends or family members. It is important to understand that bad actors often collect this information from publicly available sources without an actual breach of your accounts or devices.听

What Should You Do if You Receive a Sextortion Email?听

1. Stay Calm: The goal of these emails is to create fear and urgency. It is important to stay calm and recognize that this is a scam.听
2. Do Not Respond: Do not engage with the sender or provide any personal information.听
3. Do Not Make Payments: These threats are baseless. Paying the attacker will encourage them to make additional requests.听
4. Report It: Forward the email to your local IT support so they can investigate and take appropriate action. If you are concerned about your personal accounts, consider updating your passwords and enabling two-factor authentication for additional protection.听

Receiving such emails can be distressing. ITS is here to assist and guide you through the situation. The ITS Information Security team is actively working to address these incidents and to help protect our campus community.