The Cyber Security & Information Systems Information Analysis Center (CSIAC), which is a DoD-sponsored organization, has recently released some short videos to help workplaces refresh and enhance their awareness content.  According to their website, they plan to release one new video a month in order to cover a variety of topics.

Here are some particularly helpful videos we’ve picked out of their current lineup:

Freeware (https://www.csiac.org/podcast/freeware/)

This video features a man named John who installs some free software on his home computer and, after being flooded with pop-ups, decides to run a virus scan.  It presents the idea that freeware is one way attackers put malware on your computer, and that having an antivirus program can mean the difference between a smooth-running system and all the problems that come with a bad virus.

Phishing (https://www.csiac.org/podcast/phishing/)

This video is from the perspective of an attacker, showing that identity theft can be as easy as having a few people follow a link to a phony website and provide their personal information. The video reminds you to be wary of unsolicited e-mails.

Personally Identifiable Information (https://www.csiac.org/podcast/personally-identifiable-information-pii/)

This video tells the story of an HR professional who takes PII home (on removable but unencrypted media) to finish an important report.  It’s a great reminder that no matter how busy you are, you have to protect PII by encrypting it when it’s on removable media and storing it only in approved locations. The video also lists some examples of PII.

Pop-up Ads (https://www.csiac.org/podcast/pop-up-ads/)

This video shows how some pop-up ads can hide malware (even under the “x” button). It also presents some defenses you can use to limit the number of ads that appear when surfing the web (such as increasing browser security settings and installing a reputable ad blocker).

Each video features catchy music and is very quick (under 1.5 minutes) for capturing short attention spans. The best part is that you can download the video files for future reference (just be sure to read the CSIAC’s “Terms of Use”).

This content can come in handy to start conversations about security. You should definitely take advantage of it!