Embedded Files
CyberSecurity Certificate
CyberSecurity Certificate
Although I didn't learn anything new that stood out to me, I did strengthen my understanding of what I already assumed was appropriate cybersecurity protocol. Ultimately, what I learned was that just because your computer says something, that doesn't always mean it's the truth. Its our job to ask questions about everything we see and do on our devices and to pay attention to the fine details. Sometimes it's easy to get carried away and just press the "I agree " button. With this training i feel like I have been exposed to threats that may come my way.
A Quick Summery
Phishing is a type of scam that tries to get people to click on links through emails that impersonate official organizations. For example, the article above, which focuses on citizens in Idaho, explains how emails were sent out impersonating the official city website. The email claimed that individuals owed money and asked them to input their personal information into a system. Ultimately, people started to catch on and report the emails to law enforcement. Unfortunately, many civilians started to lose money in their bank accounts because they shared the information with insecure senders and websites. The article stipulates that speculation is key when trying to decipher if an email is reliable or not. Take a look at the email and read it carefully before you do anything with it. Go as far as logging into the official website and double check where what the emails stipulate is true or not.
Evaluation
Who published the content? (Author):
Allen Thayer
Where was it published? (Source):
Post Register-Essential News-Community Focused
When was it published? (Relevance):
Monday, February 23, 2026
The truthfulness and integrity of the facts: (Accuracy):
The official Idaho Falls organization website discusses the same phishing scams
https://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2916
How is it written and presented? (Purpose and Objectivity):
The website I originally found the Idaho Falls phishing warning on was littered, which made it seem less credible. The information itself seemed to be neutral and informative
Links and Citations:
City of Idaho Falls News. “City of Idaho Falls Issues Phishing Scam Warning and Education.” Idaho Falls, 19 February 2026, https://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2916. Accessed 23 February 2026.
Thayer, Allen. “City warns residents of email phishing scam.” Post Register, 19 February 2026, https://www.postregister.com/news/local/city-warns-residents-of-email-phishing-scam/article_5c99c056-802b-4698-8761-f47c48bb458a.html. Accessed 23 February 2026.
A Quick Summery
A virus is a form of malicious malware that inserts itself into your computer's code/hard drive, and it attempts to steal data, ruin a system's performance, etc. What happens when a virus enters your computer for the purposes of entertainment, though? In the article "7 Video Games That Act Like Viruses," the author looks at several different horror games that use the computer virus concept to scare players. Although the virus isn't an actual threat, sometimes when individuals play the games its hard for them to tell whether it's a part of the game or not. It just goes to show that when a virus starts to take control of a computer under consensual circumstances, individuals still feel insecure and vulnerable. It raises the question: Are each computer and tech owner confident in their devices and systems? Unfortunantly we are not, and that is why we get scared when we play these virus simulation horror games.
Evaluation
Who published the content? (Author):
Aaron Greenbaum
Where was it published? (Source):
BGR
When was it published? (Relevance):
Nov. 8, 2025 2:02 pm EST
The truthfulness and integrity of the facts: (Accuracy):
Based on previous YouTube videos I have seen of these video games and playing them for myself i know exactly how insecure people feel when they think a virus is taking over their computer, regardless if they understand it's simply part of the game or not.
How is it written and presented? (Purpose and Objectivity):
Unlike the first website, this one seems much more professional and easier to navigate. There are less adds and it's well organized with its topics.
Links and Citations:
Greenbaum, Aaron. “7 Video Games That Act Like Viruses.” BGR, 8 November 2025, https://www.bgr.com/2017295/video-games-that-act-like-viruses/. Accessed 23 February 2026.
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