Security Matters

Data Privacy Day, celebrated on Jan. 28 each year, is an international campaign that empowers individuals and institutions to respect privacy and safeguard information. On Jan. 28, University of Toronto’s (U of T) Information Technology Services (ITS) division is hosting a virtual panel event: Impact of evolving technology and privacy laws in higher education. In ...

Each year we celebrate Data Privacy Day on Jan. 28 to recognize how the advancement of technology impacts our privacy rights and to highlight the value of protecting our personal information. As a joint effort between the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy and Information Security teams, we promote privacy-related best practices, insights and updates, including this list of notable data privacy topics and news stories from the past year.

In an increasingly digital world, cyber security issues are an inevitable (and ever-growing) part of the media landscape. As a result, a range of cyber security issues are hot topic in local, national and international news coverage. Here is a brief roundup of some of the most interesting recent news items right now. The return ...

Online privacy and data protection were front and centre for University of Toronto (U of T) staff, students and faculty during Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM) activities, held throughout October. Hosted by the Information Security team, events included pop-up information booths and Coffee with the CISO sessions, held across all three U of T campuses. The overall ...

Security Matters has updated its resource page with this year’s University of Toronto (U of T) Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM) educational materials. These materials include: A guide on what steps to take if you suspect you have received a phishing email. An overview of U of T’s Information Security (IS) unit priorities for the ...

October is just around the corner and while temperatures may be dropping, cyber security education and awareness will be on the rise. The start of a new school year brings with it new cyber risks and threats. The University of Toronto’s (U of T) Information Security team is tackling issues of privacy and data protection ...

September is a busy month for everyone at the University as we gear up for the fall semester. At the University of Toronto (U of T), communication between administrative staff and the student community is at its peak, making it the perfect time for attackers to phish people under the guise of administrative and student ...

In late July, a data breach at Capital One Financial compromised the personal data of more than 106 million people, including six million Canadians. This breach is just another example of a very long list of multi-national companies who have been targeted by attackers in recent years, including Equifax in 2017, Marriott in 2018, Facebook ...

The University of Toronto’s Information Security and Enterprise Architecture (ISEA) team is dedicated to keeping information secure for staff, students and faculty alike. The Security Matters website now features an updated Report an Incident section for members of the University community who suspect they have received a phishing email.  The update provides practical steps to take if you are the recipient of ...

Recently, the University of Toronto (U of T) has seen an increase in targeted phishing attempts and attacks. These phishing attempts and attacks are becoming more sophisticated and polished. Some of these emails are crafted to look like urgent appeals for action from the signature of U of T leadership, including from high-level University executives, leaders ...