Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week 3 - Protect Your Information & Recognize Smart Scams
October 19, 2026
Post By Kayla Kelly
As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini become part of daily study and work routines, keeping sensitive information private is more important than ever.
Throughout October — Cybersecurity Awareness Month — the University Information Security Office and ODU’s School of Cybersecurity, in partnership with the Division of Enrollment, Transformation, and Technology, are teaming up to share simple practices to help you use AI safely and spot increasingly convincing online scams.
Think Before You Paste: AI Safety Basics
When you enter text, upload documents, or paste code into AI tools, that information may be stored on external servers or used to train public models. Once sensitive data is uploaded, it can be difficult or impossible to retrieve or remove.
What NOT to enter or upload into AI tools:
-
Passwords, MIDAS logins, Duo codes, or Social Security numbers.
-
Financial information, credit card details, bank account numbers, or student records.
-
Confidential university data, proprietary research, private emails, or internal administrative documents.
-
Private messages or personal details belonging to classmates, faculty, or co-workers.
Be Careful With Uploads: Screenshots, PDFs, spreadsheets, and images often contain hidden personal data, account handles, or confidential text in the background. Always inspect files before uploading them to AI tools.
Safe AI Habits to Practice
-
Sanitize Your Inputs: Replace real names, account numbers, and sensitive details with generic placeholders (such as [Student_A] or [Account_123]).
-
Protect Other People's Information: Never enter someone else's personal or confidential information into an AI prompt.
-
AI Doesn't Mean Accurate: AI models can state incorrect information with confidence. Always verify AI-generated facts against trusted primary sources before relying on or sharing them.
-
Follow ODU Guidance: Adhere to applicable university policies and academic guidelines for acceptable AI usage.
AI-Powered Scams & Phishing Awareness
Cybercriminals are now using AI to write phishing emails, send fake messages, and create realistic voice and image clones. Generative AI removes traditional red flags like obvious spelling mistakes or awkward phrasing, making scams much harder to spot.
Spot the Red Flags in Fake Job Scams:
Students are frequently targeted with fake remote work, high-paying personal assistant jobs, or check-cashing offers.
-
Unusual Demands: Be suspicious of requests to buy equipment upfront via gift cards or payment apps or offers requiring you to deposit a check and wire money back.
-
Suspicious Senders & Links: Check the full email address rather than just the display name. Hover over links to confirm they lead to official odu.edu domains.
-
Urgent Language: Be cautious of messages demanding immediate action or threatening account suspension.
Take a Quick Security Check
Take two minutes this week to ask yourself:
-
Am I removing personal and university details before using AI tools?
-
Do I verify AI-generated facts against trusted sources before using them?
-
Would I recognize the red flags of a fake job offer or check-cashing scam?
-
Do I know how to report phishing when a suspicious email arrives?
What to Do If You Clicked a Suspicious Link
If you entered your credentials on an unverified site or suspect your MIDAS account was compromised, go immediately to midas.odu.edu to change your password and report the incident to the ODU IT Help Desk.
Upcoming Cyber Awareness Events
Cybersecurity Awareness Show of Force Event
Location: South Mall at Webb Center
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 20 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Stop by for hands-on activities, password and data breach checks, phishing tips, a quick cyber game, giveaways, and more!
Want more tips? Check out @oduett_ on social media throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month for quick guides, AI safety habits, and scam alerts!