Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024
October 10-31, 2024
October is Cybersecurity Awareness month. Join SUNY Canton as we explore ways to help individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. This month's theme is Secure Our World.
SUNY Canton has been selected for the prestigious National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Program of Study Validation.
Learn more about this designation.
Weekly Panels
Event #1
Be Cyber Smart to Secure Our World
October 10 | Noon - 1:00 PM
Professor Minhua Wang will discuss new trends of threats and countermeasures on four ways to stay safe online: password management, multi-factor authentication (MFA), phishing recognition, and software update. Brief coverage on zero trust architecture and Internet of Things (IoT) security will also be presented.
Audience: Students, Professors, Govt.
Presenter(s): Minhua Wang, Senior Lecturer
Minhua Wang, Senior Lecturer, Cybersecurity Department | As the Cybersecurity B.S. Program Coordinator and Cybersecurity Minor Coordinator, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the institution's cybersecurity curriculum. Professor Wang has introduced and taught a wide array of courses over the years. His contributions, ranging from foundational subjects to specialized topics, have been instrumental in preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. His dedication to the field and commitment to academic excellence are truly commendable.
Event #2
Large Language Model and Artificial Intelligence Security
October 17 | Noon - 1:00 PM
Dr. Mehdi Ghayoumi will explore the growing influence of large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries. This talk will cover the practical applications of these technologies, the opportunities they create, and the challenges we face in ensuring their responsible use.
Whether you're curious about how AI is transforming fields like healthcare, education, or finance or interested in the broader impact of these advancements, this presentation will offer valuable insights into the current state and future potential of LLMs and AI.
Audience: Students, Professors, Govt.
Presenter(s): Mehdi Ghayoumi, Assistant Professor, Data Science Coordinator
Mehdi Ghayoumi, Assistant Professor, Data Science Coordinator | Dr. Ghayoumi's expertise spans machine learning, data science, robotics, and programming. His research delves into Machine Vision, Robotics, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), and privacy, emphasizing practical applications in environments like manufacturing, biometrics, and healthcare. Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Ghayoumi is an active member of the academic community, contributing to committees for conferences like ICML, ICPR, HRI, and serving on editorial boards for journals in machine learning, mathematics, and robotics. His research has been showcased at leading conferences such as HRI, RSS, and ICMLA, underscoring his significant contributions to the field.
Event #3
Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity: Navigating the Dual Threat and Opportunity in the Digital Era
October 24 | Noon - 1:00 PM
Professor Betis Baheri will begin by covering the basics of quantum computing, including an introduction to fundamental concepts. The discussion will then move to quantum search algorithms and prime number detection, which are crucial for breaking encryption algorithms. Furthermore, we will explore the concept of quantum internet and the security implications of quantum computing, highlighting both the advantages and current limitations. Lastly, I will introduce a novel idea of quantum privacy, which uses quantum algorithms to hide or retrieve information securely and review ongoing research in this area.
Understanding the potential benefits and risks of quantum computing and how to effectively harness current and future QPUs. Quantum computing represents a double-edged sword—while it offers immense power, it also poses significant threats to existing security protocols. With major players worldwide, including those outside the United States, already investing billions of dollars in this technology, it is essential to acknowledge, learn, and innovate to ensure we remain at the forefront of this transformative field.
Audience: Students, Professors, Govt.
Presenter(s): Betis Baheri, Visiting Assistant Professor
Betis Baheri, Visiting Assistant Professor, received his B.S. degree in Computer Science from Kent State University in 2018, and the M.S in computer science from Kent State University in 2020. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science at Kent State in quantum computing and HPC systems. His main research focus is quantum error correction, quantum deep learning, and quantum machine learning on NISQ and Ion based quantum computers.
Event #4
Hacking Humans! From CIA Training to Cybersecurity: The Power of Experiential Learning
October 31 | Noon - 1:00 PM
This webinar explores the limitations of traditional compliance training and the transformative impact of hands-on, simulation-based methods. Drawing from Peter’s experience as a CIA-trained intelligence operative, he will discuss the effectiveness of experiential learning and how it applies to cybersecurity training in modern organizations. Attendees will learn why conventional compliance training often fails to engage employees and how simulation-based approaches can enhance retention, relevance, and real-world application.
The webinar looks into comparing traditional compliance training with experiential learning methods. The talk will also demonstrate how simulations boost engagement and retention.
Audience: Students, Professors, Govt.
Presenter(s): Mr. Peter Warmka, Former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer and Dr. Kambiz Ghazinour, Associate Professor & Director of Cybersecurity Department
Peter Warmka is a former Senior Intelligence Officer with the CIA having over 20 years of experience in breaching the security of target organizations overseas in pursuit of foreign intelligence requirements. His area of expertise, known as human hacking or social engineering, focused on the identification, assessment, and manipulation of key insiders to facilitate the breach. Such targets included the inner circles of senior government leaders, research institutions, terrorist groups, organized criminal groups, and entities involved in proliferation. In addition to his own targeting initiatives, Peter served as a senior manager of complex operational platforms where he mentored junior intelligence officers on their operations.
Kambiz Ghazinour, Chair, Professor, Department of CyberSecurity | Kambiz Ghazinour is a professor in the School of Science, Health and Criminal Justice. He serves as chair and teaches in the Cybersecurity Department. He is also directing the Advanced Information Security and Privacy (AISP) Research lab and is the founder and chief security officer of CyberSpara, Inc. He received his PhD in 2012 in Data Security and Privacy from University of Calgary and was a post-doc fellow at the University of Ottawa and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario until 2014. In 2007, He received his Master’s in High-Performance Scientific Computing from the University of New Brunswick in High-Performance Scientific Computing. In 2003 he received his bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering and received a second bachelor’s in French Literature and Translation from SUNY Potsdam in 2023. He has previously held roles including software developer, systems analyst and database administrator. He is a renowned scientist with hundreds of publications and projects in data science, security and privacy.