The month of October is always composed of haunting attempts and scares as Halloween approaches on October 31, however one trick that tends to stick around all year is phishing emails and other scams that invade campuses and effect students all across the nation. It is because October has been deemed Cyber Security Awareness Month. This is an annual campaign that is utilized in order to raise awareness about cyber-security. As technology has become so prevalent in our everyday lives, cyber-security is relevant and should be recognized by everyone in the Oswego community.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, National Cyber Security Awareness month is designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives to raise awareness about cyber-security, the purpose is to provide people with tools and resources needed to stay safe online, and increase the resiliency of the Nation in the event of a cyber incident.

To bring light on cyber-security SUNY Oswego has launched its first annual Phishing Tournament through Campus Technology Services. The goal of this tournament is to raise awareness to the cyber threats placed on the campus through phishing emails.

The tournament rules are simple, every time a student receives a phishing email on their SUNY Oswego email account, they can forward that email to phishing@oswego.edu with the subject reading “Contest Entry.” Every time a new phishing email is forwarded, the student will be entered in a drawing for an amazon gift card. The winner will receive a $50 gift card, second winner will receive a $25 gift card, and third place will be given a $10 gift card.

Phishing emails often trick people into giving away private information that can be used in illicit ways. Campus Technology Services would never ask for personal information via email, however still advise everyone to check the sender on every email they get and hover over any attached links in the email to see where they go just to be safe. The best thing to do after accidentally interacting with a phishing email in any way would be to change the password to your email account.

The first annual CTS, Campus Technology Services, Phishing Tournament will run from October 1 through October 30, and the winners will be selected on Halloween.

By Stefanie Sciolaro

Baldwinsville, NY- – Since its founding in 2000, Crossfit has begun to grow in popularity. The sport combines high intensity with low durations. The workouts incorporate endurance, strength, and flexibility in order to exert the most out of participants in a shorter period of time.

Crossfit has grown to over two billion members and 10,000 gyms all around the world. This worldwide epidemic prides itself on the importance of a healthy community atmosphere. However, many individuals feel Crossfit is meant for only those of a specific age and body build.

“The uniqueness of Crossfit lies in how universal it is when it comes to who can do it. I have athletes ranging in ages from 14 to 64 with all different skill levels” Smokey Hollow Crossfit co-owner Tim MacConehey said.  

Members of the Crossfit community have the opportunity to compete year round in a series of competitions, in both team and individual divisions. Every year these competitions stand as the main qualifiers for the Crossfit Games. The Crossfit Games, is this sports equivalent to the Olympics. The best athletes in the world come together to compete for who will be crowned fittest woman and man on earth.

In the past, the Crossfit Games have been held in Carson, California. However, the venue has been moved to Madison, Wisconson. The Games will begin this August.

For more information, visit Crossfit’s website.

by Reggie Debrah

Oswego, NY- Summer vacation is not too far away, and with the 3 month break comes large plans. For those who are looking to gain experience from an internship or simply looking for a job after graduation, the Compass is a place to start your summer plans.

The Compass is located on the first floor of the Marano Campus Center, under the Chu Atrium. The Compass is open from Monday through Friday from 10 AM until 4 PM. It provides resources for students such as resume and cover letter building. There are also student interns at the Compass who assist with everything from writing an e-mail to internship searches.

For those graduating and need preparation for the real world, the Compass can also help with that. The Compass offers mock interviews and help to learn about the process of applying for jobs outside of college.

The Compass is a great resource for students at Oswego State to utilize. There are many great opportunities such as internship searches and help to create or update a resume or cover letter. There is always someone there able to help with anything that a student may need. For any students looking to get ahead in their professional career, the Compass is step one.