Information Technology promotes cybersecurity awareness with October raffle

UTHealth Houston is rewarding employees who help protect the university’s digital environment through its weekly cybersecurity raffle in the month of October. The initiative encourages faculty and staff to report suspicious emails using the Phishing Alert Button (PAB) in Outlook, strengthening the university’s ability to detect and prevent phishing attacks.

One such winner was School of Dentistry’s Patrick Finnerty, MS, EdD, of the Office of Technology Services and Informatics. Finnerty was recognized for his vigilance in identifying and reporting a phishing attempt, helping maintain a secure and trusted digital environment.

The raffle is part of UTHealth Houston’s ongoing partnership with KnowBe4, a leading provider of security awareness and training. Each report submitted through the PAB not only supports the university’s cybersecurity defenses but also enters the employee into a drawing for a weekly prize.

Common phishing attempts seen across the university include messages claiming to offer free instruments or equipment from a faculty member’s deceased spouse, fake gift card or invoice requests, notices about expired passwords or mailbox storage limits, and emails impersonating university leadership or HR departments.

The cybersecurity raffle is held every Friday as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Employees are encouraged to stay alert for suspicious emails and use the PAB to report them.