Cybersecurity Fair to Focus on Protecting Personal Information, Data in Age of AI
Think Cybersecurity Isn't for You? Think Again.
You rely on technology daily, even if you are just connecting to Wi-Fi, sharing content on social media, using cloud-based tools or managing your online persona.
That reliance on technology and how to best navigate it to keep data safe will be highlighted at the Cybersecurity Fair, returning to Cal Poly Pomona for its 22nd year on Tuesday, October 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's theme, “Connected Lives. Protected Futures,” explores how greater awareness helps protect our privacy, devices, personal information and communities now that AI tools are deeply connected to everyday life. Student clubs, leading industry partners and experts will present demonstrations and exhibits, and the event will include a keynote presentation and panel discussion.
As artificial intelligence becomes more commonplace, the Cybersecurity Fair—held annually during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month—helps attendees understand how sophisticated scams and data-hungry apps put personal information at risk while providing them with the practical skills and confidence to protect it.
This year’s event features a keynote presentation by Mark Lynd, head of executive advisory and strategy at Netsync, an information technology solutions provider, followed by a panel discussion on cybersecurity featuring Carol Gonzales, chief information and security officer at Cal Poly Pomona; Arun Aryal of the College of Business and Economics at Cal State Los Angeles; Molly Chen, president of Students with an Interest in the Future of Technology (SWIFT) and a third-year student at Cal Poly Pomona; and Johans Acosta, AI and machine learning strategist at Splunk. Indira Guzman, director of the Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation and assistant professor of computer information systems at Cal Poly Pomona, will moderate the panel.
Cybersecurity Is No Longer Just for Technology Majors
Students from Forensics and Security Technology (FAST) and the Student Security Operations Center will demonstrate vulnerabilities in smart-home devices, including cameras, doorbells, and connected appliances, and show attendees how to better protect household data.
Students from Chaffey College will host a challenge in which attendees compete against AI to interpret real-world computer logs, demonstrating where artificial intelligence can help and why human judgment remains critical when identifying suspicious network activity.
The Computer Science Society and Google Developer Group (CSS & GDG) will examine how AI systems can be manipulated through prompt injections and demonstrate methods for defending against these threats.
Members of sheCodes and Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) will use interactive demonstrations to help visitors review app permissions, examine device privacy settings and online tracking, and identify phishing attacks.
The fair also showcases the Cybersecurity Poster Contest, in which high school and college students present research and projects to peers, faculty, and industry professionals. Topics span cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, privacy, digital risk, and emerging technologies, creating opportunities for students to share their work and learn from others.
This year’s Cybersecurity Fair explores issues involving ethics, communication, social behavior, media literacy, privacy, and responsible design, making the event relevant to students beyond traditional technology fields. Whether you are studying business, engineering, the arts, the sciences, hospitality, education or the humanities, cybersecurity touches every field. The Cybersecurity Fair offers practical skills, career insights, interactive demonstrations, and conversations that can help students better understand and navigate an increasingly connected world.
This free event is open to the public and tickets are available on the Cybersecurity Fair’s website.