Sources for training that are often free of charge to stretch your skills and knowledge in various areas that have been challenging and educational for me and my students. Free and paid resources for professional cybersecurity and IT training.

Email Security

Phishing, smishing, and vishing are all types of scams that use different methods to steal confidential information from businesses:

• Phishing—Uses email to trick victims into sharing personal information. Phishing is a broader term that often focuses on deceptive emails and websites. Make sure you never click on unsolicited links or attachments.

• Smishing—Uses text messages to trick victims into giving up their private or financial information. Smishing is a form of phishing that specifically targets users through text messages. Never respond to requests for personal information, and never click any links. Go to the company’s website yourself. 

• Vishing—This type of fraud uses phone calls, voicemail, or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to trick victims into sharing sensitive data. It exploits voice communication, typically over phone calls. Don’t answer unknown callers. Get a call blocker and set your phone to send unrecognized callers to voicemail. You can always call back after they leave a message. Be wary of AI impersonation—instructions for Apple & Android.
• Jigsaw Phishing Quiz—Google offers a free phishing security test that allows users to customize the quiz. Can you spot when you’re being phished? Identifying phishing can be harder than you think. Phishing attempts to trick you into giving up your personal information by pretending to be someone you know. Can you tell what’s fake?  Phishing Box by Google
• More Free Phishing Resources

Cybersecurity Platforms

• SANS Training—The SANS Institute specializes in comprehensive cyber security education, resources, and training programs for individual practitioners and cyber teams worldwide.
• Hack The Box—A leading gamified cybersecurity upskilling, certification, and talent assessment software platform that enables individuals, businesses, government institutions, and universities to sharpen their offensive and defensive security expertise.
• TryHackMe—A gamified, hands-on cyber security training platform you can access through your browser, with blue, red, and purple team content for all skill levels. It is a browser-based cyber security training platform, with learning content covering all skill levels from the complete beginner to the seasoned hacker.
• WarGames—Offered by the OverTheWire community, it helps you learn and practice security concepts through fun-filled games.

Professional Development

• LinkedIn Learning—An online learning platform that provides video courses taught by industry experts in software, creative, and business skills. It is a subsidiary of LinkedIn. All the courses on LinkedIn fall into four categories: Business, Creative, Technology, and Certifications. 
• National CyberWatch Center—Headquartered at Prince George’s Community College, the National CyberWatch Center leads collaborative efforts to advance cybersecurity education and strengthen the national workforce.

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