NOVA Cybersecurity Lab

For this week’s module on cybercrime, I spent 30 minutes working through the NOVA Cybersecurity Lab Game. Having little to no prior experience in this area, it was an interesting opportunity to learn more about the behind-the-scenes operations of the digital world.

NOVA Cybersecurity Lab Game Homepage (Haala Ahmed)

In the game, I took on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for a startup company called "Snapcats". As the CTO, I was responsible for defending the company against data breaches and cyberattacks, ensuring that multiple measures were put in place to protect the company from any breaches. To do this, I completed a series of real-world challenges, such as phishing attempts, password security scenarios, and general coding practice.

The game was interesting because it directly applied what we learned in the module. One of the most enjoyable parts was identifying scam emails, messages, and calls compared to legitimate ones. The module explained how to effectively spot phishing attempts, such as verifying the sender’s identity and avoiding suspicious links or attachments unless the source is confirmed. For example, a common theme I witnessed between scam emails was that the sender's information was often nearly identical to official brand names, differing by only one or two letters or symbols, which most users might easily overlook. This exercise really put into perspective how important it is to analyze all aspects of important emails, calls, and messages.

Screenshot of my progress on Nova Labs game (Haala Ahmed)

Overall, this was an excellent exercise that put the module’s cybersecurity lessons into practice, offering real-life examples to stay safe online.