SOCIAL CYBERDEFENSE OF
URBAN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A blog discussing how to leverage social engineering to defend against technical cyberattacks

MIT CYBERSECURITY CLINIC

The new MIT Cybersecurity Clinic (11.274 and 11.074) will be offered in both the fall and spring semester at MIT. 

The Cybersecurity Clinic will consist of four-modules : Cybersecurity for Critical Urban Infrastructure: Understanding the Problem; How the MIT Cybersecurity Clinic Makes Initial Contact with potential Client Agencies; Onsite Assessment of Cybersecurity Vulnerability by MIT Clinic Staff; and Prepare and Submit a Final Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment to a Client Agency. MIT students who want to take on field assignments with the Cybersecurity Clinic (for academic credit) must pass the certification examination offered at the end of the fourth module. 

Students who have achieved certification, will work in teams supervised by advanced doctoral and post-doctoral students during the last nine weeks of the spring semester to collaborate with an assigned client agency to prepare a Cyberattack Vulnerability Assessment for a client agency.  

WHO WE ARE

We are developing a new class of non-technical strategies against cyberattacks called Defensive Social Engineering.  Cyber defenders can use Defensive Social Engineering along with technical tools to defeat or compromise attackers. One technique in the Defensive Social Engineering toolbox is Cyber Negotiation. This research is supported by MIT’s Internet Policy Research Initiative (IPRI).  

RESOURCES

Click here for a list of publications and resources

ABOUT THIS BLOG

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Boston Globe: How to Thwart Hackers (Local Cybersecurity)

June 5, 2023

Cities and towns don’t have the knowledge, staff, or money to fend off cyberattacks themselves. They need help – says the Boston Globe

In late April, the City of Lowell’s computer system was hacked, disrupting their phone and computer systems. This is just an example of how municipal governments often become targets of cyber intrusions and disruptions. This Boston Globe article discusses a few ways cities and towns work with universities, the public sector and private sector partners to strengthen their defenses and readiness. See more at: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/04/opinion/cybersecurity-hack-lowell-masscybercenter/