October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM), and yet again the UCs are hosting a wide variety of fun events and activities for UC’s version, UC CAM!

Of course, cybersecurity is important every day, but UC CAM lets us take some extra time once a year to remind ourselves of simple (and more complex) things we can do to stay safe online.

The 2026 theme for UC-CAM is “Resilient Together.” The theme emphasizes how we are stronger when we stand together, and also reminds us that cybersecurity isn’t just about privacy; it’s also about making sure our computer systems and applications are there when we need them. When everyone does their part, our whole UC community is better protected.

Virtual Events

This year, the UC Cybersecurity Summit (October 6-7, 2026) is in a perfect position to kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year, the conference is free and virtual, with speakers who appeal to a wide audience. Featured speakers range from Caitlin Sarian (“Cybersecurity Girl” on TikTok) to Caesar Sedek (the UCLA Assistant Chief Security Officer), who will discuss UCLA’s cyber preparations for the 2028 Olympics. Registration closes on October 2, 2026, so make sure to sign up as soon as you can.

Throughout the rest of October, various UC locations will also host webinars on different topics, many of which will be open to everyone in the UC system. A few highlights include:

UC Irvine – Mental Malware: Why the Human OS Keeps Getting Hacked, featuring Randy Rose, a representative from the Center for Internet Security

UC Santa Barbara – AI Vulnerability Scanning, featuring UCSB Computer Science Professor Kris Kruegel

UCLA Health – The Vibes are Off: How to Safely Build Apps with AI Agents, featuring Michael Taggart, UCLA Health Senior Cybersecurity Researcher/Senior Mayhem Creator

There will also be some location-specific webinars, so keep your eye out for local updates!

For a full list of the webinars, with sign-up links, visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage.

In-Person Events

On top of that, many locations will have in-person events, which are a great opportunity to meet and ask your cybersecurity team questions. Many locations will be running tables where cybersecurity team members can connect with their UC community (often with fun games, swag, and even demos!). UC Irvine will also be hosting a paper and hard drive shredding event, always an Anteater favorite.

This year, several student groups will be hosting Capture the Flag (CTF) events at their locations. CTFs are games or competitions where participants can practice their ethical hacking skills by solving puzzles in a safe, fun environment. Many CTF events welcome people with all skill levels, so if you’re interested, definitely look into it.

October also brings back a perennial Starbucks favorite. No, we’re not talking pumpkin spice; it’s the Java Chip Securi-ccino, available only at the UC Irvine campus Starbucks locations. (Bonus style points if you get it delivered by robot!)

Get Involved with UC CAM 

There are several ways to get involved during Cybersecurity Awareness Month at UC: 

Contact your campus’ IT Security Office to learn what you can do to promote a safer, more secure and more trusted environment. 
Check out the calendar for systemwide events you can attend.
Check your Location’s Information Security website for location-specific events and activities. 
Download your 2026 CAM Zoom background with your location’s logo.