Christine Izuakor, PhD, CISSP

🚨 I just got deepfaked… in front of a whole cybersecurity class! 😅 Today was our first online session of the Certified Cybersecurity General Practitioner (CCGP™) course at a Texas community college. Topic? Ethical Hacking. And guess who the instructor chose to hack? 👉 Me. He used my photo to create a deepfake image (and a deepfake video as well)—made me look younger, gave me a full head of hair, and even joked I was taking a selfie while being chased by an animal. Yep, that sounds like something a younger me would do! 😂 Funny? Yes. But also terrifyingly easy. Deepfakes aren’t just a gimmick. They’re a growing threat—used in scams, misinformation, and identity theft. And with AI tools becoming more accessible, anyone can become a target. Here’s how to protect yourself: 1️⃣ Use AI to Learn About AI Drop this prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any GenAI tool: "I want to learn how to identify and protect myself from deepfakes. Please cover: (1) specific visual and audio red flags to watch for, (2) verification techniques I can use right now, (3) steps to protect my own images from being used in deepfakes, (4) reliable tools or resources for detection, and (5) how to respond if I encounter suspected deepfakes." 2️⃣ Know the Red Flags Look for odd blinking, mismatched lighting, lip-sync issues, or weird audio timing. If it feels “off,” trust your gut. 3️⃣ Verify Before You Share Use reverse image search, cross-reference trusted sources, and lean on fact-checking tools like InVID or Deepware. 4️⃣ Protect Your Face Avoid uploading high-res headshots. Use privacy settings, and watermark important content when possible. 5️⃣ Stay One Step Ahead Follow cybersecurity thought leaders, take courses (like CCGP™!), and explore detection tools like Microsoft Video Authenticator or Deepfake-o-meter. 💡 Takeaway: If someone can deepfake me in a classroom, then maybe, just maybe, you are vulnerable too. The threat is real—but so is your power to fight back. 👉 Curious or concerned? Comment “Deepfake Aware” if you're staying vigilant or “Need to Learn” if this is all new to you. #Cybersecurity #AIThreats #Deepfakes #DigitalSafety #EthicalHacking #USAII United States Artificial Intelligence Institute Ajit K Jha Praveen Handral Yogesh B Mishra Shared Synergy

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CMMC Level 2 Assessment Objective: External Connections (Controlled Unclassified Information [CUI] Data) PRACTICE: Organizations must verify and control/limit connections to and use of external systems. ASSESSMENT: External systems are systems or components of systems for which organizations typically have no direct supervision and authority over the application of security requirements and controls, or the determination of the effectiveness of implemented controls on those systems. Organizations have to control and manage connections between the company network and outside networks as well as access to corporate networks from personally owned devices. Be prepared! Your assessor could ask to 🔍 EXAMINE access control policy. 🗣 INTERVIEW personnel with responsibilities for defining terms and conditions for use of external systems to access organizational systems. 📝 TEST mechanisms implementing terms and conditions on use of external systems. (CMMC Assessment Guide: Level 2 Version 2.13, page 58) #CMMC #DoD #cybersecurity #NIST #InformationSecurity #assessment #defense

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In my new article published by ICIT, Executing the RMF as an Engineering Discipline, not a Paperwork Exercise, I discuss how the Risk Management Framework must function as part of engineering, not as a compliance process. RMF was created to align design, implementation, and operations so that control performance is demonstrated through verified system behavior rather than documentation. The article explains how integrating RMF into development pipelines, architecture decisions, and operational telemetry allows authorization decisions to reflect real conditions in production. When security is designed, tested, and monitored as part of engineering, the framework delivers what it was meant to provide. Systems maintain authorization by demonstrating continued security in operation. Read the full article on ICIT: https://lnkd.in/eup93tvi #cybersecurity #technology

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Texas just launched the Texas Cyber Command — and if you’re a small business owner, this is a big deal. In the past two years, cybercrime in Texas has jumped 30%. The new Texas Cyber Command will be headquartered in San Antonio and will help businesses: - Monitor local cyber threats in real time - Align company security policies with state guidelines - Access training and resources to upskill your teams - Collaborate with cybersecurity experts to resolve issues faster If you’re running a business in Texas, this is a chance to strengthen your cybersecurity posture without starting from scratch. Are you ready to take advantage of these new resources? Watch my 2-minute video to learn what this means for you. #CyberSecurity #TexasBusiness #ProjectManagement

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"At the Louisiana State University Cybersecurity Clinic, our mission is to empower small businesses with the knowledge, tools, and strategies they need to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and hygiene. We are proud to have worked with Permanent Coatings and are especially pleased that our comprehensive assessment and seminars have provided meaningful insights and practical steps for enhancing their knowledge and resilience. This kind of impact is why the clinic exists - to bridge academic expertise with real-world solutions that serve our community." Very grateful to Lucas Dwinell of Permanent Coatings for the opportunity to serve his company and granting us this interview. #CyberVolunteer #Cybersecurity #DFIR #Workforce https://lnkd.in/gTd7CCDR

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North Texas Cybersecurity Group (NTXCSG) November Speaker Announcement! I’m excited to share that Andy Thompson, CISSP, GPEN , Senior Offensive Security Research Evangelist at CyberArk Labs, will be joining us this month to deliver a powerful session on one of the most critical topics in our field: Securing Artificial Intelligence Systems: Abuse, Attacks, Agents, and Mitigations Artificial Intelligence is reshaping both offensive and defensive cybersecurity and with that innovation comes new attack surfaces, emergent threats, and opportunities for misuse. Andy will break down real-world risks, demonstrate practical exploit paths, and share strategies for securing AI-enabled systems in modern enterprises. This is a talk you do not want to miss whether you’re in offensive security, detection engineering, cloud, governance, or AI risk. North Texas Cybersecurity Group (NTXCSG) Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 PM RSVP on Meetup: Link coming shortly https://lnkd.in/gvxKQzJU Join us, learn from one of the best voices in the industry, and connect with fellow North Texas security professionals. North Texas Cyber Security Group": https://lnkd.in/gi_D5Z8R

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When the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act quietly expired, the “spigot of information” turned off just as cyberattacks continue to surge. This lapse weakens everyone’s defenses by reducing visibility and slowing down early warnings. So how can organizations stay protected when government-to-private threat sharing stalls? Build your own intel pipeline—and fast. Read LMG Security’s blog for more: https://lnkd.in/g78fhG8q #Cybersecurity #ThreatIntelligence #InfoSharing 

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So I’ve been collecting cybersecurity jobs in Houston  for a while now, and the market is wild. Across this dataset I’m seeing everything from true entry-level and internships up through CISO and practice director roles, with salaries ranging from around $48K on the low end to $300K+ at the top, and a heavy cluster in the\$90K–$160K band. I wish I had time to break the data and give great insight, but I've got to many kids for that :) so here’s how ChatGPT summarizes the patterns in the job postings I've collected Chat GPT Produced Summary take with grain of salt: Breadth of roles: SOC analysts, cyber engineers, threat intel, GRC/compliance, architects, AppSec, OT/ICS security, IT support, cyber instructors, and even customer success for security platforms. Levels of seniority: 0–2 year entry roles, mid-level engineers/analysts, senior specialists, managers/directors, and multiple “head of” / CISO-type leadership positions. Industries hiring: Energy and petrochemical, utilities, healthcare, finance/insurance, consulting, SaaS, education, and public sector/law enforcement. Focus areas: NIST CSF and IEC 62443, IAM, data protection, threat hunting and incident response, GRC and risk, cloud security, and OT/SCADA-heavy environments. For job seekers in Houston, a few patterns stand out: Align to Houston’s strengths: Lean into OT/ICS, energy, and industrial experience where you can—even small projects with SCADA, PLCs, or industrial networks are differentiators here. Certs that actually help: For early-career folks, Security+ and hands-on labs go a long way; for mid/senior roles, CISSP/CISM/GIAC and cloud/security vendor certs keep showing up in postings. Show real impact, not buzzwords: Highlight specific incidents you worked, vulnerabilities you closed, architecture you improved, or compliance gaps you helped reduce—with numbers when possible. Net-net: Houston’s cybersecurity outlook is strong and diverse—energy and OT are still core, but there’s clear growth in cloud, GRC, data protection, and leadership tracks. If you can pair solid fundamentals with even a bit of domain expertise in Houston’s key industries, there’s real long-term runway here. #Cybersecurity #Networking #Houston #CyberJobs

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If you want to stay ahead of the pivotal shifts reshaping cybersecurity in 2025 and get a preview of the conversations already emerging for RSAC 2026. This article breaks down exactly what you need to pay attention to. In it, I highlight how AI, Zero Trust strategies, talent development, and public and private collaboration are converging to shape the next chapter of global cyber resilience. #rsac #rsac2026 #rsaconference #committeemember #ethicalhacker #cybersecurity #writer https://lnkd.in/gFXxf5st

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