CySER Virtual Seminar — Deepfakes and Cybersecurity Concerns

About the event

Speaker:
Deborah Wells, Central Washington University

Abstract:
Deepfakes are real and a real threat to organizations all over the world, including government organizations! During this CySER bi-weekly seminar, I will delve into what is a deepfake, and the high-level technology surrounding its existence. Categorizing deepfakes is important and allows for separating this technology into positive and negative realms. The seminar would not be complete without specific examples of deepfakes as well as a solid understanding of the cybersecurity threats associated with this type of technology. Discerning the difference between a fake and a real video or audio file is important and I will spend some time going over the key characteristics of a fake and how to tell the difference. The final area in the discussion is how to properly handle this type of technology through governance.

Bio:
Deb is a 21-year Air Force veteran. She heralds from a computer and cybersecurity background. Deb’s career was replete with numerous duty stations all over the world. She began her Air Force journey after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Business Administration. She had ten assignments starting at the Engineering and Installation Wing at Tinker Air Force Base and retired as the Air Base Group Deputy Commander from Joint Base Lewis McChord.

After retiring from the Air Force, Deb began working for Central Washington University as a full-time lecturer in the Information Technology and Administration Department, where she teaches a variety of cybersecurity, leadership, and digital forensics classes. While Deb continues to teach, she has recently started another career with Boeing Employees Credit Union as their Senior Cybersecurity Engineering Manager. In her spare time, she is the owner of a small business, Selkirk Security Solutions, LLC, specializing in cybersecurity risk assessments, forensics, and incident response triage.

Currently, Deb Wells resides in Northern Idaho with her husband and teenage daughter.