The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) faces persistent cybersecurity threats, primarily through phishing scams and AI-driven deepfake attacks targeting students, faculty, and staff. iTech, USM’s IT division, reports that scammers exploit urgency tactics, fake job offers, and fraudulent giveaways to harvest sensitive data such as passwords, Social Security numbers, and login credentials. While no specific breach is detailed in the article, the risks include potential unauthorized access to university systems (SOAR, Canvas, Eagle Alert) and personal data leaks due to deceptive emails. The rise of AI amplifies threats by enabling hyper-realistic impersonation, increasing the likelihood of financial fraud or identity theft if victims comply with malicious requests. iTech mitigates risks through awareness campaigns and collaboration with external cybersecurity agencies, but the ongoing exposure to social engineering attacks poses a latent risk of data compromise or system infiltration.