Spring 2025 Innovate Cyber
PufferShield Website
A fun, interactive browser extension that continuously detects online threats and keeps you safe while you browse!
PufferShield keeps you safe online by detecting and alerting you to potential threats in real-time. It uses advanced analysis of website code, scripts, and network activity to identify dangers like phishing attempts, malicious scripts, and suspicious behavior. Your friendly pufferfish mascot provides three alert levels to keep things simple:
🟢 Smiling (Safe): No threats detected—browse with confidence!
🟡 Worried (Suspicious): Something seems off—proceed with caution.
🔴 Scared (Dangerous): High risk detected—avoid this site!
PhishProof Website
PhishProof is a user-friendly Chrome extension that scans emails for phishing threats and provides real-time protection without disrupting workflow. It also offers short training modules and interactive simulations to keep users informed and secure against evolving scams.
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🚨 Alert Feature
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🤖 Adapting AI Machine Learning
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🧘 Peace of Mind
Safety Mode protects non-tech-savvy users from scams and online threats by simplifying security, detecting fraud in real-time, and allowing trusted family members to help ensure safe digital interactions.
Safety Mode empowers older adults and non-tech-savvy individuals to navigate the digital world with confidence and security. With real-time scam detection, fraud prevention, and a trusted support system, users can browse the internet, send messages, and manage online transactions without fear of falling victim to cyber threats. Instead of relying on family members for constant assistance, they gain the ability to make informed decisions while knowing they have a safety net in place.
By simplifying cybersecurity, Safety Mode allows users to be more efficient and independent online. Scam shielding, automatic blocking of suspicious content, and second-approval measures reduce the risk of costly mistakes, preventing financial losses and emotional stress. Families also benefit, as they no longer need to monitor every online interaction of their loved ones—Safety Mode acts as an extra layer of protection, giving them peace of mind. Businesses, banks, and telecom providers can also leverage this solution to minimize fraud-related losses and improve customer trust.
SpamLock Website
SpamLock is an interactive cyber hygiene training game that teaches individuals how to identify and avoid digital threats including, phishing emails and dangerous websites.
Our mission is to transform technology training by offering businesses, organizations, and academic institutions an interactive, engaging, and practical learning experience. By replacing tedious, obsolete learning techniques with a hands-on, challenge-based experience, SpamLock aims to promote cyber awareness and resilience in today’s increasingly technological environments.
Our vision is to create a future where individuals of all ages-whether that’s students, new hires, or enthusiastic learners-possess strong cyber hygiene habits across every digital media platform. We envision SpamLock Quest as the go-to tool for making cybersecurity education accessible, engaging, and effective. Whether you’re a student learning the basics, an employee onboarding into a new company, or an elder staying informed about evolving threats, SpamLock empowers everyone to protect themselves in our day-to-day digital environment.
No Fine Print Website
The Problem
Let’s start with a simple question:
When was the last time you actually read a privacy policy before clicking ‘Accept’?
If you’re like 91.8% of people—you didn’t.
That’s because privacy policies are often long, confusing, and filled with misleading language. And when people don’t understand what they’re agreeing to, their personal data becomes vulnerable.
But here’s the thing—this isn’t just a tech issue.
It’s a human one.
Millions of people are affected by unclear privacy policies, making the potential market for a solution like NoFinePrint vast and growing. With over 5 billion internet users worldwide and increasing concerns about data privacy due to scandals like Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica breach, Amazon Alexa’s always-listening devices, and Google’s misleading location tracking, the demand for transparency is higher than ever. Governments are also tightening regulations with laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), putting pressure on companies to improve privacy disclosures—yet many users still struggle to understand them.
MailSenti Website
MailSenti is an AI email assistant made to help university student and staff combat social engineering attacks such as phishing, vishing, and smishing.
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With MailSenti, students, staff, and ITS can detect and respond to phishing, vishing, and smishing attacks more effectively. Real time alerts explain why emails are flagged, helping users learn and stay safer. Users can also flag suspicious emails to improve the system, while ITS gains valuable insights to respond quickly to threats.
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MailSenti helps users stay safer by detecting threats in real time and teaching them how to recognize phishing attempts. It saves time by automatically analyzing emails and reduces the need for manual review by ITS. The user feedback system makes the tool smarter over time, improving efficiency and lowering the risk of costly security breaches.
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MailSenti is currently in the prototype stage, but we’ve been supported by ODU ITS, who provided valuable insights to shape its development. Their support has helped us align the tool with real campus security needs. As we continue building, features like the user feedback system will allow for ongoing testing and improvement based on real interactions from students and staff
SecureXP Website
Providing intermediate school students with experiential security challenges to emphasize safe internet use.
Want to know if you have best internet practices? Afraid of potential data stealing or malware? This software will periodically check on your internet use and ensure that you are using the internet in a secure and safe manner. It will protect you from dangerous websites, while also helping you understand internet safety in this digital age.
OASIS Website
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to put you ahead of cybercriminals with engaging, effective, and industry-leading security solutions. The time to act is now. Protect. Educate. Defend. Put the Power in Your Hands.
OASIS (Open Access Software and Infrastructure Security) is a cutting-edge cybersecurity training and evaluation framework designed to help organizations defend against evolving digital threats.
Built on an open-source foundation, our solution provides organizations with cost-effective, flexible, and customizable security tools—eliminating the financial burden of proprietary software while allowing seamless integration with existing infrastructure. With community-driven updates and continuous improvements, OASIS ensures adaptability to emerging cyber risks, empowering businesses to stay ahead of threats.
Internet Explorers Website
The Problem
Our Solution
Internet Explorers is on a mission to provide engaging and interactive cybersecurity education for children. We believe that by empowering children with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely, we can create a more secure online environment for everyone.
CyberQuest Website
Technology is a part of almost everything we do today, and kids are growing up using phones, tablets, and computers every day. They’re curious, capable, and among the most active users online, which makes them not only valuable but also vulnerable. That’s why it’s so important to teach them how to stay safe early on.
CyberQuest is designed to help students build smart digital habits while they’re still in school, giving them the tools to recognize risks like malware, phishing scams, and online impersonation.
We believe the best time to build cybersecurity awareness is during youth when learning is exciting and habits are still forming. This program helps students protect themselves while opening doors to future careers in cybersecurity and technology. For parents and educators, it’s a meaningful way to prepare the next generation to be safe, confident, and capable in the digital world.
COVA CCI is supported by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and funded through the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Contact: covacci@odu.edu
