17.11.2025 Advent at Marburg University: The Ghosts of IT Christmas

Has anyone seen him? Ebenezer Scrooge is his name. Perhaps in the dark basement of the university computer center or a server room? In any case, he must have been here, because he brought them with him: Jacob Marley and his ghosts of IT Christmas.

To begin with. There's not the slightest doubt about it. His death certificate was signed by the clergyman, the innkeeper, the undertaker, and the chief mourner.

This is the beginning of Charles Dickens' famous Christmas story, in which Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner and, with him, the ghosts of Christmas. Only this time, the story is obviously not set in bustling London. We are absolutely certain that we saw Scrooge, Marley, and his ghosts somewhere on the Lahn Mountains near the university computer center.

During this Advent season, the ghosts of IT Christmas past, present, and future will tell you how you can improve your IT security.

What can you expect?

During the first three weeks of Advent, you will receive a visit from the three spirits of IT Christmas, who will take you on an exciting journey through time, just like Scrooge. 

The Ghost of IT Christmas Past (1st Advent)

Tells you about secure passwords, recognizing phishing emails, and updates.

The Ghost of IT Christmas Present (2nd Advent)

Tells you about screen locks, a tidy workspace, and hybrid working.

The Ghost of Future IT Christmas (3rd Advent)

Tells you about email mishaps, AI hallucinations, and QR code traps.

On the Tuesday after each Advent, you will receive a short email with an invitation to a compact learning unit (max. 6 minutes). The content is entertaining and easy to integrate into your everyday (working) life, and is available in German and English. Perhaps, together with the ghosts, you will realize that IT security is not a scary specter, but a gift we can give ourselves during this reflective time of year.

Stay curious and let the ghosts of IT Christmas give you a new perspective on IT security. Simply register by November 27, 2025, by sending an email to cybertraining@uni-marburg.de. On the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent, Marley's ghost will visit you to announce the arrival of the ghosts of IT Christmas. We look forward to your participation and wish you a wonderful Advent season!

This text was translated with the help of machine translation software.