Targeted Ransomware Attacks

October 24th, Tip of the Week  | Colleges and universities continue to be targets of ransomware attacks and phishing emails are the primary method/technique used by bad actors to gain access to internal systems. Disruptions have affected instructional tools, wireless connections and single sign-on websites. Stolen data can include both personal and financial information. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to be cautious of external messages and unusual requests. To view the most recent phish emails targeting campus, please visit our phish alert page here.

Stay Alert for Text Message Scams

October 17th, Tip of the Week  | Watch out for text messages, from what you may assume is your bank, suggesting a small debit purchase has been withdrawn from your account. These fake messages conveniently include a link for you to see the details of the charge. If you click the link to log in, you will find there is no charge. Scammers have tricked you into logging into a fake site that then forwards you to your bank. That fake site has stolen your username and password, which they now use to empty your account for real. If you get an unexpected text message that says a withdrawal or payment has been made from your account, go directly to your banking website, or open the banking app on your phone. If legitimate, you will quickly find the charge listed in your account. As a rule, never follow a link in one of these text messages.

Information Manipulation Tactics During Elections

October 10th, Tip of the Week  | The FBI and CISA are warning that foreign actors may intensify efforts to influence outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections by circulating or amplifying reports of real or alleged malicious cyber activity on election infrastructure. 

• Be cautious with websites not affiliated with local or state government that solicit voting information, like voter registration information.
• Critically evaluate the information you share, and verify information with trusted sources, such as state and local election officials and reputable news media.
• If appropriate, make use of in-platform tools offered by social media companies for reporting elections related disinformation.

Personalized Scams

October 3rd, Tip of the Week  | Cyber criminals now have a wealth of information on almost all of us. With so many organizations getting hacked, cyber criminals can simply purchase databases with personal information on millions of people, then use that information to customize their attacks, making them far more realistic. Just because an urgent email has your home address, phone number, or birth date in it does not mean it is legitimate.