With the start of another school semester, we always seem to see a rise in certain kinds of malicious email traffic. While we have processes in place to stop as many of these as possible, we are limited in what we can stop without blocking legitimate emails. As we read through our inboxes, there are some things that we all need to keep in mind:
- If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. It pays to be skeptical.
- If you receive an email from someone you know with an uncharacteristic request or unusual attachment, it never hurts to call them up and ask if they really send the message.
- ALWAYS be suspicious of requests for money ESPECIALLY untraceable cash cards. Verify through alternate means that it is a legitimate request.
- ALWAYS be suspicious of requests for confidential information, login credentials, or cell phone numbers. If an email gives you a link to log into a site, or provides an attachment that then asked for a login, these are almost always malicious. And cell phone numbers can be used to hijack your cell account.
Finally, if you have ANY questions as to the validity of an email, especially those that claim to come from IT, please call the Help Desk at 341-5555, and let us know.
