Today@Dal

Universities are prime targets of spamming and phishing attacks. They come in emails, usually citing a problem with your email account and asking you to log in and fix something.They may pose as Dalhousie Account Teams, or Email Administrators, often in emails formatted to look legitimate. No legitimate organization today would ever originate emails prompting you to log in directly from the message.Yet each year, hundreds get their accounts compromised. Once the spammers get your NetID and password, they do their nefarious work from your university account.
 
There any many policies and procedures in place to protect your privacy and the network. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! Don’t be persuaded by “phishing” emails to give out your NetID and password.
 
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• If someone asks for your personal details, DELETE THE EMAIL.
• Less obvious is when you're asked to “Click here” or to open an attachment you didn't ask for – both are common TRICKS designed to infect your computing device.
• Realize that the AUTHENTICITY OF EMAIL IS QUESTIONABLE. It’s easy to pretend you’re someone else.
• Unless you requested it – or performed a transaction which should have generated it – DELETE THE EMAIL.
• If you still think an email might be legitimate, CALL the supposed sender or ASK a phish-savvy friend.
• Know that Dalhousie University will never ask for your password – nobody should know it but you. THIS IS A SCAM!
• Know that one response to these TRICKSTERS has serious consequences for you and the entire Dalhousie community.
• Apply the same knowledge as you would to “bad food”.  WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
  

PROTECTING THE NETWORK AND YOUR EMAIL – IT’S EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY!