12.4.23

Keep your personal information safe while traveling this holiday season

University IT offers the following advice for protecting yourself from cybercriminals this holiday season: When traveling, pay extra attention to bank accounts, secure personal devices with passcodes, and consider using VPN in places that offer free public Wi-Fi. Hold off on sharing information on social media until you return home, as cybercriminals often troll accounts looking for vulnerabilities. As a reminder, the holiday season is a joyful time for scammers trying to steal your data. Avoid all suspicious phone calls or emails requesting immediate action—such as gift card purchasing—or personal information.

University IT and ISD invite faculty, staff, and students to join them as they host their next “Ask Security Anything” Zoom session on Thursday, December 14, from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, visit the Ask Security Anything web page.

12.11.23

Last-minute shopping and delivery scams

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on people and so do scammers. University IT advises that if you find yourself making last-minute purchases, be a wise online shopper and only order your gifts from reputable companies. Be wary of scams like phishing emails or texts that pose as official notices from delivery companies either asking for personal information, providing bogus “tracking links” or messages about shipment issues. When in doubt, go back to your online account for your order and tracking info. Always contact the company directly with concerns and delete suspicious emails. University IT offers tips and more information on the Information Security website. Don’t forget to check out University IT and ISD’s next “Ask Security Anything” Zoom session on Thursday, December 14, from noon to 1 p.m. For more information on this session, visit the Ask Security Anything web page.

12.18.23

12 scams to look for this holiday season

University IT shares the Better Business Bureau’s “Naughty List of Scams” for this holiday season. Remember, you can avoid most scams by exercising caution when it comes to links, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and suspicious emails or texts. Avoid any website that doesn’t show a lock in its URL field, as this quickly indicates an unsafe website.