Body
Overview
Audience: All NGU members
Description: This article defines phishing, outlining common phishing tactics and what to do if you receive a phishing email.
Environment: Email
Common phishing tactics and strategies
What is phishing?
Phishing is defined by Microsoft as “attacks aim[ing] to steal or damage sensitive data by deceiving people into revealing personal information like passwords and credit card numbers.”
Common phishing tactics
- Frequently seen as emails, these cyberattacks try and trick you by posing as a trusted organization or individual.
Example: “Hello, I am from North Greenville University”
- Sender names are like familiar addresses but are slightly different.
Example: “rnicrosoft.com” vs “microsoft.com”
- The message pushes for an unexpected, time-sensitive response.
Example: “If you do not respond in ONE hour, you will lose access to your accounts”
- The offers in the email seem almost too good to be true. The incentive could be free vacations, items, gift cards, job offers, etc.
Example: “This part-time remote job pays $1,000 a week with a totally customizable schedule and bonuses every quarter.”
- There are files, links or attachments you were not expecting and are being asked to open.
Example: “Click on the link below to submit your resume.”
- Grammatical errors are present in the message such as spelling errors or awkward formatting.
Example “Hell0, I work from North Grenvile College”
If you receive a suspicious message
If you are not expecting an email, err on the side of caution and do not open any links or attachments. Never share your password or enter any sensitive information through email links. Be aware of urgent requests even if it seems legitimate and double check when applicable.
Contact the Help Desk
Report the email to us by emailing it to spam@ngu.edu or submitting a ticket to the help desk.
You can change your password by either calling our IT Help Desk at (864) 977-7272 or visiting our Single Sign-On Portal.
Final Remarks
Phishing emails aim to take advantage of your account having personal data and access to university information. By reporting suspicious emails and being cautious of unfamiliar senders, you are helping protect your personal information and the NGU community.