Phishing attacks and email scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated – and even the most experienced users can easily be caught out.
These emails may be asking for personal details – or they may contain links, which when clicked, infect your computer with malware – which then spreads through your network – or encrypts your files (and then requests payment to give you access to the file again when you try to open it).
IS uses a number of different security measures to prevent these messages ever reaching your mailbox. However a small percentage of potentially harmful messages will occasionally get through.
Phishing attacks pretending to come from HMRC, banks, PayPal and other institutions that you probably work with online are commonplace – so be very wary ….
Examples and tips on identifying suspicious emails can be found on many sites e.g.
Inland Revenue
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/examples.htm
PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/security/suspicious-activity
Lloyds
http://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/security/phishing.asp
Outlook
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook-help/identify-fraudulent-e-mail-and-phishing-schemes-HA001140002.aspx
If you think you have been caught
- Change your passwords as soon as possible
- Contact your bank or credit card company to get a hold put on your accounts
If you receive a phishing email into your @hw.ac.uk email report it to abuse@hw.ac.uk
See
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2013/12/05/its-the-season-to-be-jolly-and-to-watch-out-for-phishing-scams/
https://informs.hw.ac.uk/2012/01/25/scam-email-warning/?relatedposts_exclude=8333
