To keep your email secure, know how to properly respond to the following electronic threats:
Request for your Unity ID or password
- Such an email request is always fraudulent. It’s a “phishing” attempt.
- Do not respond to it in any way.
- 1. Instead, in Gmail, open the message.
2. At the top-right corner of the message,
click on the More icon (three vertical dots).
3. From the list that opens,
select Report Phishing. - Legitimate OIT personnel will never ask for your password for any reason.
Attachment
- Viruses and similar electronic threats are emailed widely, very often as attachments.
- Don’t open any attachment unless:
- It came from someone you know, and
- You are certain that it was actually sent by that person.
Link inside a message
Clicking on a link inside a malicious email message can do one or more of the following:
- Direct you to a website that entices you to enter personal information that can be exploited, such as a password.
- Download a program that
- extracts sensitive information from your computer,
- records every keystroke you make,
- uses your machine as a “slave” to send virus-infected email, or
- monopolizes your processing power.
Malicious script
If a malicious script is embedded in an email message, merely opening that message can compromise your computer. The script will be activated even though you don’t click on a link or open an attachment.
For additional information, see: