Caption: As phishing technology is getting more sophisticated, appropriate actions and prevention are needed.
Photo credits: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/07/phishing-attacks-are-increasing-and-getting-more-sophisticated.html
Check your Outlook email now. Are there emails that provide job applications, notices of financial support, or tuition invoices? Recently, a lot of Mason Korea students received emails that were not from the official university account. Even though they seem to be real, students must be wary of scam emails and take appropriate action.
Email phishing refers to cybercriminals' sending fake emails that appear legitimate. As for George Mason University, their purpose is to steal the NetID and Patriot Pass Password of students, faculty, and staff members. We can see examples of common themes at Mason based on its website such as information technology services, tuition bills, eFax messages, announcements of awards, etc. In addition, there is a warning that an email mailbox has exceeded its limitation and a payment invoice. Such emails even pose the threat of closing a bank account.
Recently, Mason Korea students received an email offering a work position as a personal assistant for 650 dollars weekly. The sender requested contact information with full names, personal email, and mobile phone numbers for job descriptions. It emphasized that the notification was urgent and that the work could be performed remotely at home. Additionally, there was also an email regarding part-time jobs in a certain international organization that offered 500 dollars weekly. It attached a link to the employment schedule and also demanded an alternative email address for urgent communication regarding the details of the employment. You can navigate extra cases from phishing alerts on the GMU website.
There are a few methods suggested on the GMU website for students to avoid getting phished. Removing emails from unknown accounts, not opening related links or attachments, and being cautious of demands for private content are just a few. Students should avoid sharing personal information and should update antivirus software by conducting regular examinations. They also have to beware that a sender’s package including addresses, links, and websites can be manipulated to appear as a Mason email.
If students receive a spam email, they should not respond to it. It is recommended to immediately contact the ITS Support Center (support@gmu.edu) to confirm the legitimacy of it. If they click on the link and provide their username and password, it is necessary to change the password at password.gmu.edu. as well as contact the ITS Support Center. The account might be locked for an unidentified duration although they failed to contact it.
Currently, George Mason University is taking action against such spam emails such as sending cautions and raising awareness. Since phishing attacks can cause financial loss and put university data and systems in danger including personal information, students have to understand their risks and properly handle them. The Voice of Mason Korea highly encourages students to frequently check the GMU website and Outlook emails from the university.
Written by Seohyun Kim| Staff Writer
Revised by Madison Sailakkham|Managing Editor
Comentários