The campus again is being bombarded by a series of phishing emails. We try to block them, but can’t stop them all.
The current batch are variations of:
- Authoritative emails warning that your SVSU email account will be shut down or deleted if you don’t immediately authenticate (log on using your SVSU Username/UserID and password) via a link that takes you to a non-SVSU web site. Some variation of this scam use a high-jacked Vmail log in splash page. SVSU log in pages always have svsu.edu in the URL.
- Emails to international students claiming to be from the US government offering special immigration status “For a fee of almost $1,000″.
In all cases, changing your password every 90 to 120 days (which is SVSU policy) is the simplest way to protect yourself. This applies to any email account, not just your SVSU account.
When SVSU sends you an email we sign it with a named employee of SVSU. We do not use vague titles like “Vmail Team” or “System Administration”. Don’t hesitate to validate these by contacting the Support Center 964-4225, ResNet: ext 7225, or (toll free) 866-827-4357.
For more information and an interesting case study on phishing for credit card information (the same techniques are used to obtain email passwords): Click Here.
Things you need to do on your computer:
1) Keep your anti-virus up to date
2) Regularly scan your computer for malware – free downloads can be found at: Click Here.
3) If you ever get an authoritative email demanding you must confirm/verify your email account or it will be shut down, contact the Support Center at Faculty, Staff, Students: 964-4225, ResNet: ext 7225, or (toll free) 866-827-4357. You should be particularly suspicious if the email contains a link that is not an SVSU address.
If you have any questions contact the Support Center.
Our phone numbers are: 964-4225, or (toll free) 866-827-4357
If you live on campus, please call ext. 7225.