Recently, universities across the country have been targeted in phishing and ransomware attacks. Phishing attacks use deceptive email convince you to enter your username and password on a fake web page, then exploit this access to send other phishing messages from your account, change your direct deposit information or steal data. Ransomware attacks often use email containing a malicious attachment that, should you open it, corrupts the data on your computer then spreads across the network, corrupting data on your co-worker’s computers.

Avoiding these threats is everyone’s responsibility. To keep your data and Missouri State’s systems safe and secure, there are some simple things you can do:

• Never open unexpected attachments – If you are not expecting an attachment, do not open it. It may be malicious. If you are unsure about an attachment, you can always forward it to InformationSecurity@missouristate.edu for analysis.
• Avoid clicking links in email – It is best to avoid clicking any links sent via email. If you do click on a link, never enter your username and password on the resulting webpage. If you think you have entered your user name and password in a phishing email, or opened a suspicous attachment, change your password immediately and call the Information Security Office at (417) 836-5226.
• Be suspicious of email – Approach each email you receive as if the sender might be attempting to deceive you. If you see anything suspicous, report the email by forwarding it to InformationSecurity@missouristate.edu.