Notice Board

Over the past few months, you may have noticed a significant increase in the volume of spam and phishing attacks that are arriving in your inbox. IT Services is aware of this increase in malicious traffic and reminds email users of proper email security techniques to help prevent you from accidentally installing malware, or giving away personal information.

We are not the only institution affected by this spike in activity, and the same precautions discussed on the IT Security webpage apply to all of your email accounts, not just those from @uleth.ca.

When users do get tricked, typical activities from the attackers can include:

• Email account abuse (sending spam)
• Installation of ransomware software (holds your computer and data hostage)
• Password stealing malware (for logging into banking/e-commerce sites)
• Other various malware/trojan horse software designed to steal data or hijack your computer software (denial of service attacks and bot nets).

The Information Security Office has prepared a web page offering examples of recent phishing attacks, as well as some guidelines for assessing the risk of opening up emails that seem suspicious. You can access the posting here, or visit the ITS Security webpage for other relevant information and free training opportunities.

While, as email users, you are the first line of defense against various spam and phishing attacks, it is important to note that we also have mitigating controls in the form of the policies and procedures we follow. If something doesn’t feel right, it is better to err on the side of caution in order to avoid possible issues.

For further information please don’t hesitate to contact the Solutions Centre or the Information Security Office.

ITServices Solutions Centre
help@uleth.ca
403-329-2490