October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
Marquette University is a champion of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. We join a growing global effort to promote online safety awareness with the theme: STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
STOP.
Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
THINK.
Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs of attempts to steal your money or your personal information. Marquette University will never ask for your password via email, text or phone call.
CONNECT.
Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.
Connect with Care
Avoid Phishing Attempts
Phishing email messages, websites, and phone calls are designed to steal money by installing malicious software on your computer or stealing personal information off your computer.
Be wary of email messages that contain the following:
- BAD GRAMMAR AND MISSPELLINGS
- An address that does not match the real web address, of a bank or university, for example:
- Alarmist messages and threats of account closures.
- Promises of money for little or no effort and deals that sound too good to be true.
- Requests to donate to a charitable organization after a disaster
Stay Safe Online
- Keep a Clean Machine and more tips for online safety
- Stay up-to-date about online scams
- Avoid lures to get you to click on a link or open an attachment
- Safety tips for mobile devices
- Use secure passwords - See Marquette Password Requirements
Register a phone number or secondary email for password recovery
- Back it up
Marquette University will never ask for your password in an email
This is an example of a real phishing attempt that was mailed to members of the Marquette community.
How Can I Identify a Phishing Website or Email?
There's more to that link than you think!
There are spoofs of popular websites or companies that link to fraudulent, phony, scam websites. On a fraudulent website you might be tricked into entering personal information or downloading malicious software onto your computer.
Typosquatting/Cybersquatting
If you accidentally misspell an Internet address into your web browser, you may enter a website that is registered by cyber criminals.
Signs that a website protects your data
On sites where you enter your credit card or other personal information, look for the following:
- A web address that starts with https://
- A tiny closed padlock in the address bar, or on the lower right corner of the window.
Facebook Security Threats
Be wary of strange links in posts or messages, even if they’re from friends. They can take you to a phishing site that asks you to enter your login information and password, or a site that prompts you to download malicious software.
Fake Notification Emails that ask you to update your account, open an attachment, or warn you to take some urgent action may look like they’re from Facebook, but if the email looks strange, don’t click on any links in it, and delete it from your inbox immediately.
Twitter Security Do’s and Don’ts
- Don’t share excessive personal information on Twitter or any other social networking site
- Choose a strong password
- Don’t use your Twitter password on suspicious third party sites
